Chapter 26 - Jack

Pulling into the driveway at home, I can't wait to see Lena. Even though we've only been apart for a few hours, I feel like I've been miles away, and I need her in my arms again.

I open the front door and call out to hear. The house is pretty dark, and I'm confused. Surely she would have turned on the lights when she got up. I expected to find her getting ready to go to Silverton tomorrow.

I hurry down the hall, calling out to her as I go. When I get no answer, my chest starts to feel tight.

Calm down. She probably just went out with Gina or someone.

I want to believe it, but there is just something in the air. A sense of disturbance, tension, like the aftermath of a car accident.

I pull out my phone and call Lena. Immediately I hear her ringtone and follow it back out into the hallway. When I find her phone on the floor, my anxiety spikes.

What the fuck?

On the notification bar, there is a text from Sam saying he's coming over. This confuses me even further—why would Sam come over, right after inviting us to Silverton?

Then, I turn towards the door and see what I missed on the way in. I didn't think to look to my left when I entered the hall.

All the little porcelain animals Mom gave us as a housewarming gift have been knocked over. The little cat and the unicorn, Lena's favorite, are on the floor.

My fear rises again, but this time, it doesn't paralyze or consume me. Now that I know she's actually in danger, all my energy has shifted to finding her and protecting her.

Immediately, I call Sam to ask why he sent the text. His phone rings out, and even though I'm not exactly surprised, it hurts me even more that he might be in trouble, too.

I head out into the driveway and stab at my phone to call Bailey. That's when I notice the tire tracks in the lawn. They are wide and deep, but have left almost no imprint. Shitty, almost totally bald tires on a big heavy truck.

Peter.

"Hey, Jack," Bailey answers. "What's up, buddy?"

"We got trouble. Lena's gone, and Sam isn't answering. Peter's got them."

"Are you sure?"

"Hundred percent."

"Shit! Get your ass over here. I'll call Decker."

I jump in Mom's car, cursing the fact I don't have my truck. Mom's little hatchback seems to take ages to reach Bailey's house, even flogging the engine as hard as I can. When I get to Bae's, Ben, Cody, and Seth are out front on the lawn.

"Hey," I say as I hurry up to them. "Thanks for coming, guys. I appreciate it."

"Where else would we be?" Cody gives me a light punch on the shoulder. "You're not just our beta, man. You know that."

"Yeah," I answer, relieved. "I know. Still, thanks for coming."

"Just point me at the danger," Ben says. "I'm all set to destroy this piece of work."

"Yeah, all of us are," Seth agrees. "So far, we've only heard stories about this asshole, Peter. I have to say, not everyone agreed with the marriage, Jack. Not after word got out about him."

"I know," I say, nodding. "It's not like I was exactly happy about it, either. But she's the only one I want, the woman I love. I think fate stepped in at exactly the right time to bring us together."

"Can't argue with that," Seth says, smiling. "We're here for you."

"Where's Bailey?"

"On his way out."

A few seconds later, the front door squeaks and Bailey comes out, taking the stairs two at a time to join us on the lawn.

"I had to settle Natalia and let Gina know I'd be out for a bit. I didn't tell her everything, I don't want her getting upset right now. There's nothing she could do, anyway. Jack, do you have any idea where they went?"

I shake my head. "No. The only reason I know there was a struggle is that she left her phone behind and there were some things knocked over."

"So, we don't even know for sure that it was Peter," Bae says, shaking his head.

"Yeah, we do. The tire tracks in my yard match his truck."

"Well, that's something," Bae mutters. "But not much."

"Something else is weird about this. Sam invited us to Silverton tomorrow, but then sent a message to Lena's phone that he was on his way here."

"Have you talked to him?" Bae asks.

"No, his phone rang out."

"Let me call Decker again."

Bae gets out his phone and calls the other alpha. After a brief talk, Decker agrees to find Sam and reply as quickly as he can.

Every minute that passes strains my nerves. I can't stand to think of Lena being hurt. I know Peter's got her, and I have no idea what the evil bastard would do to her.

Suddenly, my and Bailey's phones ring at the same time. Mine is an unknown number. I answer it immediately, hoping it might be Peter. He would call to gloat, or bargain for her release.

"Hello?"

"Jack!" the voice on the other end of the phone is Sam.

"Sam! Where are you?"

"I'm here in Silverton, on a date at the diner. Decker just blew in here like a gale-force wind and told me to call you."

"Have you seen your father? Your sister?"

"No," Sam answers softly. "Why, what's going on?"

"Why did you send a text saying you were coming over, when you just invited us to Silverton tomorrow?"

"It's the weirdest thing," he says. "I called Lena and left my phone on the table downstairs while I went to get ready for my date. When I got back, I couldn't find it anywhere. I'm sure that's where I left it."

"Oh, no."

"Jack, what the hell is going on?"

"Lena is gone, and I'm sure your father has her."

"What the fuck?"

"Yeah, I know."

"How do you know it's him?"

"The tire tracks in my yard are definitely from his shitty truck."

"Fuck!"

"Yeah. Do you have any idea where he might have gone?"

"No," Sam answers. "Well, wait. He's got a little black book here in the bar. It's definitely not accounts for the business. Some of the numbers have addresses, so I'm assuming it's clients and possibly meeting points for his illegal deals."

"Can you go through it, maybe start calling the numbers?"

"I can, but I wouldn't want to alert any of his partners. He'll just go further underground."

"Shit, you're right." My brain is starting to feel like it's seizing up. I can't take much more of this—I have to do something.

"Can I reach you on this number?" I ask.

"Yeah, sure. It's my date's phone. I'll be with her for a bit longer. I'll try to find a spare phone, then I'll get over there."

"I don't know if I want you mixed up in this. Your father could be setting you up as well. I don't want to put you in danger."

"Look," Sam says forcefully. "I can hear Decker beside me right now, talking to Alpha Bailey. He's organizing to get wolves on this immediately. I'll be going with them. You have a whole pack coming to help you, brother. You can't keep me out of this one. I won't let her get hurt any more than you will."

I close my eyes, touched by the kid's inner strength. Of course he won't abandon his sister. She never left him, no matter how hard it got.

"Okay, get ready, then," I say. "I'll call back soon, or if I have any news. Call me before you leave."

"Will do," he answers, and we hang up.

Bailey is just finishing his call, too. He looks up at me with determination glinting in his eyes. "Decker is on his way. He's putting together his best wolves. We'll head back to your place and try to pick up her scent trail. Within the next few hours there will be at least a hundred wolves scouring the town and the forest."

Bailey comes over and grips my shoulder, looking into my eyes.

"We will find her, I promise you that. Don't worry, everything's going to be fine."

"What if we don't find her in time?" My voice is soft, my confidence breaking just a little. I know her father, I know what a piece of work he is. This is all taking too long.

"We will!" Bae says firmly. "I'll keep in contact with Decker so I know how far away they are. Some will be checking out the bar and the shack, as well, just to see if he's gone back there. Do you have any leads at all, Jack?"

At first, I shake my head, trying to imagine which way Peter would go after leaving my house. He must have safehouses around, and tracking his criminal activity seems the best way.

Except for what Sam said about alerting his buddies. We could make this situation ten times worse.

An idea suddenly strikes me. It's stupidly simple, something I can't believe will work, but I know guys like Peter aren't known for criminal genius. They are just brutal, violent thugs.

Sam said his phone got stolen…

"Hold up," I call out, stopping the others from climbing into their trucks. "I think I've got an idea."

And I pray Peter is stupid enough for this to work.