Chapter 10

Ten

VANESSA

T hey took my baby .

I could think of nothing else as I sat in the helicopter between Jack and Ryan. The mood was somber, and even Liam wasn't writing as he sat across from us- laptop abandoned under the chair.

"He'll be okay," said Jack, rubbing my cold arm. "The Royal Pack will never hurt their own."

"I deserve this," I said, letting out the longest breath of my life. My heart ached endlessly. This hit me way worse than anything I've ever gone through. I thought about Gabe's little hands clutching me and his slobber all over my face. I already missed his laugh and giggles when I tickled him.

"Don't say that," said Jack harshly. "No one deserves this. Least of all you. You were just trying to create a better life for you and your baby."

"I did something unforgivable," I said shakily. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I had nothing else to lose now, so I might as well be honest. "The Royal Pack was going to auction me off because I helped get their princess kidnapped. Voss kidnapped her and convinced me we'd take over the kingdom."

"So you're wanted for treason…" said Jack slowly, looking at me with raised eyebrows. His face had turned pale, and he shut his eyes tight. "You will need to face the punishment of your crimes, but you don't deserve to have your son taken away from you."

My heart sank seeing the disappointment on Jack's face. Since when did I care about his opinion ?

Apparently, I did now.

"Damn, why'd you do it?" Liam asked me.

Ryan squeezed my hand in comfort. I had no idea why Ryan was still on my side, even after telling them the whole truth.

"I don't know," I said. There wasn't a reason in the world that could make them change their minds about me. That I wanted to feel powerful because I was made to feel small my entire life.

The rest of the four-hour flight was awkward and quiet. I wondered what was going on with my baby and if he was alright. I knew for a fact he had to be in Howl's Edge.

"Crackers?" asked Ryan, holding out a plate for me. I shook my head, hugging myself tightly. My stomach was in knots, and the pack suddenly lost all respect for me. It was okay. I deserved it all.

"We're touching down now," said Jack, looking out of the little oval-shaped window.

When I stepped out of the helicopter, Jack took my hand.

"We can hide you from the Royal Pack," he said, looking at the guards waiting to check us on the other end of the beach. "We can pretend you're our omega but unregistered."

Liam was directing a few betas on removing the crates of the plant from the helicopter.

"No," I said, firmly shaking my head. "I want them to catch me. That's the only way I can get inside the palace to see my son."

"Don't be stupid," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder and turning me to face him. My chin trembled, and my eyes burned with unshed tears. Goodness knows if I had any tears left after today. "We can protect you from them and look for your son."

"I appreciate it, Jack, but I can't wait that long," I said, pulling away from him and running towards the guards on the shoreline. They immediately took one look at me and produced handcuffs out of nowhere.

"Vanessa!" Jack shouted as I ran towards them.

I was probably making the biggest mistake of my life as I ran toward them.

"What's your name?" one of the guards boomed in my ear as I tried to catch my breath. Normally I didn't get this out of breath so easily, but not dancing for a few days had already taken a toll on my body.

"Vanessa," I answered.

"You are wanted by the Royal Pack for treason."

"Yeah, that's fine. Take me to them," I said. They looked shocked as I held my hands out in front of me, waiting for the handcuffs. The skinnier guard quickly shackled my hands together.

"She's ours," yelled Jack from behind me. I shook my head.

"I'm not," I said quickly. "You can take me."

"I'm sorry, alpha," said one of the guards. "But this omega is wanted for treason. We don't want you to get into trouble or be associated with her."

"I'm coming too," said Jack stubbornly.

"Jack, no," I muttered under my breath. He could ruin everything.

Jack motioned for Ryan and Liam to keep unloading the crates from the helicopter. As we made our way to one of the trucks, Jack tried to comfort me in any way he could.

"Don't worry. I won't let them auction you off, okay?"

"There's no way out of it," I said miserably, staring at the sand below me. The sun was bright on my face, and Howl's Edge was just like how I remembered. It brought a sense of comfort but unease at the same time. I wanted to bask in the sand and the sun. To let an alpha pack take care of me.

