Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Layla
Kai was taken.
The words detonated in my mind like a muffled thunderclap, leaving my ears ringing.
"Drake? How could it be him?!" Kayden snatched up his phone, fist clenched so tight his knuckles went white.
"Alpha, Drake also took half our strategic deployment intel. You need to get to the border and take command immediately!" The rapid clatter of keyboard typing came through the speaker. Evan's voice was grave.
"Damn it!" Kayden spun around and slammed his fist into a nearby tree trunk. Bark splintered. Blood seeped between his knuckles.
"That old bastard spent seven years claiming loyalty to the old Alpha, using my father's dying wishes to keep me in check!" His chest heaved. Under the moonlight, his silver eyes flashed gold. The veins at his temples bulged.
"I thought he was truly loyal. Never suspected him. Turns out he was Finn's man all along!"
Kayden closed his eyes, forcing down whatever emotion threatened to explode. When he opened them again, only cold silver remained.
"I'm going after Kai."
I finally surfaced from the tidal wave of terror. I heard my own voice—calm, so calm it scared me. I turned and started running toward the estate.
"Layla." Kayden grabbed my wrist hard. "Calm down."
"I am calm!" I wrenched free, my voice teetering on the edge of breaking. "My son was taken! Kayden, that's Kai! He's six years old!"
"I know. That's exactly why we need to stay calm." Kayden blocked my path, hands gripping my shoulders, forcing me to meet his eyes. "If we lose our heads, they win."
"But Kai..." Tears were already spilling over. "He'll be scared. He'll cry. He—"
"He's not in immediate danger." Kayden softened his voice, but every word remained clear and firm. "Layla, listen. Drake took him as a hostage."
"Until they get what they want, they won't hurt Kai."
Hostage.
The word pulled my sanity back into focus.
Right. Kayden was right.
If they just wanted him dead, they wouldn't have gone to this much trouble.
They needed Kai to threaten something.
So for now... for now he was safe.
I took a deep breath and blinked hard, forcing the tears back.
"Okay." My voice still shook, but I could think again. "What do we do?"
Kayden drew a heavy breath, clearly fighting to control his own emotions. He looked at me, pain flashing in his eyes.
"The border's under full-scale attack," he said. "Evan says the assault is ten times larger than usual."
"Another diversion."
"They're using Kai to draw us out while hitting the pack's heartland."
I nodded wearily, my brain kicking into overdrive. "If the pack falls, we lose all bargaining power."
"So you have to go back." I met his gaze. "Lead the warriors. Hold the line. Kayden, as Alpha, you can't be absent."
"But Kai—"
"I'll go." I cut him off, my voice steady. "I'll take a team and get Kai back."
"Too dangerous." Kayden shook his head, frowning hard. "Layla, they have vampires, inside contacts, Finn... and we don't even know exactly where Kai is."
He was right. I didn't even know where Kai was...
Thick despair threatened to drown me. Then a strange sensation washed over me. A pull, like an invisible thread tugging at my chest.
"Layla?" Kayden noticed the shift. "What's wrong?"
"I..." I pressed a hand to my chest. The feeling grew stronger. "I can feel him."
"What?"
"Kai." I closed my eyes and focused on that strange pull. "I can feel where he is."
The thread tugged me toward a direction—east. Far, but clear.
"Blood bond," Kayden murmured, surprise crossing his face. "But that kind of connection is usually weak unless the child is in extreme fear or danger." Kayden's expression darkened. "Kai must be terrified."
My heart clenched. The pull intensified.
"East." I opened my eyes. "He's east. Far away."
"That's the abandoned mining district." Kayden's voice roughened. "Where Evan tracked the signal source."
He fell silent for several seconds, then made his decision.
"Evan." He spoke into the phone. "Gather ten of our best warriors immediately. Full combat load. The target is the abandoned mines. We're extracting Kai."
"Yes, sir!" Evan's voice crackled through.
"And," Kayden looked at me, struggle and worry warring in his silver eyes, "Miss Ross goes with you. She can sense Kai's location."
A pause on the other end.
"Understood. I'll keep Miss Ross safe."
He hung up and turned to me.
"Layla, you stay with Evan. He's my most trusted second and one of Silver Moon Pack's finest warriors." He gripped my hand. "You just guide the direction and find Kai. Everything else—leave it to Evan and the team."
"Don't take risks. Don't try to fight." His gaze was serious. "Promise me."
I knew he was right. I had no combat experience. Acting rashly would only make me a liability. But the blood pull wouldn't let me rest. I had to go. Only I could find Kai.
"I promise," I said. "I'll follow Evan's orders."
