Chapter 18

A bright light shines in my eyes, making me moan and bat away the cold hands that are touching me. My head pounds and my stomach churns as I try to pull away. I feel like I was hit by a truck before going on a drinking binge. Thankfully, the cold hands pull away, and I hear the sound of heels clipping on the hard floor, then a door opening and closing before soft voices reach me.

"Will she be okay?" a deep male voice asks. He sounds concerned, but in a detached way. I recognise the voice, but I can't think of where I know it from.

"She'll be fine, sir, just be gentle with the interrogation today." A woman's voice this time.

"They shouldn't have hit her so hard," the first voice grumbles, but I can't hear the woman's reply as they move farther away.

Turning my head, I press my forehead against the cold wall I'm leaning against, the cool material helping to sooth the pounding in my temples. The hard floor beneath me is unforgiving and biting into my skin.

Where am I?

Peeling open my eyes, I gingerly look around, confirming my suspicions. I'm not back at the pack. I'm in a small, white room. A door and mirrored window are on the wall opposite me, and just in front of me is a table and two chairs. I think back to what the woman had said. Interrogation.

Memories flood back, and I lean forward with a groan, lifting a hand to the back of my head. I suck in a sharp breath of pain as I feel the tender lump. Fucking ASP. My inner wolf is snarling, wanting to be let out, to kill those who threatened us and our mate. Relief floods my system when I realise I can feel her again, I hadn't realised how lost I would be without her, how integral she is to me. I've always hated being a shifter, begrudging my wolf and my Shadowborn powers, but have learned to embrace her. My wolf is part of me, just like I'm part of her, and right now, we want to get out of here.

I push against the wall, using it to help me stand, and curse at how unsteady I am on my feet before looking around the room again in search of an escape route. Trailing a hand against the wall, I feel for any weaknesses, but the walls are all made of stone. Even at my strongest, I can't break through that. The door is cold to the touch, metal, and I'm sure it's heavy duty, designed to keep shifters and the stronger supernaturals at bay. The mirrored glass is undoubtedly a one-way mirror. Stalking up to the glass, I stare at my reflection, my eyes glowing with the power of my wolf.

I'm not sure how much time has passed when there's a noise on the other side of the door and something changes within the room, my connection with my wolf suddenly lost like it was in the park. Looking around, I search for any signs of what's causing this, and I curse myself for not thinking of it. Metallic noises tell me that someone's about to come through the door, and as it swings open, I snarl at the person standing in the doorway.

"Hello, Ari," Hunter greets me with a smooth smile, walking into the room like he owns it. "Sorry about our little…miscommunication earlier."

Miscommunication my ass.

Narrowing my eyes at Hunter, I back up against the wall, making sure to keep him in my sights. I'm not going to get caught off guard by him again.

"You kidnapped me," I accuse, trying to keep my voice even. If I learned anything from him earlier in the park, it's that he needs to feel in control, and I don't want to see what he would do if he loses that control.

Frowning at my accusation, he picks an imaginary piece of lint off his suit. "Kidnapped. That's such an ugly word."

"What do you want?" I ask as he walks farther into the room, sitting at the table and looking up at me expectantly.

"I want you to work with me, that's all."

"Do you hit all of your potential work colleagues over the head and lock them in a cell? If so, you need to work on your recruitment strategies." I'm supposed to be hearing him out, keeping him calm, but I can't keep the sarcasm from slipping out. He stills, his face tight, and for a moment, I think I've blown it until he dips his head towards me in acknowledgement.

"We were a little heavy-handed, but we were about to be interrupted." His voice is smooth again as he justifies the abducting of another person to himself. My heart clenches painfully as I think about the ‘interruption,' hoping Garett is safe and made it back to the pack. I'm pretty sure they were lying to me when they said they had Garett. He'd be devastated, and I know he'll be blaming himself. I want to ask if he's okay, but I don't want them to know how much I care for him, that's just exposing another weakness. They already suspect, Hunter said as much when he called him my bear, but I won't hint that he's anything other than a friend.

