FORTY-NINE

**-Ryan’s POV-**

“Scott!”

Oh my Gosh, where is he? Something’s feeling off and my wolf doesn’t like the feeling. I’ve spoken to Hunter and he told me that Beta Jeff didn’t take the news that well. He went for a walk and hasn’t returned. It’s just, strange….

“Scott! Answer me!”

I storm into the kitchen and stare into a lot of faces who are staring back at me. Right, it’s dinner time. “Sorry, I - uuhh - I forgot the time.” I look around the table, only to find out that there’s no Indy. “Scott, where’s Indy?”

Scott clears his throat. “Well, hello to you too, Ryan. Easy, she’s with Beta Jeff in the Orangery. Take a seat and have some food. Relax…”

“Beta Jeff? Is he here already? That isn’t right! I just spoke to Hunter on the phone, he - he…”

Scott stands up from his chair. “You, what?”

I can’t wait for Scott, I turn around and run towards the Orangery. I open the door and stare into … nothing. “Where is she! SCOTT!” I roar so loudly, that the walls are shaking and one of the windows crack.

“She was here! She and Jeff were going to have dinner after they were done talking. I - that was around 45 minutes ago. Maybe she’s just in her room, I’m going to check immediately!” Scott says.

I turn around to face him. “Are you crazy, Scott. Smell the room! She was here not long ago. And look!” I point towards the door that’s open. “It was locked, but it’s not anymore. The lock is broken. I don’t think that she’s in her room.”

I’m feeling furious and I can’t understand why Scott is acting so weird. Shouldn’t he be angry as well? I know my wolf is, he’s wild. “Don’t you understand? Something is wrong, Scott. Jeff kidnapped her, took her. HE TOOK OUR MATE!”

It’s like I hit him in the face with those words, I can feel he understands what’s going on. His anger feeds mine.

“We have to find her!” Scott yells and he’s mindlinking his Beta. “LOCK EVERYTHING! Nobody can go in or out or leave our grounds, NOBODY!”

I run towards the emergency-exit that’s now broken and I sniff the air. It’s faint, but I know she’s out there. “We have to shift, Scott. Our wolves will find her scent much faster than we do in our human form.”

“Alright, Jacob will take care of the pack from here. He has updated Storm already, he and his team are patrolling the borders. They can’t be far...”

I nod. “Alright, let’s go find her!”

I’m not even taking off my clothes, I just rip them apart while I shift. Mick is glad to be on four paws again and he soon takes over my mind too. *Let’s go find her!*

---

**-Indy’s POV-**

Ugh. My head hurts a lot. I open my eyes and it’s dark around me. Is that the ground? I want to stand, but I can’t. It’s hard to lift my head, why? I want to rub my eyes, but I can’t move my hands either. Do I feel handcuffs? They’re hurting me, it’s like silver... “What the…”

“Oh hey, she’s awake. Finally.. I warn you, if you’re going to do anything stupid, I’m going to slap your head again.”

Then I remember: Jeff, the Orangery, the talk and the slap on my head. I try to move, but I notice I’m laying over the shoulders of Jeff. He’s keeping me upside down while he walks.

“Where are you going? Where do you bring me? What do you want from me?” I ask him.

“Questions, huh? I’m first, Indy. That’s your name, right? Indy… Or should I call you *pig*? I bet that sounds familiar.”

I growl, I’m sick of hearing that name. “You’re lucky I’m in this position…”

“Or what? You will kill me too? Like you did to Alpha?”

I feel tears in my eyes. “His name was Khal.. Alpha Khal. But yes, I’ll kill you…” I’m almost whispering, feeling grief for the death of my mate. Although he didn’t deserve me, I’m feeling regret. Shouldn’t I give him a better chance? Was his death really necessary? Why does his death feel so...right? But at the same time it feels wrong too…?

Jeff doesn’t react. “Can you please put me down? I - I can walk by myself. You’re hurting me, my stomach hurts..” This position is far from comfortable.

“Why should I take the risk? You’ll survive. You can heal yourself, right?”

How does he know?

“... if you’re Royal, like you said.”

Right. Everyone knows that Royals can heal themselves. Of course. I gnash my teeth and think about all this. What does he want? Why is he kidnapping me? We could’ve talked like he wanted, maybe tomorrow or so. But why is he taking me?

“Beta Jeff, I can give you answers. You don’t have to take me, if the Alpha’s find out, you’re a dead man. I know you’re a good Beta. You’re not like this. Please.. Put me down.” I’m almost begging him, but he isn’t responding. I sigh.

“Is it about revenge? Are you going to kill me? I’m not afraid of you, Beta Jeff. I know you’re a good guy. I can sense it.”

“Oh yeah? You can *sense* it? How, Indy? You don’t even know me. Here…” I feel a sharp pain on my left leg, like I’m being burned.

“AAAAHH!” I yell.

“... Does that feel nice? Does that feel ‘good’? Of course this is about revenge… Hunter said that Raki is still alive, and because he's still Khal's wolf, I’m able to mindlink him. I couldn’t reach him before, but he’s awake now. And he told me. He told me Khal is really dead. He's grieving, Indy. He's really sad that he lost his human. Believe me, when I’m done with you - you’re wishing you’re dead.”

I don’t say anything anymore. I mindlink Buwan and I ask her: *Is it true? Is he awake?*

*Yes, Indy. I can feel him. But you know I can’t mindlink him like Jeff did. We’re not part of his pack anymore and we haven’t mated with Raki.. yet..*

I sigh. I’m glad he’s awake, that’s a good sign. But I wished I could mindlink him, talk to him. Ask him to convince Jeff that he should let me go. This is madness! Scott and Ryan will find me in no time. Why is Jeff risking that all? I wish he would let me walk by myself too. My belly is really hurting now. With every step Jeff takes, I feel his shoulders pushing into my stomach. I don’t like this, why is this hurting so badly?

*I think I know, Indy. Don’t you feel it?*

*Do I feel what?*

*We’re not alone anymore… I can feel a pup in our belly.*

A pup? In our belly? Am I pregnant?