Kidnap – 1

Thea’s POV

It had been over a month since my house burned down, and things had been eerily quiet. No more attacks, no more threats. For a moment, I was naive enough to hope that whoever wanted me dead had given up.

“Your scent is now known throughout the werewolf community in North America.” Those were Chief Hawthorne’s exact words when he warned me not to get too comfortable. “For someone determined to kill you, finding you is just a matter of time. Don’t let your guard down, especially now that your identity is public.”

I understood his concern, but it was hard not to relax my vigilance when everything had been peaceful for so long, and my daily life was slowly getting back to normal.

Without Leo’s company, Kane had been my only light during this time. His presence gave me a sense of security, and every moment with him revealed a new side of myself I never knew existed. I never thought I could be so confident, so bold in expressing my desires. Kane didn’t judge me—in his eyes, I wasn’t a defective wolfless, but a complete woman.

I enjoyed being with him, and if I was honest with myself, I had to admit I was developing feelings for him. My seven-year marriage to Sebastian felt like an endless winter, and Kane brought the long-awaited spring. I’d thought my longing for love had frozen over, but he melted it all away. Those late-night whispers, those morning smiles, that wordless understanding… all of it made me start to believe that maybe, even without a wolf, I could have real happiness.

I could imagine building a life with him. If he wanted me too, of course.

My phone’s ringtone interrupted my happy thoughts about Kane.

“Where the fuck are you?” Iris’s voice came through from the other end.

I looked around, realizing I was at least twenty minutes late. Iris and I had agreed to meet at her favorite club—it was the night before the full moon, and wolves all over the city were looking for ways to release the pressure.

“Sorry, just parking. Kane was a bit… enthusiastic today,” I answered with a laugh, feeling the fresh mark on my neck.

“Spare me the details, woman,” she groaned, “I can already smell him all over you.”

After hanging up, I took a deep breath and pushed open the doors to the nightclub. Iris and I had decided to do something different today. We usually met at restaurants, but Iris wanted to change things up. I immediately agreed. I’d never really been to a nightclub, and I’d only drunk alcohol twice.

The first time was the night Sebastian and I messed up, and the second was the night Kane and I first slept together. Both times I went to a bar.

It was funny. I’d been drinking when I first had sex with both men. With Kane, though, I was only tipsy and remembered everything. With Sebastian, I only remembered fragments.

“Finally!” Iris waved at me from the VIP section. She was wearing a red dress tonight that sparkled under the club lights.

“You know I was busy doing something,” I said, sitting down beside her with a smug smile.

She grinned, immediately understanding what I meant. “Then here’s to you, baby!” she exclaimed, raising her glass excitedly.

After downing it in one go, she signaled the waiter to come over. “You should try this… it’s fucking amazing,” she said, ordering one for me too.

When I tasted it, I was indeed impressed by the flavor. “You’re right, it’s really good,” I agreed. Sweet without being harsh, just how I liked it. I rarely drank, mainly because I didn’t like the bitter taste.

“How have you been lately?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Not bad, but this week has been crazy busy,” she sighed in response.

“Need any help?”

She leaned back dramatically against the sofa. “Unless you can conjure up extra hands and feet and a brand new brain for me.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Then I can’t help you.”

“What about you?” she suddenly turned serious. “Have you heard from Sebastian?”

Ever since the day Sebastian and Kane fought, I hadn’t been able to contact him. Not even about Leo. When I called, he didn’t answer; when I texted, I only received replies from his lawyer.

I should have been happy. After all, it was my idea for him to keep his distance in the first place, but it felt off. Like he was deliberately avoiding me, and I had no idea why.

Kidnap – 2

I sighed. “No. He doesn’t want to talk to me, and I won’t force him… besides, I was the one who asked him to keep his distance. I guess he’s finally respecting my wishes for once.”

“I doubt that,” she mused thoughtfully.

“Do you know something?”

“Not for sure, but I suspect something happened.”

I looked at her skeptically. The only thing that could have happened was Aurora demanding he stay away from me. But I doubted that. Sebastian wasn’t the type to follow orders, especially when they involved Leo.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Whatever. None of that matters today. We’re here to have fun and relax.”

“You’re right,” she said cheerfully, checking her phone. “Shit, I need to go to the bathroom. Be right back.”

She didn’t even give me a chance to respond before hurrying away.

I waited, but she didn’t return. I waited another five minutes, and she still hadn’t come back. I started to worry and got up to check on her.

When I couldn’t find her in the bathroom, I began to panic. I rushed back to the VIP area.

“Did you see the woman who was with me a few minutes ago?” I asked the bartender.

He smiled and answered, “Yes, I saw her leave through the back door.”

“Thanks,” I murmured as I left. I was confused why she would leave without telling me, especially since her phone and purse were still inside.

I went outside and started looking around. No sign of her. Just as I pulled out my phone to call Roman, someone hit me from behind. I lost consciousness.

When I woke up, my vision was a bit blurry, and my head was throbbing painfully. It took me a moment to realize I’d been kidnapped.

My hands were tied, and I was hanging from the ceiling. I shook the chains, struggling to escape.

“Don’t waste your energy… you won’t leave this place alive,” a raspy voice came from my left.

I looked around and finally saw him. I seemed to be in an abandoned warehouse, empty and bare all around.

The man speaking looked to be in his thirties with blonde hair. He had a beard and thin lips. His gray eyes stared at me with malicious intent.

“Who are you? What do you want?” I was terrified.

“Who I am doesn’t matter, and as for what I want, you already know,” he answered with a shrug.

Just as I’d feared. My luck had run out. Now I was with this psycho, and I doubted anyone would find me in time.

“Please let me go… I’m begging you, I have a son,” I pleaded, my voice shaking.

The thought of dying and leaving Leo alone brought tears to my eyes.

“Can’t do that… I’ve been paid a lot of money to kill you.”

“If it’s money you want, I can give you everything you want. I’m wealthy,” I tried to reason with him.

“Wish it was just about the money, but I’ve accepted the job, and I always complete my jobs,” he said with a smile, as if this was something to be proud of.

If it were any other job, it might be worth being proud of, but not when you’re a cold-blooded killer.

“Please, I’ll do anything. I can give you anything.”

He stood up and walked toward me. He slid his knife down my face.

“You’re beautiful, and I’d love to have you, but you’re not worth risking my reputation for,” he whispered in my ear, sending chills down my spine.

Just then, the warehouse door slowly opened. We both turned, and for a moment, I was relieved, thinking I was saved.

But his next words shattered my illusion.

“I promised you I’d get the job done.” The assassin bowed to the figure at the door, “I caught her, just as you requested.”

As the figure stepped into the light, everything inside me froze. I couldn’t believe my eyes, couldn’t believe such betrayal.

“You…” my voice trembled with shock, “how could it be you?”

I never imagined that the person I trusted most would be the one who wanted me dead.