Page 2 of Betrayed Kidnapped Mate
“In his office,” Percy says, pouting and crossing his arms. I let out a chuckle. Percy hates the office because it’s the one room in the house he’s not allowed in yet. Araya is allowed to read and get books from the shelf, but the last time Percy went into the study, he spilled chocolate milk on an antique rug.
“Alright,” I say, just as Linnea comes around the corner.
“Percy!” she says. “I told you it’s time to clean up those blocks.”
“But Biggie is here!”
Linnea rolls her eyes, glancing up at me. When she does, something in her face changes.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says, “Aris is just in his office.”
The look on her face gives me pause. She grabs Percy, blows a raspberry on his stomach, and carries him back to his bedroom. It’s just about nap time—which I know from the many times I’ve babysat for Aris and Linnea over the years.
When I push open the door to Aris’s office, Ado and Byron are inside. Byron, as per usual, has his laptop open in front of him. His bright blue hair is shocking against the deep browns in Aris’s office, but Byron has that effect.
“Good morning,” Aris says, clearing his throat and gesturing to a chair around the large strategy table. I sit, and Aris fills me in on what they’ve been discussing.
For the past two weeks, people have been going missing. People, specifically, meaning humans. Not a single shifter has disappeared, but at least three different humans have gone out for a coffee, to grab some groceries, or to run an errand and not come back.
I press my lips into a line. Our next shifter-human alliance meeting isn’t for a week, but maybe calling an emergency meeting would be a good idea. According to Ado, humans have already been voicing their concerns. The town still hasn’t recovered from Varun, and the automatic assumption is that Aris and the rest of us have something to do with it.
“Well,” Byron says, clearing his throat. “I know the last time I brought this up, people felt strongly that they didn’t want Rosecreek to feel like a surveillance state, but I think more cameras would be a good solution for something like this. I only have the camera above the ATM and the stoplight view—and neither of those is giving me any clues as to who’s taking the humans. So, I propose that I start installing some incognito cameras. The humans—and honestly, most of the pack—won’t even know.”
“I think we should bring it up to the humans,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “They’re already wary of trusting us—I don’t think we should give them any reasons to think we’re not considering them.”
“Can you talk to them?” Aris asks.
“Yeah, I can try and pull an emergency meeting together, but the latest would be next week.”
“I’ll order some cameras,” Byron says, flicking his eyes around the table. “So, they’ll be ready when we get their approval. Assuming they agree.”
There’s a knock at the study door, and we all turn to see Linnea sliding in, shutting the door quietly behind her.
“Percy is down for his nap,” she says. “I don’t have much time. But I have news.”
A few months ago, Linnea proposed an excellent idea for a good use of the underground tunnels and compound Varun built under the town—to hide women and children in need. While living under Varun’s thumb, she’d planned to erase her scent, which would have made it impossible for her to bond with a pack or a mate ever again.
But Varun was bad enough that it seemed like her only option. She wants to offer protection for other people trying to get away from abusive alphas.
“There’s a woman and child in California,” Linnea says, and my chest constricts at the word. “I was contacted by the woman’s mother. Apparently, she’s in extreme danger. Her dad is the alpha, and he goes by more traditionalist views of women. He assumes his daughter is his property, and though she’s been in hiding for years, the mother has reason to believe he’s either discovered her location or is just about to.”
Aris shakes his head, and Ado’s hands tighten into fists on the table. I observe him—ever since Varun, Ado has been a little more unpredictable. During fights, I see him being more ruthless than ever. I think it’s a way for him to release some of the stress from seeing Percy go, but Ado refuses to see a therapist. The guy doesn’t like to talk.
“I know I said I would operate this separately from your team, Aris,” Linnea says, standing tall, her chin in the air. “But I think I will need your help with this one. This woman can’t come to us. We need to go with her.”
Aris nods. I’ve never seen him say “no” to Linnea, and I doubt he’ll start with a situation like this. After seeing what Varun did to his pack mates, Aris is just as passionate about giving people a safe haven.
“Ado and Byron already have plans to meet with some human families today,” Aris says, turning to me. “Are you up for it?”
California. Returning to the west coast.
I look down, thinking about the last time I was in that state and how I made the hardest decision of my life. Leaving behind the only woman I’d ever loved to keep her safe.
Seeing the Pacific again, the palm trees, driving through the desert—it will kill me. But there’s no way I’m chickening out so a woman and child in need take the fall.
“You got it,” I say, standing and taking the last swig of my coffee. “I’ll be on the road in thirty.”
Chapter 2 - Rosa
