The door to the conference room swung open, and my heart lurched in my chest for a moment as Damon walked in, deep in conversation with a blond-haired guy I didn't recognise. Jacob, my Gamma, trailed behind them, his eyes downcast. Damon caught my eye and offered a sad smile before striding over to me.
"Nice to see you out, brother," he said softly, pulling me into a tight hug. I breathed in the familiar scent of my best friend, grateful for the small comfort it brought. As we pulled apart, Damon gestured to the blond stranger.
"Liam, this is Beck Hughes. He's from Erica's former pack and was her foster brother growing up."
"Good to meet you," I grunted, shaking Beck's hand. My fingers tightened around his, the need to save Erica coursing through my veins like a drug. "We'll get her back, no matter what it takes."
"Even if we have to raise the waves to do it," Beck replied, his voice firm but haunted. I raised an eyebrow at the strange remark, and Beta Hayes appeared beside us, clapping Beck on the shoulder. My father nodded, noticing my expression.
"Beck here is part of the Moon Key pack," he explained, as Beta Hayes shook my hand. "Turns out, they haven't been entirely honest about their members. Those humans? They're actually witches with their powers bound." Beta Hayes shrugs with a sad smile.
“We did what we could to protect our people,” he said like it explained everything. I glanced at Damon, who nodded in confirmation. He had already told everyone about discovering that Erica was both a wolf and a witch while speaking with Audrey, but hearing further confirmation made the situation feel all the more surreal. Witches and werewolves, two worlds colliding in a way I never would have imagined.
"Bound powers?" I asked, trying to wrap my head around the concept.
"Apparently, they've been keeping the truth hidden for years," Damon chimed in. "Audrey did mention that Erica's powers might be the key to breaking the curse." There was a glimmer of hope in his words, but it all revolved around getting my mate back safely.
I scanned the room, taking in the focused expressions and furrowed brows of everyone working tirelessly to find Erica. My gaze landed on Jacob, my Gamma, who stood apart from the rest, unusually quiet and withdrawn. His head hung low, and I could see the weight of guilt bearing down on him.
"Jacob," I called out softly as I approached him. He slowly lifted his tear-filled eyes, meeting my gaze with an expression of pure anguish.
"Alpha... Liam, I'm so sorry," he choked out, his voice trembling. "I failed you, I failed Luna Erica. I was responsible for her safety, and now she's gone." The heavy atmosphere in the room seemed to thicken as all eyes turned towards us, a mixture of sympathy and curiosity in their gazes. I inhaled deeply, feeling the storm of emotions raging within me, the fear for Erica's wellbeing and the anger towards those who had taken her.
"Jacob, this isn't your fault," I said firmly, looking directly into his eyes. "We were all blindsided by what happened. The blame lies with those who betrayed us and took Erica, not with you."
"But I should have been more vigilant, Alpha," Jacob insisted, his voice cracking under the weight of his self-condemnation. "I should have protected her better."
"Enough," I commanded, my tone gentle but firm. "There will be no punishment for you, Jacob. We're going to work together to bring Erica back, and that's all that matters right now." With that, I pulled him into a tight embrace, and I felt the room collectively exhale, releasing the tension that had built up. As we broke apart, I turned to the large conference table and addressed the group.
"Alright, everyone, what's our next move? How do we bring Erica home?" The room buzzed with activity once more as pack members and allies shared their thoughts and strategies. We were all united in our goal, to rescue Erica and bring her back safely where she belonged. And I was determined to do whatever it took to make that happen, no matter the cost.
The clock struck 2 am, and the last person finally left the conference room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and plans sprawled across the table. I knew I should sleep, but my mind refused to let go of Erica's predicament. A sudden noise behind me jolted me out of my reverie, and I turned to see Beck standing there, looking apologetic.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he said, his voice soft. "Can't sleep either?"
"Every time I close my eyes, all I see is her face," I confessed, the weight of my worry evident in my tone. "I can't rest until she's back with us." Beck nodded in understanding.
"Erica's like a sister to me," he shared, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I wish I could do more to help bring her home."
"None of this is your fault," I reassured him, even as I fought off my own guilt. "We'll find her and bring her back, I promise."
"Finding out I'm a witch and that it's been hidden from me and my twin our whole lives...it's a lot to take in," Beck admitted, rubbing at his eyes in frustration. "But what matters most to me right now is making sure Erica is safe. She's not just important to you or the pack, Liam. She's important to the world, even if they don't know it yet." Tears streamed down his cheeks as he pleaded, "Please, bring my sister back safely."
"I will," I vowed, my voice cracking with raw emotion. Beck gave me a small, grateful smile before leaving the room, leaving me once again to wrestle with the responsibility of rescuing Erica.
As the silence settled back around me, I made my way upstairs to my own room on the alpha floor. My hand trembled as I reached into my bedside table and pulled out a small ring box adorned with a purple bow. I had planned to surprise her on her birthday, but now...
Determined to feel closer to Erica, I walked down the hall to the room she had been staying in. The moment I opened the door, her citrus scent enveloped me, and it felt like she was right there with me. I placed the ring box on the bedside table before climbing into the bed and wrapping myself in the sheets that still carried her essence. As tears fell from my eyes, I whispered into the empty room, "Happy birthday, baby."
Chapter 19
Erica
Istirred,myeyesfluttering open to the soft caress of silk against my skin. The bed beneath me felt like a cloud, large and incredibly plush. White sheets with edges trimmed in gold enveloped me, contrasting sharply with the cold, dark cell I had grown accustomed to. My heart pounded as I took in my surroundings. The room breathed opulence, every detail meticulously chosen to create a modern, feminine haven. A lush sofa stood at one end, adorned with golden throw pillows. A sleek coffee table stood nearby, accompanied by a massive TV mounted on the wall. A sturdy desk occupied another corner, its surface pristine and unblemished. Floor-to-ceiling windows spanned an entire wall, dressed in gauzy white curtains that allowed sunlight to filter through, casting warm rays across the room. Set of double doors beckoned from across the space, promising an escape, although I suspected it was a false promise. Despite the luxury, I couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped. As I cautiously pulled back the bedding, my suspicions were confirmed. My dress was gone, leaving me clad only in my bra and panties. Dark dirt stained the once-pristine sheets, a stark reminder of my filthy conditions in the cell. My mind raced to piece together the events that led to this moment: the assault by Heidi, being stabbed by Jasper, and then... his father intervening. Was it possible that I had some unknown leverage over these monsters? If so, how could I exploit it for my survival?
"His queen?" I muttered to myself, replaying the last moments in the cell. Jasper’s father had stopped his son from torturing me further, leaving me broken and vulnerable on the floor. What could have possibly made him change his mind about me?
Gingerly, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, wincing as pain flared in my side. I clenched my teeth against the pain, forcing myself to stand up from the luxurious bed. It struck me that I might be able to use whatever it was that made them change their treatment of me to my advantage. As I took a shaky step away from the bed, my hand instinctively went to my wounded side. The stab wound Jasper had inflicted was still tender, but it seemed to be healing faster than it should have.
