Chapter 45

-Jared-

I was already running late because of work—one last assignment from Vince—when Astrid intercepted me, halting my departure. Frustration welled up within me at the untimely interruption, and I turned to find her approaching with a smirk playing on her lips.

"Astrid, I really don't have time for this right now," I informed her tersely.

"Off to see your little pet?" she jabbed, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"I don't owe you an explanation," I retorted, attempting to go for the door, but she persisted, calling out my name.

"What?" I snapped, irritation evident in my voice.

"You might want to reconsider how you divide your time between us," she remarked cryptically, producing something from her back pocket and extending it toward me. As the object came into view, my heart plummeted, and my hand trembled as I accepted it.

"Positive," I muttered under my breath, the weight of the revelation settling heavily upon me.

"Congratulations," she mocked, her eyes gleaming with a dark satisfaction that sent a shiver down my spine.

Cursing softly under my breath. I had hoped for more time, but it appeared that opportunity had slipped through my fingers.

"If you're expecting a celebration with cake and balloons, I'm afraid you'll be sorely disappointed. I have no interest in commemorating this," I declared, thrusting the test back into her outstretched hand.

She accepted it with a nod. "No, I didn't expect a celebration. I'm well aware you've been preoccupied with other matters while collaborating with the others," she admitted.

"Ah, you always seem to be one step ahead," I growled in frustration.

"That's right, and that's why I made sure Vince was informed too," she revealed, her words sending a jolt of confusion coursing through me.

"Vince?"

"You see, I pondered over your words about provoking my father's anger, and I concluded that it wasn't worth it. But then it dawned on me—I didn't have to say anything directly to my father. I simply had to talk to yours," she explained, fear pounding in my heart.

Advancing toward her, I jabbed a finger toward the ground. "What have you done, Astrid?"

"He was quite disappointed to discover that you hadn't adhered to your promise to stay away," Astrid taunted, her tone laced with malice, as I lunged forward, seizing her throat in my grip and shaking her fiercely.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, ASTRID?" I bellowed, my voice reverberating with rage.

She erupted into laughter, prompting me to release her and step back, recoiling at the dark smirk gracing her lips.

"We're going to be parents, Jared. I can't have you gallivanting off to her every chance you get, showering her with all your attention. Besides, she's our enemy."

"It's her father who poses the threat! Alison is oblivious!"

"But how long until you spill everything to her? Isn't that the end result?" she pressed, closing in on me. "She's your Achilles' heel, Jared. You can't resist rushing to her side, and soon all your secrets will spill out, compromising not just you but all of us. You're no longer operating solo. You're part of a family now. You're part of a pack. Your decisions could endanger us all. We needed to rectify your misstep."

"We?" I murmured, observing the malevolent glint in Astrid's eyes. "Astrid, ‘we'?"

"There will be no attack tonight, Jared," she disclosed.

"What?" I exclaimed, taken aback.

"They caught wind of the party, where Shane and his friends planned to gather. We deemed it necessary to strike there, ensuring Alison"s presence," she divulged.

My heart seized in my chest, and I stared at Astrid in utter disbelief.

"W-What did you say?" I stammered.

Astrid maintained her smug smile, waving the pregnancy test. I shook my head, unable to accept it, and stormed out of the house, leaping into my car and careening down the streets, heedless of every speed limit.

"It's not true… it can't be true," I muttered to myself.

I couldn't bring myself to believe that Vince would betray me like this. We were family, bound by trust. He knew the reason I kept returning to Alison. As I arrived at her house, the tires screeched as I slammed on the brakes. The engine still running, I dashed into the house, the door left ajar with a crimson carpet leading inside. Yet, an eerie silence filled the air.

Pushing through the entrance and traversing the house, my pace slowed as I confronted the gruesome scene before me. Soft music played in the background, yet lifeless, blood-stained bodies lay strewn across the ground, with not a soul left to speak.

"Alison!" I bellowed, frantically scouring through the carnage. I found her father, mother, husband, and all their acquaintances, but Alison was nowhere to be found.

"Alison!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, combing through the bodies. In a frenzy, I stormed into the house, ascending to the next floor, only to find an empty office, stripped of all belongings, with Shane's secrets vanished along with them.

I knew it wouldn't be long before law enforcement arrived, finding the gruesome scene, but where the hell was Alison?

I reached for my phone as I returned to the entrance, sweat coating my face, and my heart threatening to burst from my chest. Pacing frantically, I implored the device to find a connection.

"Come on, come on, pick up, pick up!" I pleaded. "PICK THE FUCK UP!"

The call finally connected, and I heard that familiar breath on the other end.

"Please," I begged. "Please tell me you didn't."

The breathing persisted, fueling my mounting frustration.

"Vince!" I screamed. "Tell me you didn't take her!"

A prolonged silence followed, leaving me teetering on the brink of collapse as I waited, holding my breath.

"I told you I would take care of it,"came his reply before he abruptly hung up.

I stared at my phone in shock before attempting to call him again, but he refused to pick up. Racing back to my car, I sped to Vince's place.

The drive was a blur, my mind consumed by the refusal to accept the grim truth. Once again, I slammed on the brakes upon arrival, the tires screeching as I bolted from the car and into the house. The force of my entrance caused the front door to slam against the wall as I bellowed, "VINCE!"

Taking the steps two at a time, I ascended to his office and flung open the door.

"Vince!" I shouted, but as I scanned the room, his absence greeted me. Walking over to his desk, my resolve waned as I beheld the emptiness. His prized possessions were gone, replaced by a solitary lock of golden hair lying at the center.