"Sit down, Ari."

I want to resist, tell him to go fuck himself, but a strong compulsion falls over me, trying to convince me that I actually do want to sit down. Horror courses through my body, but I keep my face in a mask of disgust.

"What the fuck have you done to me?" I spit, my body betraying me as I pull the chair back and slide into it. I grip the edge of the table in front of me as I settle back in the chair.

"This is just to ensure our safety, both mine and yours. We wouldn't want you to hurt yourself, would we?" Leaning back, he smiles lazily at me as he continues, "See, I know you, Ari, you wouldn't want to hurt me, but your wolf, she wants to kill me. Am I wrong?" I open my mouth to speak, to tell him I would happily kill him, but my throat constricts, blocking all air entry. Panic sets in as I raise my hands to my throat, clawing at the invisible band that's squeezing my airway. "See, it's your instincts, that's what makes shifters so dangerous," he adds, waving a hand towards the window, and the tight band around my neck disappears. Slumping forward against the table, I take in large, noisy gasps as I try to settle my breathing. His gesture tells me all I need to know—there is someone behind that window who's behind the compulsion. Narrowing my eyes at Hunter, I sit back in the chair.

"But I'm able to control those instincts. That's the difference, we are not controlled by our animals." My voice is rough and raw, but I mean every word I say. If I've learned anything in this last year, it's that control is key.

"So many are though. Besides, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about." He pushes our conversation away so fast that I'm frowning, trying to work out what's going on here. "How do your Shadowborn powers work?" The madness has entered his eyes again as he leans towards me, his words fast and excited. "How did you get them?"

I have to fight my groan. Not this again.

We're taught that Shadowborns are executed on sight, even when there's no proof, so why am I still alive? I know he has Em, a Shadowborn already, so he might not kill me. The thought of ASP having another Shadowborn at their disposal is scary, especially as they seem to be able to force me to comply with their demands.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me!" Hunter shouts, his fists slamming down onto the table with a bang, causing the wood to fracture from the force of the blow. Pushing up from his seat, he leans towards me, his voice low with menace as he begins to lose control. "I know what you are, Ari. Tell me what I want to know."

"So you can kill me? We both know that would be a death sentence."

"You don't understand! I don't want to kill Shadowborn, I want to work with you, there is so much I want to know!" he says hurriedly, trying to reassure me, his personality flipping again.

"What do you want to know?" I finally ask, neither admitting nor denying his claim. If I can get him on side, make him think I want to help him, I might be able to use that to my advantage.

"How did you get your powers?"

"Shadowborn are born with their powers," I answer with a frown. Surely he knows this? According to legend, we are descendants of an ancient God of Shadow and Deception. Other myths say we were cursed to walk in the shadows for a sin from a past life, never able to fully enjoy the sun. I'm not sure I believe these stories, and I don't know where these powers have come from, but all I know is I've had them since I was born.

"No, there must be another way to get them." Hunter's frustration is evident as he pushes away from the table, striding up and down the small cell.

"I've never met a Shadowborn, so I don't know for sure," I answer honestly. Other than Em, who I've never actually met in person, I don't know any Shadowborn, but the clue's in the name—Shadow- born.

Hunter stops his pacing and turns to face me, his face set in a snarl as he darts forward, his hands clutching the top of my arms. That heavy weight settles over me again, and I can't move, like I've been bound to the chair, my heart racing as I see the madness fully descend.

"Liar!" he screams in my face, spittle spraying as he completely loses control, his grip bruising as he shakes me. "How do I become a Shadowborn?"

My eyes widen as I fully realise what he wants. I was wrong—he doesn't want Shadowborn to build his own army, he wants to become Shadowborn. I can't stop the laugh that builds up in me, spilling out until my eyes are watering. I know this will only make everything worse, but I can't seem to stop. His expression darkens, and before I know it, he's pulling back his fist and a hard punch hits me in the jaw. My head snaps back until whatever magic is holding me pulls it back forward. My neck screams out in pain at the whiplash effect the binding magic is having on me.

