"Agreed," I growled, my mind racing with the urgency of the situation. The thought of losing my fated mate, of letting her fall into Jasper's clutches, was unbearable. I had to get her back, no matter the cost.
"Verity," my father said, his voice stern as he threw me a disapproving look. "How close can you get to Erica?"
"Actually," Verity replied, her voice steady and confident. "I've managed to get myself assigned to her personal Guard."
"Really?" I asked, impressed despite my lingering anger. "How did you pull that off?"
"Simple," she explained, a hint of pride in her voice. "I told Jasper that if he wanted Erica on his side, he'd need a familiar face. Grant's been a complete dick, and Heidi... Well, she's trying to sleep her way through the warrior guard. So it was easy for me to step in as the perfect choice."
"Smart move," my father nodded in approval. "Just make sure you stick close to her. We're counting on you."
"Of course," Verity confirmed. "I'm already putting things in place for when we execute the rescue. Don't worry; I won't let you down."
"Good," my father said, his expression softening ever so slightly. "We're going in for Erica and you in the next forty-eight hours."
"Forty-eight hours," I repeated, clenching my fists at my sides. The thought of waiting even a second longer seemed unbearable, but I knew we had to be smart about this. We couldn't risk endangering Erica or Verity further by rushing in unprepared. My heart raced as we strategised, each minute ticking by painfully slow. I tried to focus on the plan, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Erica. My body ached for her, and I could only imagine what she was going through at that very moment. A sudden, sharp pain shot through my heart, making me wince.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath, gripping the edge of the table to steady myself. A wave of fear and lust washed over me, nearly knocking me off balance. My wolf howled in distress, chanting that our mate needed us, now.
"Something's wrong," I blurted out, my voice carrying a sense of urgency. "Erica... I can feel it. She's in trouble." My father's eyes narrowed, and the room went silent. I struggled to control the panic rising in my chest, knowing that my connection with Erica was stronger than any rational thought. She was being lured by Jasper's power, pulled toward him like a moth to a flame.
"Erica is losing herself," I choked out, feeling another wave of shame and lust crash over me. "The power... it's controlling her."
"Verity," my father demanded, his voice tense. "What's happening with Erica right now?"
"Jasper's with her," Verity replied hesitantly, confirming my worst fears.
"Son of a bitch," Gregg spat, slamming his fist on the table. I clenched my jaw so tightly I feared it might shatter, my entire body trembling with barely suppressed rage.
"Get in position," my father instructed Verity and Wes, his tone decisive. "We're moving up the timeline. We go in three hours. No more waiting."
Chapter 24
Erica
Thecoldsweatthattrickled down my spine didn't seem to match the heat that burned through my veins every time Jasper was near. I couldn't help but be conscious of the way my body hummed in his presence, like a moth drawn to a deadly flame. It wasn't normal, it shouldn't be normal. He was my kidnapper, for goddess sake. The man had tortured me, threatened to rape and kill me, and allowed his guards to do unspeakable things to me. And yet, here I was, feeling attraction and lust towards him. Why? How could I even think about giving in to his desires when he had caused me so much pain?
"Stop it!" I whispered to myself, shaking my head to rid myself of those thoughts. My heart pounded in my chest as I scrambled up from the bed and rushed to the double doors, desperate to escape the confines of this room. But I already knew it was futile, the doors were locked, and each attempt to enter a code into the stupid keypad was met with a harsh red light and a mocking beep.
"Doesn't anyone use normal keys anymore?" I muttered under my breath, frustration mounting. My hands shook as I tried once more, only to receive the same infuriating results. I leaned against the door, panting, a mix of fear and frantic panic coursing through me.
"Damn it," I whispered, sliding down the door onto the floor. What was happening to me? Why was I feeling this way about Jasper? Shame washed over me, and I pressed my hands against my face, trying to quell the turmoil within.
"Get a grip, Erica," I told myself, my voice muffled by my hands. "You can't give in to him. You have to find a way out of here." But deep down, a small part of me feared that if Jasper walked back into the room, I would be helpless against his charm, unable to resist the pull that he had over me. And that terrified me more than anything else.
Defeated, I sank onto the plush sofa in my gilded cage of a prison, staring blankly at the wall. My thoughts were a whirlwind of fear, panic, and an inexplicable lust that filled me with shame. Jasper had done terrible things to me, yet I couldn't help but feel drawn to him. I was so lost in my own turmoil that I almost missed the faint beep that sounded from the keypad by the double doors. I blinked, glancing over to see the red light turn green. The door swung open, revealing a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair and tattoos covering his arms. He strolled into the room with confidence, two other men following behind him, carrying trays of what smelled like delicious food.
"Set 'em down there, lads," he instructed them in a thick Irish accent, gesturing toward the coffee table. They placed the trays down, each with a place setting for three, then left the room at his dismissive wave. I frowned, trying to place where I'd seen this man before. Then it hit me, he'd been with Jasper when we first met at the bar where I used to work.
As if sensing my recognition, the man grinned at me, and his infectious smile caused the corners of my mouth to lift involuntarily.
"Name's Kieran," he said. "I'm Jasper's beta, but don't hold that against me, yeah?" Despite everything, I found myself liking Kieran. There was something genuine about him that eased some of the tension in my chest. But I couldn't let my guard down; I was still a prisoner, after all.
"Nice to meet you, Kieran," I replied cautiously, my voice wavering slightly. "So, are you here to keep an eye on me? Make sure I don't try to escape?" He laughed, a warm, hearty sound that was oddly comforting. Kieran sat at the other end of the sofa, casually opening up one of the trays. The rich scent of a cooked chicken dinner with thick gravy and vegetables wafted through the air, stirring my hunger as my stomach rumbled in response.
"Nah, not my job. I'm just here to keep you company for a bit." I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing that nothing was quite as simple as that.
"Go on, eat up," Kieran grinned at me, gesturing towards the tray in front of me as he began to devour the meal laid out on his own plate. I hesitated for a moment before lifting the lid off my tray, revealing another enticing dish that made my mouth water. My gaze shifted to the covered tray next to me, and Kieran caught my glance.