Reaching for it tremulously, my hand shook as tears welled in my eyes. Cradling it, I inhaled its familiar fragrance of vanilla, and at that moment, I shattered. Collapsing to the ground, I struggled to draw breath, overwhelmed by a surge of emotions.

When Vince "fixed" things, I knew exactly what that entailed. The fact that he had abandoned his bunker, his sanctuary, indicated his desire to prevent me from ever finding Alison. He made it abundantly clear that the leadership had been passed on to me, but it didn't feel like a triumph.

Instead, he had robbed me of something significant, igniting an anger that surged through my chest like never before.

I gripped the edge of the table, pushing myself to stand as I fixed my gaze on where he had been seated. Then, with determination burning within me, I spun around, silently vowing that this was far from over. As I strode out of the office, down the stairs, I couldn't help but notice the eerie silence that enveloped the entire place.

He had taken everything with him, but our conflict was far from resolved. He had no inkling of the forces he was meddling with, and if he believed I would obediently play the role of his loyal soldier this time, he was sorely mistaken. While he could have passed Alison onto me without consequence, this wasn't merely about teaching Shane not to cross the wolves. It was a lesson for me as well—everyone must fall in line.

But he had forgotten my roots, the crucible that forged my identity. A rain began as I drove home, and I eased up on the speeder this time, wary of attracting the attention of the police, whom I was certain had already commenced their investigation at Alison's parents' house.

I pulled up to my mansion, braving the heavy downpour as I made my way inside. An eerie silence greeted me, but despite the quiet place, I was certain Astrid hadn't departed. She was entangled in all of this, and surely had some insight. With steady steps, I traversed the house, my hair damp from the rain, in search of her. Eventually, I found her in the living room, seated by the window with a book in hand, gazing out at the pouring rain.

"You're home early," she taunted upon noticing me. "Saw all you needed to see?"

"You win," I conceded.

Her expression flickered with confusion. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Astrid. Congratulations. You've demonstrated who truly wields power. Well played."

A small smile graced her lips as she lowered the book, turning to face me fully. "I did warn you."

"You did indeed. Now, tell me what I must do to enlist your help in retrieving her."

"You want to get her back?" Astrid inquired, her tone laced with disbelief.

"Yes, I want to get her back," I affirmed.

"Jared, let her go," she advised.

"No."

"You're really going to try to get her back?" Astrid prodded further.

"Yes."

"Why? Why would you go to such lengths?"

"You wouldn't understand," I sighed, my gaze falling to the ground. "I barely understand it myself, but I'm not going to give up. So either you exploit this situation or I find a way to deal with it on my own."

"You could probably do it yourself. Why would you need my help?" she questioned, a deep interest gleaming in her eyes.

"I think we both know that what you truly desire is to be respected, to be heard and seen for more than what your body can do."

"Yes, I think we can agree on that, but you just said I proved myself."

"Yes, but think about it this way," I began, stepping inside and closing the door for privacy. "Now that Alison is gone, I could immerse myself in work, in the business, and in leading the wolves. I could devote myself so completely that the pretty throne you seek control over would be so far out of reach, it would torment you every day just to look at me. I'm going to remind you of your place as MY wife, which is beneath me. You thought I was challenging to deal with before, always evading you, never wanting to spend my time here or with you. Oh, Astrid, you've unwittingly granted me so much power over you."

Her eyes darkened, narrowing into slits, as she grasped the depth of my vindictiveness. I was prepared to work tirelessly to drag her into the depths of despair with me. But it didn't have to end that way.

"But," I continued, "we can strike a deal."

"A deal, you say," she mused.

"Tell me what you want, and I will grant it to you, as long as you help me get Alison back."

"You do realize Vince won't be happy about it, right?" she asked.

"I don't give a damn. Now, state what you want."

She pondered for a moment, her usual levity replaced by a sense of determination.

"I want what I have always wanted. I want power, I want to lead the wolves," she declared with a snarl.

"They are yours."

"But I need you..." she whispered.

"I will let you make all the decisions, acting as though they are mine. You will be included in every meeting, even those you can't attend. I will bring everything to you. Every aspect of that business is yours," I affirmed, watching her eyes widen with newfound hope.

"You would give me all of that?"

"I will sign my name on every piece of paper you bring me or whatever contract we must make to earn your trust."

"You sacrifice so much for her. You hate her, and you will do all of this for her?" Astrid inquired.

"I told you, you won't understand it, but Alison and I... Our fates were intertwined long before I came here, and we both know I have never desired the leadership position or this house or you. I want Alison, and that's it."

"That's it?"

"That's it," I confirmed, and Astrid nodded, rising from her seat. With a calm expression, she held out her hand, showing no inclination for games. She was being as sincere as the ice queen could be.

I accepted her hand, but she tightened her grip on mine. "And I want a night of your complete submission," she added, a dark smile spreading across her lips.

Goosebumps prickled on every inch of my skin, momentarily transporting me back to my childhood home where a monster would take from me in any way he desired. But if I could survive years of that abuse, I could endure a night with my wife.

"You have it," I agreed.

A joyous smile spread across her lips, and we released each other's hands.

"Then I better get to work."

"Y-You don't know where she is?" I inquired.

"No, but I will figure it out," she promised.

She walked away from me, and I cursed softly before turning to the window, resting my hands on the sill.

"Don't worry, Alison, your doggy is coming for you," I vowed.

To Be Continued…