I stop laughing, my head bowed and my breathing heavy as I try to think through the pain. I can taste blood in my mouth, and I experimentally move my jaw, and while pain shoots through it, I don't think it's broken. Lifting my head, I see he's sitting back in his chair, rubbing at his fist. Looking at him like this, I feel pity for him. Sure, I still hate him, but this insane desire to be Shadowborn is useless.

"There is no way to become Shadowborn." Leaning forward as much as the binding magic will let me, I implore for him to listen so he'll stop this mad search.

His face shuts down as he pushes away from the table, his face becoming a mask as he straightens his suit as he walks towards the door, knocking twice before the door swings open. Just as he steps out of the room, he throws me one last look, and this scares me more than anything else that he's said or done so far.

"Yet." The surety in his tone is what frightens me the most. Shuddering at his parting word, my invisible bonds dissolve at the same time the door slams shut behind him. Surging up from the chair, I hurry to the door, pressing against it to test for any weaknesses, foolishly hoping that they would have forgotten to lock it. No such luck. I have no idea how long they will leave me here for, and my stomach growls, clenching painfully, letting me know it's been a while since I was taken. I realise then that although I'm able to move and feel my wolf, I still can't access her, like there's a wall between us.

Suddenly, the locks in the door make a loud clunking noise, which makes me jump back and press into the wall as several ASP agents all dressed in back surge into the small room, their faces obscured and their guns trained on me. Dropping into a defensive crouch, I snarl at the agents filling into the room.

"At ease, I've been sent to take the suspect to her cell," a familiar voice calls from behind the wall of agents who shuffle awkwardly. Frowning, I wonder what has caused the sudden tension in the room, and why is that voice so damn familiar?

"Sir, I'm not sure—"

"The director has ordered it." A steely tone enters the voice, and the agents straighten themselves. So whoever this is must be fairly well-respected if they react like this. "Besides, I can handle a little shifter." A low chuckle fills the room, and it makes my hackles rise. Thanks to their faces being covered, I can't tell who or what these agents are, but I'm betting that none of them are shifters. There may be rivalry and dislike amongst some of the shifter groups, but wolf shifters are respected for their strength and ferocity. Being referred to as a ‘little shifter' would make any self-respecting shifter furious, and maybe that's why they said it.

The agents finally stand aside, and I fight to keep my face straight as Agent Ryan stalks into the room like he owns it. I always disliked him most of the two agents who've been helping us, but I don't think he would betray me. These two agents form the leadership of the faction group within ASP, and the information they have been giving us has helped us inform packs of any planned ASP raids or rumours of movement by the Shadow Pack.

The faceless agents start to file from the room until it's just Ryan and me. Straightening slowly from my crouch, I keep my distrustful glare, eyeing the distance between me and the open door behind him .

"Don't even think about it," he drawls, my eyes flashing back to his.

"Think about what?"

"There are twenty armed agents down this corridor and six doors that require fingerprints to open them before you would even reach the street. Save me the hassle of cleaning up your mess." Crossing his arms, he waits for my response, his body language showing me that he's not worried about an escape attempt, his arrogance showing through.

Tilting my head to one side, I make it look like I'm contemplating something. "I could always chop your hand off," I suggest sweetly, taking a step towards him.

Snorting at my comment, I see his body stiffen as I move, his eyes narrowing on me, and a slight shake of his head so miniscule, I nearly missed it. "It's been tried, the hand has to have a blood supply going through it. We have the best technology in the world built into our systems. I wouldn't do it, sweetheart." He may sound like he's being a dick, he usually is, but he's also telling me something. He's warning me that I'm not getting out of here by force.

"Face the wall." The sudden order makes me narrow my eyes as he goes from a sarcastic dick to ordering me about. I'm about to do as he says, unsure who to trust anymore, when I see something flash in his hand and his head shake a minuscule amount. Remembering what Hunter said makes me pause. I'm aware of the little faction group within ASP . If that's the case, these guys are in just as much danger as I am.

