"Seems like it," Wes confirmed grimly over the phone. "His interest in her has definitely changed. She's not just a pawn to him anymore." My blood ran cold at the thought of Jasper's twisted obsession with Erica growing even stronger. It was bad enough that she had been tormented and abused by him; now, it seemed he wanted to possess her completely.
"Damn it," Damon muttered under his breath, echoing my own thoughts as we exchanged uneasy glances. We both understood the gravity of this new development. If Jasper Blackwood had realised who Erica truly was, then he and his power-hungry father wouldn't hesitate to exploit her for their own nefarious purposes.
"Erica's been moved to the Alpha floor," Wes continued, and I felt the knot in my stomach tighten even more. The closer she was to the heart of the enemy's territory, the harder it would be to get her out. But we had no choice, we couldn't leave her in the clutches of those monsters for a moment longer than necessary.
"Alright," I said, trying to keep the anger and desperation from seeping into my voice. "We need to act fast. We need to get her out of there before they can do any more damage." "Agreed," said my father, his jaw set in determination. "We'll have to revise our plans, but we won't let them use Erica against us."
"Is your contact still able to get close to Erica?" my father asked, his voice steady despite the growing unease in the room. Wes hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his words.
"Yes, she's managed to position herself very close to the Luna," he finally replied. "But I'm concerned for her safety, especially now that things have escalated."
"Understandable," my father nodded, glancing at Gregg who returned the gesture. "We'll make sure to extract her along with Erica." I could hear the relief in Wes's tone, even over the phone. It was then that I pieced it together. Wes's contact was his fated mate, which explained the mind link they shared despite her being in the Shadow Night pack. The thought of my own fated mate, Erica, in danger sent a fresh wave of determination coursing through me. I had to protect her, no matter what.
"Thank you," I said, my voice firm and resolute. "We'll gladly include her in our plans. We all understand the need to keep our mates safe." My father shot me a proud smile, and I felt a spark of warmth amidst the turmoil of emotions raging inside me.
"Appreciate it, Liam," Wes replied, gratitude evident in his tone. "I owe you one."
"Let's just focus on getting them both out safely," I insisted, my thoughts racing as we continued to strategize. Every passing second was another moment Erica remained in the clutches of Jasper Blackwood, and I couldn't stand the thought of her suffering any longer.
"Shit!" Wes's voice broke through the tense atmosphere in the conference room, followed by a cacophony of growls and snarls. With my heart pounding in my chest, I watched as the line went dead, leaving us all staring at the silent phone.
"Damn it," Gideon murmured, fingers flying across his laptop as he tried to make contact with the recon team. Gregg, too, was frantically redialling, but the incessant busy tone only seemed to heighten our collective anxiety. I could feel my wolf pacing restlessly inside me, its anger and fear mirroring my own.
"Everyone just stay calm," my father said, though his eyes betrayed his own concern. "We'll figure this out." As if on cue, the conference phone rang again, displaying an unknown number. We exchanged wary glances before my father reached for the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Everything's okay," Wes panted, and relief washed over me like a cool wave. The room seemed to breathe again, a collective sigh of tension easing.
"Thank God," my father muttered. "What happened?"
"Bit of a misunderstanding," Wes explained, sounding sheepish. "My phone got broken in the process."
"Care to elaborate?" Gregg asked, eyebrows raised.
"Actually, that was my fault, Sir," came a familiar female voice, and my eyes widened as I recognised Verity Thompson, one of Erica's closest friends.
"Verity?" I blurted, disbelief and confusion warring within me. "What? You’re the contact?"
"Long story," she replied, and I could almost hear her grin. "But trust me when I say I'm on your side."
"Verity, what the hell?" I demanded, my voice a mix of relief and frustration. "Why didn't you tell us you were going undercover?"
"Because I couldn't risk blowing my cover," she replied, her voice steady despite the intensity of the situation. "I made the suggestion to Wes, and we both agreed it was better if fewer people knew. I'm sorry, Liam."
"Damn it, Verity," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "But I'm glad you're not a traitor." My heart swelled with gratitude for her bravery and loyalty.
"Thanks," she said, the relief palpable in her voice. "Now let me give you an update on Erica."
"Please," I urged, desperate for any information, any hope.
"Erica's on the Alpha floor now," Verity reported, her voice catching a little. "Jasper... he's become obsessed with her. He's announced a mating ceremony." A growl rumbled in my chest, my blood boiling at the mere thought. The urge to tear Jasper apart surged through me like wildfire. "If he touches her, I'll kill him myself," I snarled, clenching my fists.
"Easy, Liam," Damon murmured, his calming aura washing over me like a soothing balm. "We'll get her back. But first, we need to stay focused."
"Right," I agreed, taking a deep breath to regain control of my emotions. "So what's our next move?"
"Since Verity's already inside, we can use her intel to plan our rescue," my father suggested, his face etched with concern. "But we need to act fast. Time is running out."
