Ethan burst into the bar, his heart racing and anxiety clawing at his insides. The moment he crossed the threshold, panic enveloped him like a thick fog. His instincts screamed that something was wrong.
His gaze swept the room, landing on Luke, who was trying to slip out the door unnoticed. The sight of him sent a jolt of fury through Ethan’s veins. “Where is she?” he shouted, his voice reverberating through the crowded space.
Luke turned, feigning innocence. “What do you mean?” he asked, his expression carefully blank.
Ethan stepped closer, his heart pounding in his chest. “I can’t feel her! Something has happened to her. Either you did it, or someone else did!” He advanced on Luke, grabbing him by the neck and pinning him against the wall.
“Ethan, I would never do—” Luke gasped, struggling to breathe.
Ethan’s rage eclipsed all reason. He couldn’t bear the thought of Sophia in danger. The fire of his protectiveness ignited within him, and before he could think, he threw Luke across the bar. The sound of glass shattering echoed in the air as Luke crashed into the shelves behind the counter, liquor spilling everywhere.
Fueled by rage, Ethan marched over, ready to unleash his fury further, ready to make Luke understand the depth of his anger and fear. But then, a voice pierced through the chaos.
“STOP!”
Ethan’s instincts kicked in, but he was too far gone. He ignored the voice and continued his advance, his fists clenched and ready for a fight. Suddenly, a force hit him, paralyzing him mid-step. He felt himself hoisted into the air, completely unable to move. Confused, he looked around and spotted Luke suspended beside him, equally immobilized.
“What the hell?” Ethan shouted, trying to wriggle free. His heart raced, both from anger and confusion. He turned to see the source of the power that held them captive.
It was Jacie—Sophia’s friend. But something was very wrong. Her eyes glowed an ominous purple, a clear indication of her magical abilities. “What is happening?” Ethan asked, his voice tight with anger and fear.
“Stop it, both of you!” Jacie commanded, her voice steady but laced with urgency. “Sophia wouldn’t want this. I’m going to put you both down now, but if you start at it again, far worse will happen.”
Ethan felt the tension in the air thicken, the remnants of his fury battling against Jacie’s control. “You don’t understand! I need to find her! I can’t feel her, Jacie. She’s in trouble!”
“I know,” she replied, her voice softening slightly, but the power in her eyes remained fierce. “But tearing each other apart won’t help her. You need to focus.”
Luke, still pinned against the wall, managed to gasp, “Ethan, I swear, I didn’t do anything!”
Ethan’s gaze shifted between Jacie and Luke, the realization hitting him that the woman who had always been a part of Sophia’s life was now a formidable force. The chaos of emotions twisted inside him: anger, fear, and desperation. “Then help me find her. Do you have any idea where she might be?”
“Yeah, she was just taking the trash out,” Luke said, panic creeping into his voice. “She mentioned it earlier, and I thought she’d just go home after that. But…” He hesitated, his expression growing serious. “I could smell something was different about her tonight. I tried to convince Adrianne not to go through with it, especially after I sensed it. I told her it was a bad idea, but she wouldn’t listen. She promised she wouldn’t get hurt.”
Ethan’s heart sank as dread washed over him. “I’m so sorry, Ethan,” Luke said, his eyes wide with regret.
Ethan’s frustration boiled over, and he punched Luke in the gut, the blow landing hard enough to knock the wind out of him. “You can show me how sorry you are by helping me find my mate and child,” Ethan growled, stepping back as Luke doubled over, gasping for breath.
With a reluctant sigh, Jacie released the spell, allowing Ethan to drop back to the ground. He stumbled slightly but quickly regained his footing, turning to face Luke, who struggled to straighten up.
“I swear I didn’t do anything,” Luke pleaded, his hands raised defensively. “I care about Sophia, just like you do.”
Ethan narrowed his eyes, unwilling to trust him fully but recognizing that they needed to work together. “Then help me find her. Where’s the last place you saw her?”
“Out back,” Luke said, pointing toward the rear exit. “I can show you.”
“Let’s go,” Ethan ordered, already moving toward the door. He had no time to waste. With every moment that passed, he could feel the weight of fear pressing down on him.
“Wait!” Jacie called, hurrying to catch up with them. “You can’t just charge out there without a plan. You need to be cautious.”
“I don’t care about caution right now!” Ethan snapped, frustration boiling over. “I need to find Sophia!”
Jacie raised her hands, her expression serious. “Okay, okay! I’m with you. But we need to be smart about this. If she’s in danger, rushing in recklessly won’t help anyone.”
Ethan took a deep breath, forcing himself to temper his anger. He needed to think clearly. “Fine. But if you’re coming with us, I want to know everything you can do. We might need your magic.”
“Okay,” Jacie replied, nodding. “I can create shields and deflect attacks. But I’ll need your help, too. We have to be ready for anything.”
Luke nodded, a newfound determination in his eyes. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help find her. I promise.”
With the weight of the moment pressing down on them, the three of them stepped out into the night, the air heavy with tension. Ethan led the way, his heart pounding with a mix of hope and dread.
They navigated through the alley behind the bar, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the ground. Every step felt like a heartbeat in the silence, a reminder of what was at stake. With each breath, Ethan’s resolve solidified. He would find Sophia. He would protect her and their child at all costs. No one would stand in his way. Not now, not ever.