14. ETHAN

Elinor rarely visited the casino, so when she slammed her car door and sprinted upstairs, I knew something serious was happening. My mind raced with worry—had something happened to our father?

Without waiting for her to speak, I met her on the balcony, concern etched on my face. "What"s wrong, Eli? Is everything okay?"

Although I might come off as tough, my sister"s well-being was always a top priority.

Elinor"s distress was evident, her eyes wide with worry as she closed the distance between us. My heart sank as she spoke, fully aware that whatever had happened, it was partly my fault.

"What"s wrong?" I asked again.

"It"s Aria!" Elinor exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. "She"s been missing for three days. I went to the store and found it wide open and a mess. Something"s happened to her, Ethan. I just know it."

My stomach churned with guilt, knowing that I had in some way played a part in Aria"s disappearance. "Damn it," I muttered under my breath, cursing myself for letting things escalate to this point.

"Ethan, what are we going to do?" Elinor implored, her voice thick with desperation. "She doesn"t deserve any of this. Especially not after what you"ve done to her."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, the consequences of my actions staring me in the face. I had let my pride and ambition blind me, and now Aria was paying the price.

I knew I had to do something to make things right. "I"ll find her, Eli," I vowed. "No matter what it takes, I"ll bring her back."

I turned and headed inside, my mind already racing with plans to track down Aria and set things right. It was the least I could do to make amends for the mess I had created.

I grabbed my phone and quickly dialed a few numbers, calling in favors, and pulling strings to gather any information on her whereabouts.

Every minute that passed felt like an eternity, and each second filled me with mounting dread and anxiety.

As I waited for responses, I remembered Aria's fiery spirit and unwavering resilience. She didn"t deserve to be caught up in the mess I had created.

When I heard from Elinor that Aria's shop had been left wide open, I knew I had to act fast to uncover what had transpired. With a sense of urgency driving me, I grabbed my keys and made my way to the bookstore.

As I drove through the familiar streets of Havenridge, my mind buzzed with questions and concerns. Why was Aria kidnapped? Was this to get to me? Few things happened in our town that escaped my notice, and I would find answers.

Reflecting on my last conversation with Aria, I couldn"t shake the guilt that ate at me. The revelation of my involvement in her land acquisition had left our relationship strained. We hadn"t spoken or seen each other since. Despite the distance between us, she remained a constant presence in my thoughts, a reminder of the hurt I had caused.

I thought she would reach out when she was ready, but now that she was missing, I knew I had to make things right.

I couldn"t change the past, but I would do whatever it took to mend our fractured relationship, earn back her trust, and see how deep our connection could go.

Stepping into Aria"s bookstore, a wave of apprehension blew over me as I recognized the chaos. The overturned shelves, shattered glass, and scattered books sent a surge of protectiveness coursing through me.

These weren"t just random acts of vandalism; I knew the marks left behind all too well. They were the unmistakable handiwork of the Black Moon pack, the thugs I had unintentionally enlisted to rough up the neighborhood.

My heart quickened with worry as I surveyed the damage, concerned for Aria"s safety. These wolves were ruthless, and the fact that they had kidnapped Aria filled me with fear.

I reached for my phone, my fingers tapping out her number with practiced precision. I needed to know she was safe, to offer her my protection in any way I could. The thought of her facing danger sparked a tough resolve within me, compelling me to intervene.

The line went straight to voicemail. With a sense of urgency, I ended the call and dialed the best person I had to put on the investigation of Aria's disappearance.

It didn"t take long before they received a tip about Aria"s whereabouts. My heart raced as I processed the news.

My instinct was to rush to the hideout and rescue Aria myself, but as I weighed the risks and consequences, I knew a solo rescue mission would only escalate the situation. The Black Moon pack was dangerous, and I couldn"t risk putting Aria"s life in further danger.

Instead, I decided to seek backup. It wasn"t easy to admit that I couldn"t handle the situation alone, but I knew it was the only way to ensure Aria would come back to me in one piece..

I reached out to allies within my pack, rallying support for a coordinated rescue mission. As I waited for reinforcements to arrive, I worried about Aria. I couldn"t shake the image of her trapped and vulnerable, at the mercy of her captors. But I had to stay focused, for Aria"s sake.

A nagging feeling gnawed at the edges of my mind, urging me to take another course of action. While I was confident in my ability to handle the situation, proceeding without my father"s counsel felt like a betrayal of the bond between an Alpha and his heir.

I reached for my phone, fingers trembling as I dialed his number.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, my father"s voice crackled through the line. His deliberate delay in answering spoke volumes. My father, even at his advanced age, was sharp and vigilant.

"Father," I greeted, my voice laced with apprehension and respect.

"Ethan," came the measured response. My father"s acute perception left little room for secrets, and I knew he sensed the gravity of my call.

"I felt it necessary to inform you," I began, my words carefully chosen. "There"s been an incident involving Aria. She"s been kidnapped by a rival pack."

There was a brief pause on the other end during which I could almost hear my father"s thoughts whirling. His response, when it came, was measured and authoritative.

"What is your plan, Ethan?" he inquired.

"I can mobilize our pack for a rescue mission," I replied, my tone firm and resolute. "But I wanted your guidance. Your wisdom is invaluable to me."

Another pause followed, during which the pressure of my father"s silence hung heavy in the air. It was a moment of reckoning, to test the bond between Alpha and heir.

"You"ve made the right decision, Ethan," he declared, his voice carrying the significance of an Alpha. "Remember, we stand united as a pack. Together, we will overcome this."

With his words echoing in my ears, I felt a sense of purpose coursing through my veins. No matter the obstacles that lay ahead, I knew that with my father"s support, I could face them.

The day dragged on, each passing moment weighed down by the absence of Aria"s presence in my life. I left an unmistakable void that refused to be ignored.

The yearning for her grew stronger with each day, a relentless ache that gnawed at the edges of my soul. The memory of our last encounter lingered, etched into the recesses of my mind.

I knew I had to find her. I had to make things right, to bridge the rift that had opened between us, and mend the fractures in our connection.

But planning and preparation was key. We had to gather more intel, so we had to hold off the attack.

The task seemed increasingly daunting. Yet, in the depths of my heart, I refused to succumb to despair. Aria was not just a fleeting presence in my life, she was my light in the darkness, a guiding force that illuminated my path even in the bleakest of times.

And as time ticked by, I resolved to persevere. I would find her. I would do right by her, for she was worth every ounce of effort and sacrifice.