Kelsey
Do you know how hard it is trying to get Callyn by herself? Those boys are practically glued to her hip. I knew that she wouldn’t fall for the same trick again, but luckily the Elder Council has a plan. I’ve been following them around all day, waiting for the right moment to strike. Watching them at the bowling alley and at the diner pissed me off. That should be me. I saw and heard the little spat between Graydon and Callyn. I can use Callyn’s fears against her, if I have too.
Just when I was going to give up for the day and try again tomorrow, an opportunity presented itself. The boys dropped Callie off at home. I was hoping that they would leave, and I could get to her as she walked up to her house, but no they waited until she was inside.
Ugh, now what? I was sitting in my car contemplating what to do, when I get an idea. I could use this time and apologize. I almost gagged at the thought of saying I’m sorry to Callyn. But I have to do this in order to get what I want. Parking my car in front of her house, I get out. I search the ground for a nice size rock that I can conceal. For once, something works out in my favor.
I find the perfect rock a couple of feet away. I quickly grab it and finish walking up to her front door. I knock on the door and wait. Okay, you can do this Kelsey. The Elder Council is counting on you. This may be the last chance you have of getting what you want, because Callyn won’t fall for anything again. Not after this being the second time I can one up them. It doesn’t take long for Callyn to answer.
There is shock on her face, but it quickly morphs into distrust. Good, she shouldn’t trust me.
“What are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you. Can you come outside for a moment?”
She reluctantly steps out on her porch. “What do you need to talk to me about?”
“About the barn. I know what I did was wrong.” I can taste the bile in my throat. This is harder than I thought.
“Apology not accepted. If that is all you came here for, you can save your breath. I don’t want to hear anything that comes out of your mouth.”
This may be easier than I thought. She turns her back to me. Big mistake. I seize the moment. I bring up my hand that holds the rock and bring it down. I hit her in head and she drops like a sack of potatoes. Now, I have to get her to my car and hope that none of the neighbors saw anything. I grab her under her arms and start to drag her back to my car. My shifter genes help with the burden of her weight. She could stand to lose a few pounds, though. She’s just lucky that the boys are her destined mates, otherwise they wouldn’t give her the time of day. She's nothing to look at, especially when they can have me.
Knocking her out seems to be the easy part, because trying to get her in the back of my car is harder than it looks. I struggle for a moment, but eventually get her in the back. I rush to the driver side and get in. The first thing I do is pull out my phone and call Elder Greaves. He picks up on the second ring.
“I have her.”
“Excellent, bring her to the Council chambers. I will set in motion the next stage.”
I nod my head, knowing that he can’t see me. I do as I’m told and hurry there. I don't know how much longer I have until she wakes up, and I would prefer for that not to happen in my car. Elder Caine was waiting for me outside. He walks over to the passenger rear door and opens it. He reaches in and promptly hefts Callyn’s unconscious body out of the car and places her over his shoulder. Carrying her in a fireman's carry hold.
I follow because I don’t want to miss a second of this. I want to be there when she wakes up. I can’t wait to see her face when the Elder Council tells her what they have in store for her. The only thing that is going to be better than this, is when I get to tell her that I’m taking over her spot. I want to see her face when I say that I am going to be the Alpha Queen, and those boys will be mine.
I want to see all hope and joy leave her body, and be replaced by pain and suffering. I want to see the life leave her eyes as they kill her. Walking into the Council chambers, Elder Caine just kind of tosses Callyn to the ground, like a piece of garage. Hm, fitting.
“I’m surprised you managed to do this. You would think that with the few attempts on her life that those boys would never let her out of their sight. They were in here enough moaning about helping her before they really knew anything about her,” Elder Caine says. “I’m actually surprised they haven’t been in here complaining about the recent attacks on her life. It would seem they are not as dumb as I figured. It looks like they have caught on, well at least enough not to trust us. Well, no matter, we will continue. That doesn’t really change our plans.”
“She should wake up soon. I can’t wait to see the expression on her face once she learns about our plans, and what we plan to do to her,” Elder Greaves sneers.
This is almost over. I’m just glad that I’m not the one on the receiving end of his anger. Soon, I’ll have everything I want. I won’t have to deal the Elder Council again.
Zeke
Something is wrong. I can feel it. I’m sitting in my room when a text comes through from an unknown number.
Unknown: We have your mate. If you ever want to see her alive again, come to this address in one hour. You don’t want to see what will happen to her if you don’t come. You come by yourselves. We’ll know if you tell anyone, and we’ll know if bring anyone else, too.
I recognize the address. It’s next to the Michaelson’s property. I swear if they had anything to with this, I’ll make sure none of them are left breathing. I look at the time on my phone. I pull up the group message, my fingers poised and ready to type when the influx of messages started coming in one after another.
Lucian: Did everyone get that message?
Graydon: What the hell, does anyone recognize the number?
Max: I’m trying to communicate with her, telepathically. She’s not answering me.
Graydon: I don’t like this.
Me: We need to go.
Lucian: This is trap.
Max: No shit Sherlock. We don’t have any choice.
Me: If it’s true and they do have her, I can’t stay here and not do anything. I can’t risk losing her.
Graydon: I’m tearing apart anyone who has laid a hand on her.
Lucian: We don’t have much time. We need to get going now, if we plan on making it there on time.
Graydon: My truck, now.
I rush out the door, my mom yelling behind me to come back and tell her what is going on. I don’t have the time. I run over to Graydon’s. In no time at all, all of us are loaded up in his truck on our way to get Callie.
Callie...Callie...CALLIE.
Sweetheart if you can hear me, please answer. I need to know you are okay.
“She’s still not answer my silent messages.”
“Call her phone.” Graydon’s voice is deepening. His bear is close to the surface.
Me, Lucian, and Max all take turns calling or sending her silent messages, but nothing. Not. One. Damn. Thing.
“Guys, you don’t think…” I trail off.
“Don’t you dare say the fucking words,” Graydon growls.
“You can’t blame him. I’m sure the thought has crossed all of our minds. It doesn’t help that she’s not answering. I could understand her phone, because chances are they have her tied up.” Everyone in the truck growls at that thought. “It’s doesn’t explain why she’s not answering the silent messages,” Lucian finishes. “It could be we are too far away. Keep trying. She should answer the closer we get to her.”
He better hope that he’s right, because I don’t...no I can’t think she is gone. I can’t. I don’t think any of us can survive that.
“I’m crossing all my body parts, that we’re wrong,” Max jokes.
“Can’t you be serious for one damn minute,” Graydon yells.
“You’re already pissed off. If I get mad what good is it going to do anyone to have two raged out shifters. I see Lucian and Zeke are barely containing their anger and their skin. So, instead of getting pissy at me, focus on driving and getting us to our mate,” Max says heatedly.
I never seen Max like this. He makes jokes all the time, but sometimes even I forget he can get mad. I do have to say he effectively shut Graydon up. Graydon drove like a bat out of hell to get us to there on time. I don’t think any of us are prepared for the sight before us.