Chapter 68
Adrian’s POV
My blood ran cold. “Kane.”
Ryder’s head snapped toward me, his body tensing at the name.
‘I presume you’re in Boring by now,” Kane continued, sounding infuriatingly pleased with himself. “Finding a distinct lack of information about your missing pack members?”
“What have you done with them?” I demanded, my voice dropping to a dangerous growl.
“Done with them?” Kane chuckled, the sound grating against my eardrums. “I’ve merely invited two lovely neighbors to visit my territory. One can hardly call that abduction.”
The pieces clicked into place. The memory gaps, the inconsistent stories – it all pointed to Alpha influence.
As the leader of his pack, Kane could mentally control all the wolves under him, and being an exceptionally powerful Alpha, he could also alter short–term memories of humans. This ability was precisely why werewolves, despite being vastly outnumbered by humans, had managed to live alongside them undetected for centuries.
Kane had taken Skye and Nadia, then systematically erased all evidence of the confrontation from the humans‘ minds.
“What do you want?” I asked, forcing control into my voice.
“Straight to business. I’ve always appreciated that about you, Adrian.” Kane’s tone shifted, hardening into something colder. “What I want is simple: Oasisborn territory. All of it. You and your pack of broken misfits will evacuate Texas entirely, leaving behind all infrastructure, resources, and that particularly lovely water source.”
“You’re insane, I hissed. “You seriously expect me to surrender our territory for-”
“For your loyal Beta?” Kane interrupted. “For the silver–haired beauty who clearly means so much more to you than you’re willing to admit? Yes, I rather think I do.”
His voice dropped lower, taking on a disturbing, lewd quality that made my skin crawl. “And if you don’t agree, well… I’m afraid you’ll never see those two lovely ladies again. My warriors and I are quite eager to… sample their flavors.” He chuckled, the sound oily and repulsive. “They’re both rather exquisite specimens, wouldn’t you agree?”
My vision blurred with rage, a low growl building in my chest. It took every ounce of my control not to shift right there.
My free hand clenched into a fist so tight my nails bit into my palm, drawing blood. “I want proof they’re alive.”
“Of course,” Kane replied smoothly. “Check your messages in thirty seconds.”
The call ended abruptly. I stood frozen, counting the seconds until my phone vibrated with an incoming message. Ryder was instantly at my side as I opened the image.
The photograph showed Skye and Nadia in what appeared to be a stone cell. Their wedding attire was torn and dirty, Skye’s silver hair tangled around her pale face. A smear of dried blood marked her left cheek, and though her eyes blazed with defiance, I could see the fear beneath it.
Nadia stood beside her, one arm positioned protectively in front of Skye, her expression a mask of barely controlled fury.
I’ll kill him,” Ryder whispered, his youthful face/hardening with a rage I’d never seen in him before,
My phone rang again – Kane, calling back for my answer.
“Well?” he asked when I answered, his voice smug.
I need time, I replied, fighting to keep my voice steady.
Time? Kane scoffed. “Do I strike you as a patient man?
Twenty–four hours,” I countered. “I need to consult with my pack.”
There was a long pause, then a thoughtful hum. “Very well. Twenty–four hours to make the only rational decision. But be warned, Adrian – after that, the price of their return increases substantially.”
If you harm either of them-” I began.
“You’ll what?” Kane’s voice dripped with contempt. “Attack me on my own territory? With what army? Your collection of cripples and castoffs?” He laughed, the sound chilling. “Twenty–four hours, Adrian. Choose wisely.”
The call disconnected, leaving me staring at my phone, rage boiling through my veins. I looked down to find my claws had extended, piercing the side of the device. With effort, I retracted them, turning to find both Ryder and Buck watching me with varying degrees of alarm.
“Son,‘ Buck said carefully, ‘I don’t know what’s going on, but whatever trouble Skye’s in, you look about ready to tear someone apart. And something tells me you could actually do it.”
I forced myself to take a deep breath, to push back the wolf that was clawing at my control, demanding blood for this violation.
“We need to go,” I told Ryder, already heading for the door. “Now.”
“Wait, Buck called after us. “If Skye’s in real danger, let me help.”
I paused, turning back to meet the old man’s determined gaze. “The best thing you can do for Skye is forget we were ever here. Trust me, Buck – this isn’t something the local police can handle.”
Without waiting for his response, I pushed through the door into the harsh daylight, Ryder close behind me. My mind was already racing, formulating and discarding plans as we walked briskly to my SUV.
“What are we going to do?” Ryder asked as we climbed in.
I started the engine, my grip white–knuckled on the steering wheel. “We’re going to get them back,” I said, my voice deadly calm. “And then I’m going to tear Kane’s pack apart piece by piece.”
