Gone missing
VINCE
“I'll count to 3. If you don't tell me the truth, you'll be a fucking barbecue for my men. They don't mind. They eat flesh, any flesh. They're almost barbarians at this point.”
She began whimpering. I already lost my patience so the sound and sight of it was infuriating me even more.
“3…”
“Vince, c'mon. Maybe she's not lying.” Luke said but I didn't pay him any bit of attention.
I'm the one who lived with this two-faced witch for two decades. If I can't tell when she's lying, then I'm the most idiotic man ever.
“2…!”
“Please…” she sobbed.
“Vince, please, that's enough.” This time it was Richard.
“Luke, go get me Miguel,” I said swiftly. “He has good grilling skills.”
“Declan!” Vanessa blurted out, overshadowing my words.
I froze. Did I hear that right?
“Wait, what Declan?” Luke asked.
I knew just one Declan. And to God, it's not him. I really do hope it's not him.
“Declan…the rogue prince.”
It is him. What in the actual ghost is happening right now?
“Prince Declan?” Luke sounded gobsmacked. “I thought he died in the explosion, man, years ago.”
“Yes…actually, no. He survived.” Vanessa replied.
My grip on her hair loosened. My whole world was spinning at the moment. I needed to catch my fucking breath.
But yeah, she's lying again.
“There's no way in hell he survived at. They must have done something.”
She gave a mournful chuckle. “You're so smart, Vince. It's annoying…”
“Not as annoying as your lying lips. Tell me the fucking truth. How is Declan still alive?”
“How else? Magic. The darkest of them. His sidekick was the one who survived the explosion and took him through the ritual process that brought him back to life.”
“And they brought back the army to life?”
“A few.”
Right. Because rogues are the most scattered breeds in the universe. I might have killed the ones in this region but it's not rocket science that Declan went around the world, scouting more rogues.
The terrifying shit in this remains the fact that Declan’s a fucking zombie, and so are some of his men.
I'm in a war against Zombies. Y'all gotta be kidding me.
“Trent really wants just your Pack and Elena. However, Declan…” Vanessa paused, looking up to meet my gaze. “... wants you dead. It's you, VINCE. You're the price.”
I couldn't say a word more and my head was throbbing. Luke and Richard looked more devastated than I was, so there was no chance that they could comfort me right now.
God, I expected anything else. But this. Now the fear that's been sitting on my heart has just gotten bigger.
“Boss!” Miguel was yelling, running towards us.
“What is it?”
“The men at the hospital sent a message. Luna Elena has gone missing.”
“What?!”
I was already on my heels, racing back to the main house and out of it.
“Vince!”
It was either Richard or Luke but I didn't have the time to stop and decide which one of them owned the voice.
I'd already gotten into my car, speeding down to the main gate. Miguel was in the passenger seat next to me.
“How long ago has she been missing?” I asked, taking another dangerous swerve and cutting in between cars.
“They're not sure. They just thought she was in the room but when Dr. Drake went in to examine your daughter, Luna Elena was gone. There's no trace of her leaving the hospital. But she's not in the hospital.”
I slammed a furious hand on the wheel. She never listens. She never fucking listens. Why the fuck did I fall in love with the most stubborn werewolf?!
Her bratty ass never listens. I should have literally tied her up. Or better still, I should have brought her home with me. But I didn't wanna separate her from Claire.
But now I regret it. I should have brought her home with me. She'll cry. Hit me. Blast me. But she'll be safe and not missing.
I was speeding but it didn't do shit to chill my nerves.
“Miguel, tell the men to go search for her.”
“They're already on it…”
“She probably went to her Father's Pack for the antidote.”
That damned woman doesn't listen.
“Tell them they should morph into their wolf forms. Ransack the borders. The woods. But they shouldn't step foot on Richard's Pack.”
“Why not?”
“They'll burn. Magic.” I explained.
He nodded.
“Just tell them to search the borders, and if there's still no sign of her. Then…then…” I gritted my teeth in agony. I knew it was gonna get to this point but I never knew it would happen so soon.
“Then what, boss?”
I looked at him, hoping he'd read my expression and get that answer. He's very good at it.
He did and groaned. “Nah, boss. Don't even think about it…”
“They're gonna kill her.” My voice held fear. Raw fucking fear. “I can't let that happen.”
“Trent's not gonna hurt her. He wants her.”
“Nah, you don't understand.” I chuckled dryly, but tears were already stinging my eyes.
If it were just Trent, I'd be a bit calmer. But Declan? Now that's a whole different game.
Declan hates her. Declan despises her existence. And after what I did to him and his family, he wouldn't hesitate to kill her…and even Trent can't stop him.
Now I get it. Now I get why the rogues moved so viciously and strategically for years and I couldn't get my hand on any of them.
I've always known Trent to be one hell of a mess and a foolish jerk. So it was shocking to think he was the one leading the rogues. It also didn't make sense because he'd never be able to lead such vicious and tactful attacks. He'd need a thorough, magical brain reconstruction to be able to lead such perfect attacks.
But now it all makes sense.
It was never Trent. It was all Declan. He's the real boss. He's the one calling the damn shots. And he's gonna kill my baby. He's gonna kill my Elena.
Damn you, Elena! You should have listened! Damn you, but don't fucking die. Don't die or I'm gonna lose my mind.
Please baby…