To have no worries. No dancing and no bills.

But I had a responsibility now. I had to save my baby in any way I could.

My heart thundered in my chest.

The structure of the palace loomed before me. It had never looked so intimidating before, and I knew I was walking to my doom. I had nothing but resentment for the Royal Pack and the alphas who ran the show.

"You will stay out here," one of the guards told Jack.

"That's not happening," said Jack. "I'm coming in with her."

He squeezed my hand, and I took a deep breath as we walked inside the palace.

"Thank you," I whispered to him, grateful for his support.

Walking into the throne room, I noticed nothing had changed over the years. The decoration and the furniture were still the same. King Armon, the current leader of Howl's Edge, was sitting on his throne, talking to his wife, Queen Ophelia. On her other side sat her second alpha husband. The sight of Ophelia annoyed me. Her feelings towards me hadn't changed by the way she glared at me. As I walked in, the handcuffs on my hands made loud clanking sounds with every step.

"Well, well, well," said King Armon, folding his hands across his lap. He was looking at me like I was a complete stranger. I was annoyed and hurt at the same time. These alphas had slept with me and fucked me in their ruts. Now he was acting like I was nothing but dirt at his feet.

"You took my son," I spat out accusingly. He raised his eyebrows sarcastically, his stupid mustache rising with his smile.

"Well, he's not here," he said. "And you're going straight to the Omega Auctions. A king keeps his word."

"You're lying to me," I hissed, charging towards him, but the guard held me tight by my upper arms. "I need to see him!"

I was shocked at what the queen did next.

"Armon," said Queen Ophelia, rubbing his arm. "Just let her see him, and then you can send her off."

I stood there with bated breath, watching him scratch his mustache. I couldn't believe I had slept with someone like him. Years ago, I wasn't in the right frame of mind. He let out a sigh.

"Five minutes," said King Armon.

"Thank god," said Jack.

It was better than nothing. I nodded quickly. All I wanted was to see my son at this moment. Nothing else mattered.

The servants led me out of the throne room and around the palace as the guards followed close behind me. We walked into a nursery-type room, the walls painted a light green, and toys scattered all over the floor.

"I'll wait out here," said Jack, waiting outside the door.

Then I saw Gabe, and my heart nearly burst in my chest.

He was sitting on a maid's lap, talking to a stuffed toy bear. When he looked up and saw me, his eyes lit up, and a wide smile crossed his face. He looked clean and wore a pair of blue overalls.

"Mommy!" he screamed, running out of her lap and hugging me around my legs. Tears flowed freely down my face as I knelt and kissed him all over his chubby face. I lifted my shackled arms and pulled him in for a hug as long as I could. I never thought I'd see him again. Every moment was precious with him, and I was never more grateful than this brief moment I had with him. "Are you going to jail, Mommy?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, wiping my runny nose with my arm.

"Your hands."

"No, I'm not going to jail, baby," I said quickly. "I was playing a game, and now it's stuck. I'm going to get it taken out, so it's going to be a few days. The nice guards are going to help."

"Don't go."

"It's just for a little while, but I promise I'll come back," I said. "Just be a good boy and be nice to the babysitter, okay?"

"Fine," he said, his nose all scrunched up, and I kissed it. I had to keep it together for him. If I started bawling right now, he would be worried. So I spent the remainder of my few minutes talking to him and kissing him every chance I got until he was annoyed with me.

"Did you eat food?" I asked him.

"Yes, look at my toys," he said, more concentrated on showing off everything to me with his chubby hands.

"Time's up," said the guard. His words made my chest hurt, and I felt physically sick.

"Please take care of him," I begged the nanny. She was a round-faced woman who looked to be in her twenties, with black hair tied into a ponytail. She nodded silently as the guards had to pull me forcibly from the room.

I had to get him back. And I vowed to come back no matter what it took.