"Wh-what did you...?" I slurred, my vision blurring as the world around me began to spin. A familiar scent reached my nose, and I realised with horror who had administered the drug.
"Gregg," I growled, glaring at my father’s beta through the haze that clouded my mind. "I'll kill you for this." His expression was grim, filled with regret, but also determination.
"I'm sorry, Liam," he said quietly. "But we can't let your anger destroy everything. We'll find her, I promise." As darkness crept in, clawing at the edges of my consciousness, my thoughts raced, torn between the betrayal of my trusted gamma and the overwhelming terror for Erica's safety. I couldn't fight it any longer, and the last thing I saw before succumbing to the drug-induced oblivion was the haunted look in my father's eyes.
The moment I opened my eyes, the harsh fluorescent lights stabbed at them like needles. My head throbbed in time with my heartbeat, and for a few seconds, I couldn't remember where I was or what had happened. But then it all came rushing back, Erica missing, my father's betrayal, Gregg drugging me, and the rage ignited once more, burning hotter than ever.
"Erica!" I screamed, my voice raw and desperate. The cell I found myself in seemed to close in on me, the cold metal bars a cruel reminder of my confinement.
"Let me out!" I roared, hurling myself at the bars with every ounce of strength I possessed. Each impact jarred my bones, but the pain didn't matter. All that mattered was getting to Erica before it was too late.
"Please, Liam," a voice pleaded, barely audible over the sound of my own fury. "You're only hurting yourself." I paused, chest heaving, and saw my sister Kaitlyn standing outside the cell, her blue eyes brimming with tears. I hadn't even noticed her come in. She looked terrified, but also resolute, she wouldn't let me out, no matter how much I begged.
"Kaitlyn," I rasped, my throat dry from screaming. "You have to let me out. I need to find Erica. She's in danger, don't you understand?"
"I know, Liam," she replied softly, her voice trembling. "But you can't help her like this. We're already working on a rescue plan. Trust us to bring her back."
"Trust you?" I spat, my anger flaring again. "How can I trust any of you after what you've done? I have to save her myself!"
"Please, Liam," Kaitlyn implored, her eyes never leaving mine. "Just try to stay calm. You need to keep your strength up." With trembling hands, she passed me a bottle of water through the bars. I eyed it suspiciously, but my parched throat won out, and I gulped down the liquid, barely registering the strange aftertaste. A sudden wave of dizziness washed over me, and I realised too late what Kaitlyn had done.
"Another sedative?" I managed to choke out before my legs gave way, sending me crashing to the floor. "Kaitlyn... why?"
"I'm sorry, Liam," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "We're just trying to keep you safe. We'll find Erica, I promise." As darkness once again pulled me under, I could only hope that she was right. And if they didn't find her soon, I swore that I would tear this place apart brick by brick until I did.
I bolted through the woods, my lungs burning and my heart pounding in my chest. The path was treacherous, littered with branches and twigs that threatened to trip me up at every turn, but I couldn't afford to slow down. The image of Erica's face as we made love for the first time by the waterfall kept playing in my mind like a broken record, urging me forward. My muscles screamed in protest, but I pushed myself harder, faster, desperate to reach the plunge pool before it was too late. The memory of Erica's touch, the taste of her lips, spurred me on, even as the fear for her life gnawed at my insides.
Finally, I reached the top of the waterfall, gasping for breath as I looked down into the clearing below. My heart leapt into my throat as I spotted her standing there, her back to me. She was wearing a beautiful black flowy dress, her light red hair billowing out behind her like a fiery halo.
"Erica!" I called out, my voice ragged and strained. She turned to face me, her green eyes brightening with surprise and relief. A smile spread across her face, and my heart ached with the love I felt for her.
"Liam!" she cried, reaching out her arms towards me. I was about to make my way down the path to her when I caught sight of a shadow slinking out from behind the trees. My blood ran cold as I recognised Jasper Blackwood, the alpha of the Shadow Night pack, and the man who had tormented me my whole adult life.
"Erica, watch out!" I screamed as she turned to see Jasper, but it was too late. He had grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her head back as she cried out in pain and terror.
"Let her go!" My roar echoed through the clearing as I leapt from the top of the waterfall, desperate to save the woman I loved. I landed roughly, rolling across the ground before springing to my feet, ready for battle. But the clearing was empty. Erica and Jasper were gone, vanished like a nightmare that continued to haunt me even when I opened my eyes. I frantically called her name, my voice strained with fear and anguish.
"Erica!"
A weak cry of pain reached my ears, and I spun around to find her slumped against the cliff wall. She was battered and bloody, her once radiant red hair matted with dirt and grime. Her face was raw from tears that mixed with the blood staining her cheeks.
"Erica," I choked out, rushing to her side. Every instinct in me screamed to protect her, to hold her close and make the pain disappear. But as I tried to help her, she screamed in agony, each movement causing her more suffering.
"Shh, it's okay. I'm here now," I whispered, trying to reassure her even as my own heart shattered. With every sob wracking her body, my rage towards Jasper only intensified. How could he do this to her? To us?
"Such a pity, isn't it?" A cruel, mocking laugh pierced the air, and I whipped around to see Jasper standing behind me, his grin twisted and merciless.
"Stay away from her!" I snarled, my body tensed and ready to strike.
"Ah, but you see, Liam, it's all your fault," he taunted, stepping closer as his blue eyes gleamed with malice. "Because of you, yet another mate gets to suffer and die."
"Damn you," I spat, my fists clenching with barely contained fury. The thought of losing Erica was unbearable, but the knowledge that it was my own actions that had led us to this point was a torment like no other.
"Such passion," Jasper mused, his grin never fading. "But it won't be enough to save her." At that moment, all I could see was red. The world around me narrowed down to one objective: protect Erica at any cost.
My roar of fury echoed through the clearing as I charged towards Jasper, determined to tear him apart for what he'd done to Erica. But in an instant, he vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but his cruel laughter behind.
"Looking for me?" The sinister voice came from behind, and my heart lurched with horror as I spun around to find Jasper now standing there, holding a terrified Erica by her hair. Her head was pulled back, throat exposed and vulnerable.
