Chapter 216 Chapter 216
Rayne
I wanted to scream. To hit something. To tear the world down until it gave me back my family.
But I couldn’t.
There was no room for that. No time.
If I gave way to despair, who would find Amber and Evalie?
They were counting on me. Depending on me.
So I had to stay strong. No matter what. Even if it killed me.
I dragged a hand over my face, wiping away the tears I hadn’t realized were falling. My chest hurt, my throat burned. I didn’t even remember the last time I’d cried.
Then I heard footsteps approaching.
Quick, steady. Familiar.
I looked up, blinking away the blur in my vision, and saw Ian striding toward me. The cool night air stirred his brown hair, and the streetlight behind him cast a sharp halo around his frame.
He frowned as he got closer, eyes narrowing when he saw my expression.
“Did something happen?” he asked. “Is there any new lead on Evalie’s whereabouts?”
I didn’t answer right away. Words felt too heavy. Too meaningless.
Instead, I unlocked my phone, swiped to Ichika’s message, and handed it to him silently.
He took it, reading quickly.
His eyes went wide.
“Amber was kidnapped at a bar? But how? And why Reed?”
I exhaled slowly, the sound coming out more like a growl. “It should be obvious. Because I divorced him, Reed must have joined forces with Erlan to get revenge on me.” My voice cracked, and I laughed bitterly. “It’s crazy that there was actually a time I believed him incapable of hurting a fly. I’m embarrassed to have been married to him.”
The laugh that followed wasn’t real, it was jagged, broken, and bitter as poison. I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the roots just to feel something other than despair.
Ian stepped closer and placed a firm, steadying hand on my shoulder.
“It’s gonna be okay, Rayne,” he said quietly. “We all make mistakes. But this greatly complicates things. The police have already started raiding all of Erlan’s known properties, but there’s still no sign of him. It makes sense that he sent Reed to take Amber. But if we lose them now, then—”
I cut him off, voice hoarse. “I just got off the phone with Ichika. She’s already lost Reed’s car. I’ve sent the police to comb the entire area, but as it stands…” I swallowed hard. “I have very little hope. Everything… everything is just falling apart, and I feel so helpless—”
My voice broke before I could finish.
And then, before I could stop myself, I choked on my own tears.
My chest tightened painfully, the air catching in my lungs. The weight of everything—the fear, the anger, the sheer helplessness—came crashing down all at once. I couldn’t hold it back anymore.
My vision blurred as tears welled in my eyes, and before I knew it, they were spilling down my cheeks in hot, silent streams. My throat burned as I tried to speak, but all that came out were strangled breaths.
Amber’s face kept flashing in my mind—her smile, her voice, the warmth of her touch. And Evalie’s laughter, bright and unguarded. Every memory collided with the image of both of them being taken, scared and alone, and it shredded me to pieces. This was a kind of pain that stripped a man of his soul.
I hated this.
I hated feeling weak.
I hated that I was breaking when I was supposed to be the one holding everyone together.
And yet, I couldn’t stop it.
Ian’s expression softened the second he saw the cracks forming in my composure. He didn’t say anything at first, he just reached forward and pulled me into a hug.
The sudden contact startled me. It wasn’t something I’d ever expect from him, especially considering how things had been between us before. We were never the type to show vulnerability in front of each other.
But right now, I couldn’t bring myself to push him away.
For a moment, I just stood there stiffly, frozen in his embrace. Then, as the seconds passed, I gave in. My body sagging with exhaustion, my head dropping onto his shoulder.
I didn’t even realize I was trembling until Ian’s hand came up to pat my back in slow, firm motions.
“I can’t lose them,” I said, barely above a whisper. “Not both. Not again.”
“You won't. We won't let that happen. It’s okay to feel this way,” he murmured. “Being strong all the time isn’t good for your health anyway. It’s your family on the line right now, Rayne. It would be so much worse if you didn’t feel anything. I’d have called you a monster.”
His words hit something deep inside me.
I drew in a shaky breath, the tears still streaming down my face. “Is this any better?” I croaked. “Look at me—I’m falling apart. I let them down, Ian. I couldn’t protect them. I was supposed to keep them safe, and now they’re both gone. Evalie’s missing, and Amber—” My voice cracked again. “Amber’s been taken because of me.”
“Nobody’s perfect, Rayne,” he said gently, not letting go. “You’re not some god. You’re a man—a father and a mate—doing everything he can. Stop trying to play the big, bad Alpha all the time. It doesn’t suit you.” He gave a faint, wry chuckle. “We’ll find Amber and Evalie, and they’ll be perfectly fine. This too will pass and someday, it’ll just be a crazy story to tell. It’s gonna be alright. I promise.”
The reassurance didn’t erase the ache in my chest, but it eased it just a little.
Maybe it was his tone, or maybe it was the way he said we’ll find them, as if I wasn’t alone in this anymore. Whatever it was, it steadied something in me.
Pulling back from the hug, I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. The world still looked like hell, but I could finally see through it. There was a clarity in the pain now—sharp, cold determination replacing the frantic chaos in my mind.
I met Ian’s gaze, nodding slightly. “Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.”
He smiled faintly, giving my shoulder a firm squeeze. “No problem.” He stepped back, his expression hardening again, the soldier in him coming back online. “Let’s go. The commissioner found something interesting that he wants you to take a look at.”
My pulse quickened. “What kind of something?”
“He didn’t say over the phone,” Ian replied, already turning toward the direction of the search lights and police vehicles down the street. “But it sounded important.”
I straightened my shoulders and followed, my boots heavy against the asphalt.
Whatever the commissioner had found, I’d be ready for it.
Because I wasn’t going to stop, not until I had Amber and Evalie back in my arms, and I'd finally put an end to Reed and Erlan's bullshit once and for all. I wouldn't give them a chance to cross me ever again. I would get my family back and my revenge.
No matter what it took.