Chapter Forty-One

Reunited

Tears welled up in Alia’s eyes before sobs shook her body. She knew she was just a surrogate but she was still the baby’s mother.

“We’ll find our baby,” Edgar promised, wrapping his arms around her in a protective embrace. “I won’t rest until I do.”

Despite her heartache at having their baby kidnapped for the second time that day by Elena, Alia felt like she truly belonged in Edgar’s arms. She didn’t want to be anywhere else right now. Being in his arms felt like arriving home after along and tiring journey. In that instant she realized she’d fallen in love with him. She didn’t plan on breaking free from his embrace until something caught her attention from the corner of her eye– the baby’s blanket. She broke free from Edgar and rushed to pick it up before the wind carried it off. As she held it close to her chest and inhaled the baby’s scent, clear visions popped into her head. Alia gasped.

“Alia, are you okay?”

Alia nodded. “Yes.” Her bottom lip trembled. “I know where they are.”

Hope filled Edgar’s face. “Are you sure?”

Alia sniffed the blanket again. This time, images of the route Elena and Harry had taken to escape filled her mind. “Yeah. It’s like the baby is showing me exactly where they took him off.” Joy danced in her heart. “Our baby will never bond with your evil Luna.”

“Elena won’t be too happy with that,” Edgar said. “What if she harms our baby?”

They rushed to his van.

“Give me as many details as you can,” Edgar said, starting the engine. “I won’t let her get away this time. In fact, I need to tell the Elders about Elena’s activities as well as Harry’s betrayal right now.” While driving, Edgar phoned the Elders and reported what had happened. He also requested help from the Elders to help him take his baby from Elena, just in case she resisted, and prevent her from kidnapping him ever again.

Alia listened to him while he spoke on the phone.

“Who will take care of the baby if we banish your Luna from your life?” one of the Elders asked.

“My surrogate,” Edgar replied without hesitation.

Alia’s chest tightened. Did Edgar plan on keeping her in his life? For how long? She wanted to ask him but now did not seem like the time or place to discuss their future together. Their prime focus was on finding the baby. She directed Edgar as he drove. The elders called them every five minutes to find out if they had found Elena yet.

As Alia eased into allowing the baby to show her where Elena was taking him, she closed her eyes and simply let the baby take over her senses.

“Alia?” Edgar asked, when she was quiet for a few seconds.

“It’s okay. We’re on the right route,” Alia told him without opening her eyes. She felt closer to the baby this way. It was almost as if they shared the same mind. “We’re almost there. Elena and Harry are slowing down near a ranch.”

Edgar informed the Elders immediately of Elena’s location. He stepped on the gas. He didn’t want to give Elena a chance to escape again. Alia opened her eyes when the baby’s vision went blank. How had that happened? She sniffed the blanket. Nothing happened.

“Edgar, please go faster. Elena did something to disrupt the baby’s connection to me.” She forced back her tears and touched Edgar’s hand.

“We’re not leaving here without our baby,” he said glancing in the rearview mirror.

Alia turned around and saw a convoy of cars speeding to catch up with them. It had to be the Elders. Alia was relieved they weren’t going to face Elena alone.

***

Edgar glanced at Alia. How had he not noticed that he’d fallen in love with his surrogate all those months ago? He’d do anything to see her smile, to hear her laugh, to have her cradle his baby, and to keep her by his side. If only he hadn’t blindly trusted Harry none of this would have happened. He’d known Harry was weak when it came to Elena, he just hadn’t known how weak. If Elena had threatened Harry in any way, then Harry should have informed him immediately. Aiding Elena in her crime meant only one thing– Harry was just as guilty as Elena. Edgar sighed. His heart still broke at the thought of Harry being banished along with Elena for his part in assisting Elena in her various crimes. But he had no choice. He had a family to protect. He stole another glance at Alia. Nothing in this world could keep him away from her.

“This is the ranch,” Alia said.

Edgar parked his van in amidst the bush in the neighboring property. The Elders didn’t care about camouflaging their presence or their vehicles. They drove inside the ranch and honked their horns until Elena appeared with Harry at her side, the baby in his arms.

Edgar felt his entire body tense. Beside him, Alia squeezed his hand tightly, almost cutting off his circulation in his arm.

He squeezed her hand in reassurance and focused his attention on the Elders. David Stone, the Elder who had suggested he find and impregnate a surrogate, led the Elders inside the Ranch. Edgar and Alia watched the scene unfold from a distance.

“Elena London!” David bellowed.

From their position, Edgar noticed Elena visibly tremble at David’s voice. Her arrogance and over-confidence wasn’t enough to save her this time around.

“It has come to our knowledge that you have kidnapped Edgar Callen’s heir.”

“Edgar is my Alpha. I have just as much right on the baby as he does,” Elena said, arrogance evident in her voice.

“Then how do you explain the presence of the Alpha’s Beta in your home?” David demanded to know.

Elena shrugged. “I am sure you have heard the rumors by now. My Alpha wasn’t faithful to me. He impregnated another woman– a human nonetheless.”

“He did what he needed to do to protect the peace between the packs. You do not just simply disappear without any word when you are Luna to the most powerful Alpha in the world.”

Edgar and Alia moved closer to the Elders, eager to hear what they would decide.

“Hand over the baby!” David held his hand out.

“Over my dead body!” Elena hissed, lunging towards David.

Edgar gasped. How dare she attack an Elder? That single action would bring lifetimes of disgrace upon her and her family.

The other Elders jumped into action. One of them grabbed the baby from Harry, the others helped handcuff Elena and Harry in ancient silver cuffs and shoved them inside separate vehicles.

David took the baby from the other Elder and walked towards Alia and Edgar. Emotion swelled up in Edgar’s chest. At last he would be able to his baby.

“You will never have to worry about those two again,” David promised him.

“Thank you,” Edgar said, his voice cracking.

Tears welled up in Alia’s eyes. Edgar brushed away her tears with one hand. His chest tightened when she choked back a sob. “Is it really over?” she asked David.

David nodded. “What do you intend to do with your surrogate?”

Edgar gazed at Alia. “Marry her,” he said.

***