Chapter 65
Elara's POV
Warren stepped forward. His jaw was tight. "Elara, I understand you want to prove yourself. But this isn't the time for that."
"There are at least three to five kidnappers. Probably wolves. You go alone, you're walking into a death trap."
I met his eyes. Kept my voice level. "I'm not trying to prove anything, Warren. I'm making the most logical choice."
I pointed at Torres and Martinez. "They're professional operatives. Their movement patterns, their tactics—experienced kidnappers will spot them immediately."
"But me?" I let a small smile touch my lips. "I'm just a fragile high school girl. Much easier to get close."
Torres made a sound. Almost a scoff. "Kid, do you have any idea what professional kidnappers are capable of? We've handled over a dozen cases like this. Every single one required a minimum four-person team."
I turned my head. Looked at him directly.
His smirk faded.
I held his gaze. Let the cold settle into my eyes. The kind of cold I'd learned in the North. When you looked at someone and they knew—really knew—you'd killed before.
"I'm very aware of what I'm dealing with." My voice didn't change. Still quiet. Still even. "I'm also very aware of my own capabilities."
Torres took half a step back. Unconscious. His body reacting before his brain caught up.
Martinez frowned. Looked at Warren. "She serious?"
Warren exhaled slowly. Rubbed his face. "There's another problem."
I pulled out my phone. Found the screenshot Derrick had forwarded. Held it up.
"The kidnappers specifically said—no Council involvement. If they detect any Council presence, they'll kill Vivian immediately."
Warren took the phone. Read the message. His expression darkened with each word.
"'Only the Goldman family comes. No police. No Council interference, or your daughter's body shows up in the town square.'"
Martinez leaned in. Read over Warren's shoulder. Sucked in a breath. "They know about the Council..."
Warren looked up at me. "This means they're not ordinary human criminals."
"Either they're wolves themselves, or they have deep connections to our world." He handed back my phone.
I nodded. "Exactly. Which is why your people can't be anywhere near this."
Torres still looked unconvinced. But he'd stopped arguing.
I took a deep breath. Let my chest expand fully. No wheeze. No tightness. Just clean air filling my lungs.
"Two hours ago, with my asthma, I couldn't do this." I met Warren's eyes. "But now? I can handle it."
Torres couldn't help himself. "And what exactly can a non-shifting Omega do against multiple wolf kidnappers? Become a second hostage?"
The corner of my mouth twitched. Not quite a smile.
I didn't answer him. Just kept looking at Warren.
Warren studied my face. "Even without the asthma, facing multiple wolf kidnappers alone is suicide."
I thought of the note I'd slipped under Kael's door. Wondered if he'd seen it. If he'd come.
Heat crept up my neck at the memory of him half-naked in his doorway. I shoved it down.
"I have backup," I said. "But I can't reveal their identity."
Warren's eyebrows rose. "What backup?"
"That's my business." I kept my tone firm. "And I guarantee I won't tell them anything about the Council."
Warren opened his mouth. Closed it. Studied me for a long moment.
Finally, he sighed. "This is also your chance to prove yourself to the Council, isn't it?"
"If I can't handle this, why would you trust me in your training program?" I said it calmly. Statement of fact.
Warren was silent for several seconds. Then he exhaled hard.
"Fine. But one condition—you take a tracking device. The moment things go south, we intervene immediately."
"Deal."
Torres and Martinez exchanged glances. Clear confusion on their faces. But Warren had made his decision.
Warren walked to the SUV. Popped the trunk. Pulled out a black tactical bag.
He stared at it for a moment. His jaw worked like he was chewing on something bitter.
"This breaks about fifteen different protocols." He looked up at me. "If this goes wrong, I'm not just losing my job. I'm losing my clearance. Probably facing charges."
He set the bag on the ground between us.
"Everything you might need. Knife, wolfsbane rounds, flashbangs, and a modified Glock 19."
I crouched down. Unzipped the bag. Started checking each item.
The knife—balanced, sharp, good weight. I tested the grip.
The gun—loaded, safety on, modified trigger for faster firing. I ejected the magazine. Checked the rounds. Wolfsbane-tipped silver bullets. Slid it back in with a smooth click.
The flashbangs—standard issue, three of them.
My hands moved automatically. Muscle memory from a life I wasn't supposed to remember.
When I looked up, all three of them were staring at me.
I realized my mistake too late. I'd checked the weapons like a professional. Like someone who'd done this a thousand times.
I forced my expression neutral. "My... my brother taught me some basics. For self-defense."
Warren's eyes narrowed slightly. But he didn't push.
He walked back to the SUV. Opened the driver's door. Reached under the seat.
Pulled out a set of keys. Different from his personal keychain.
"Unmarked vehicle. Registered to a shell company the Council uses." He held them out. "No GPS tracker except the one I'm giving you. No official record of you taking it."
He paused. Met my eyes.
"Don't make me regret this, Elara. Because if you get caught, I can't protect you. And if you die, I have to explain to your family why I let a seventeen-year-old girl walk into a hostage situation alone."
I took the keys. Shouldered the tactical bag.
"I'll come back alive."
Warren's expression didn't change. "You better."
The engine hummed as I pulled out of the gravel lot. Headlights cut through the darkness.
I pulled up the GPS on the dashboard screen. The red pin glowed.
Black Ridge Forest. Southeast section. Abandoned industrial zone.
My mind was already working. Running scenarios.
How many kidnappers? Three minimum. Five maximum based on the photo angles.
Weapons? Definitely armed. Probably mixed—guns and claws.
Vivian's location? Ground floor, based on the concrete. Probably tied to something fixed. Chair or pipe.
Best entry point? Need to scout first. Look for guards, cameras, tripwires.
Extraction route? Can't use the same entry. Need a secondary exit.
I gripped the steering wheel tighter.
My lungs expanded easily with each breath. No restriction. No burning.
The weakness that had chained me since waking up in this body—gone.
I wasn't at full strength. Not even close. This body was still fragile. Still human.
But I could work with this.
I could fight with this.
The road stretched ahead. Dark trees on both sides.
My hands were steady on the wheel.
Inside my chest, something ancient stirred. Something that had been sleeping since the blood moon.
Lynette.
The wolf king who'd ruled the Northern territories. Who'd killed her way to the top and held it for five years.
She was waking up.
And tonight, everyone was going to remember why they should be afraid.