A flicker catches my attention again, and I look back at his hand. When I do, I have to force myself not to rush forward and snatch the item from him, a thousand questions on the tip of my tongue. Eric's watch. He wears it everywhere, and I've never seen him part with it. My heart speeds up as I contemplate why Agent Ryan would have it. Is it a gesture of trust? Has Eric been captured too? Is he a prisoner here?

No. Think, Ari , I berate myself as I try to focus my thoughts. If ASP had Eric or any of my other guys, then they would be rubbing it in my face. They had the opportunity to take Garett too, but they didn't seem to want that confrontation. Taking a deep breath, I meet Ryan's gaze and decide to take the risk.

"Where are you taking me?" I demand, not moving an inch as his face turns into a scowl.

"I said, face. The. Fucking. Wall."

"Fuck you," I snarl, seeing a look of approval before Ryan rushes forward and grabs my arm, twisting it behind my back and slamming me face first into the wall. I struggle against him, my cheek biting into the rough surface of the wall as he pins me there. My supernatural strength and speed is muted, making my struggle look pathetic against him, and I realise I have no idea how to fight without my wolf and vow to train harder. Against a human, I would probably still win, since I've been training in fighting and self-defence for years, but always with the benefit of my supernatural strength.

"We don't have long, we're being watched. Your mates are safe and are working on a way to get you out." The words are so quiet, I could've missed them, but my body sags with relief. They're safe.

"How's the wall taste, bitch?" he sneers, obviously for the benefit of whoever's watching us. Disgust and amusement lace his tone as he presses me into the wall. He leans his shoulder into my back as he binds my hands together behind me. "Make it look like you hate me," he whispers to me again, before the weight of his body is removed from my back.

That's easy enough , I think wryly to myself as I'm hauled upright and stumble into him.

"Get the fuck off me," I snarl, wishing I could growl right now.

Moving behind me, he grabs my hands and pushes me forward with a shove to my back. Suddenly, I don't have the ability to talk as I have to fully focus on placing one foot in front of the other, my vision swimming as the gravity of the last few hours weigh on me. The head injury probably isn't helping either .

"You're almost there," Ryan whispers, encouraging me in the only way he can, slowing his punishing march as he realises I'm struggling.

Huh , I think to myself as I try to keep my walk steady, maybe he's not as much of an asshole as I'd thought.

As we walk down the corridor, we stay silent, and I get the sense that this is a test, that Ryan has been sent to me on purpose, and I wonder if they're aware that Hunter knows there are moles in the organisation. My stomach clenches at the thought, and I rack my brain to see if there is any way I can warn him. I might not like the bastard, but he's been helping us, and I wouldn't want him to get hurt because of me. However, I don't get the chance to warn him as the hallway is suddenly swarming with agents who rip me from his grip.

"What are you doing? I was ordered to take her to the cells!" Ryan shouts, his voice loud and authoritative as he glares at the masked ASP agents who are holding me in a tight grip, their hands biting into my skin.

"Change of plans." A new voice fills the corridor as a man in a suit steps past the wall of agents, walking directly up to Ryan, his eyebrow raised as if to dare Ryan to protest. This guy is scary-looking, and his body language is screaming violence. His grey hair is short on the sides and slightly longer at the top, and he has a neatly trimmed beard, which makes him look distinguished. Ryan straightens as they come toe to toe, the newcomer obviously outranking him if his blank expression and ‘to attention' stance is anything to go by.

"Director Hunter instructed me himself."

"Like I said, there's been a change of plan." The new guy crosses his arms, his face expectant as he waits for Ryan's response. I can tell he doesn't want me to go with the new guy, but without giving himself away, there's nothing he can do.

"Fine. I don't give a fuck, as long as I don't have the director up my ass for not doing my job." Throwing his hands up in the air, Ryan spins away and pushes through the agents that are blocking the corridor, his shoes clipping against the flooring as he stalks away. The new guy finally turns his attention onto me, eyeing me from head to toe, and I shudder in disgust. I'm used to people checking me out, but none of them have ever looked at me that way before. I can't name the expression, but it scares me.