"Take this." Kayden unholstered the silver bullet pistol from his waist, along with spare magazines. "Aim. Squeeze the trigger. Recoil's a bit heavy, but you can handle it." He demonstrated, then pressed the gun into my hands.
I fumbled through checking the magazine and racking the slide. Kayden watched me handle the weapon, complex emotions flickering in his eyes.
"Remember—only use it when absolutely necessary. Evan and the others will keep you safe."
I nodded and secured the gun. I didn't know if I'd even be able to use it, but at least I felt slightly less helpless.
Kayden looked at me deeply, his eyes full of reluctance. We stared at each other, moonlight flowing between us. Then he stepped forward and pulled me into his arms, holding tight.
"Come back alive." His voice trembled against my ear. "Layla, promise me."
"I promise." I held him just as tight, burying my face against his chest. "You too. Hold the pack, and then..."
"And then wait for me to bring Kai home."
He released me and cupped my face. His thumbs swept across my cheeks, catching the tears still falling. Then he bent and kissed me. Hard. The kiss tasted of desperation, like he was drawing courage for what came next. I kissed him back, fingers clutching his shirt.
This might be the last time.
If one of us didn't make it back...
At least we'd kissed each other.
When we broke apart, we were both breathing hard.
"Go." He pressed his forehead to mine. "I'll be waiting."
"I love you," I said it—the first time I'd said those three words so directly. "Kayden, whatever happens, remember that."
Kayden's eyes reddened.
"I love you too," he said. "Always."
One last kiss, feather-light on my forehead. Then he released me and ran toward the border. His silhouette vanished into the forest.
I stood there, gripping the gun.
Wait for me, Kai.
Mommy's coming.
The estate was in chaos.
Warriors assembling. The clang of weapons. The air reeked of gunpowder and blood. I found Evan directing the defensive positioning.
"Miss Ross." He saw me and strode over immediately. "Team's ready."
He led me to a group of fully armed warriors. Ten men, all young and strong. Sharp eyes. Ramrod posture.
"Silver Moon Pack's elite strike team," Evan said. "Alpha specifically ordered your protection as top priority."
I looked at those ten hard faces and said quietly, "Thank you."
Evan looked startled, gave a small laugh, and shook his head. He turned to the warriors.
"This mission puts us face-to-face with vampires—likely their strongest."
The warriors' expressions shifted, but no one flinched.
"We'll meet heavy resistance. But remember—we have one objective. Retrieve Kai."
"No prolonged engagement. No unnecessary risks. Find him and extract immediately."
"Yes, sir!" they answered in unison.
"Move out."
We cut through the forest heading east. The warriors moved with fluid precision, nearly silent. I stayed close to Evan. The pull in my chest grew stronger.
"That direction." I pointed ahead. "Straight on."
Evan nodded and adjusted the team's course.
The forest was dark, moonlight mostly blocked by the heavy canopy. We moved swiftly between trees, footsteps light. In the distance—sounds of fighting. The main force engaging the invaders. Firelight lit half the sky. Explosions. Wolf howls and screams.
"Circle around," Evan ordered quietly. "Flank them. Avoid the main battlefield."
The team immediately changed direction.
Suddenly—a sickly sweet rotting smell.
"Stop." Evan raised his hand.
Everyone froze, scanning the surroundings. Shadows shifted. Six vampires leapt from behind trees, blood-red eyes glowing in the dark.
"Protect Miss Ross!" Evan shouted, drawing his pistol.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Silver bullets streaked through the night, hitting their marks. Three vampires shrieked and collapsed, bodies shriveling rapidly. The other warriors opened fire. Gunshots echoed through the forest.
Two warriors shielded me, raising their barriers against lunging vampires. My hand went to my gun, but I didn't draw—I was afraid of hitting our own people.
Another volley. The remaining vampires fell. Black blood spread across the ground, reeking.
"Keep moving," Evan said. "Stay alert."
We quickened our pace. The pull in my chest intensified until I could barely breathe.
Two more ambushes—five vampires, two traitorous wolves. Evan and the warriors worked in seamless coordination, dispatching them quickly. I stayed well-protected the entire time. Not even my clothes got bloodied.
Finally—the abandoned mining district. A scene of decay. Collapsed buildings. Rusted rails. Several dark mine entrances gaping like mouths.
"Miss Ross," Evan turned to me. "Can you pinpoint Kai's location?"
I closed my eyes and focused on the pull.
"There." I opened my eyes and pointed to the largest mine entrance. "He's deep inside."
Evan nodded and began deploying the team.
"Pairs. Search the perimeter. Report enemy contacts immediately. No one acts alone."
"Yes, sir!"
The warriors scattered.
"Miss Ross, stay close," Evan said. "We're going in."