With a nod to the guys restraining me, they begin to shuffle me away, taking me down a side corridor I hadn't seen as we walked down it. The smell of medical grade bleach reaches my nose as I'm dragged through an open door. Digging my heels into the floor, I begin to fight against the agents holding me with earnest. The agents curse, but no matter how much I fight, I get hauled farther into the room, towards the awaiting chair. The room looks like that of a dentist's office, with a reclining chair in the middle of the room, except in this room, the chair has strong leather straps attached to the arm and leg rests. A metal trolley full of gleaming tools are laid out on display, and my stomach churns.

Suddenly, my hands are free as they untie me to undoubtedly try to strap me into the chair. Fuck that. Dropping to the floor, I twist to try and rip my arms from the agents' grips, sweeping my leg out in an arc. My leg connects with one of the agents who falls to the ground with a thud, but other agents are on top of me before I know it, pushing me down into the chair. Arching my back, I refuse to sit, but without the strength of my wolf, I can't out power them and my arms and legs are roughly strapped into the chair. The agents file out of the room and I use this opportunity to fight against my restraints, growling as the leather bites into my skin, but not budging. Movement by the door catches my attention and as I look up, I see the grey-haired man watching me with a small smile on his face.

"Hello, Ari. We haven't had a chance to be introduced." His voice is cultured, his accent telling me he's not originally from the US, but I can't place it. Trying to calm my pounding heart, I give him a curt smile .

"I can't say I'm sad about that," I bite out, pulling at my restraints, even though I know it's pointless.

"No, not many people would." He laughs, running a hand through his hair as he stares at me hungrily. "You see, I don't get the opportunity to leave headquarters very often. I have a particular skill set that makes me very valuable to ASP. My name is Rutgar, but I'm known as the Butcher."

Well, that's not promising , I think to myself as I watch him closely, panic rising as I try to steady my breathing. I've been through hell and back when I was in Shadow Pack and came out the other side, so I can do this.

As if able to sense my internal monologue, his smile widens. Walking farther into the room, he shuts the door softly behind him. Everything about this man is quiet, even down to his footsteps on the floor. His eyes flick from me to the silver trolley to my left, and a gleam enters his eyes. I've refused to look at the trolley and the items carefully laid out there, but bile rises in my throat as my mind starts to imagine the worst. Incapable of bearing the suspense, I glance over, unable to see most of them since Rutgar is blocking my view, but as he turns around, I see a knuckle duster in his hand before I raise my eyes to meet his.

"I think you and I will get to know each other very well."

Alex

Ari's been gone for a day, and as the hours tick by without her, I feel a little piece of my humanity slip away. As pack beta, it's my job to protect the pack, and even if that's all she was to me, I would still feel like shit that she was taken, but she's my mate and there was nothing I could do to stop her from being taken.

Garett's a complete mess, blaming himself for Ari's kidnapping. I've never seen him like this, the usual calm and collected bear is livid, wanting to storm ASP headquarters. He was acting like…well, Killian.

Killian, on the other hand, has retreated in on himself, getting quieter and more distant the longer time goes on without her.

When that dickhead Ryan turned up at the pack boundary, it was Isa who brought him in, taking him straight to the alpha. He then explained that ASP had her, that they knew she was Shadowborn. We were ready to storm the headquarters, even Alpha Mortlock offered wolves to assist us, and I know we would have the backing of the bears, but Ryan stopped us. Let's just say it took a lot of convincing, but he explained that we would never get past security to get to her, it would be putting her at risk if we were to rush in. So instead, we're waiting, waiting for Ryan to put his plan into place, and then he'll call us in. Until then, it's business as usual at the pack, and I have to put on a brave face and continue my beta duties.

All I can say is that Ryan had better figure out a plan soon before we just storm in. We need our mate back, she completes us, and if we were to lose her, I feel we might not survive that.