Chapter Thirty-One

*Braxton's POV*

The pack members I contacted arrive two days later. Connor and my dad have been staking out Emily's home to make a plan for us. Tonight is the night we will be getting Emily back. I am just trying to keep my mind busy while waiting for my dad to call with a final plan. I feel incomplete without Emily. Not even our pups can fill the void I feel.

I have been trying to come to terms with welcoming a new child into our family that is not mine. This child may not be mine, but I know watching Emily pour love and devotion into this child will cause me to love them just as much as I love our own pups. I am going to be worried about their future. I never want them to feel different or left out because they can never shift, stop aging, or have the same abilities as their siblings. I try to push these thoughts to the side. We still have a while before worrying about things like that. Right now, I just need Emily and the baby to be happy and healthy.

My phone rings, bringing me out of my thoughts. It is my dad. "What's up, Dad?"

"I just wanted to let you know that we are going to be wrapping things up here shortly and picking you up. We think we have a good plan in place, but I want to go over the two with you and let you choose which one you think would be our better option."

"Okay. Hit me."

"Plan A is to create a distraction and draw the vampire outside."

"How would we accomplish that?"

"Connor seems to think that if we keep setting off his car alarm, he will come outside to find out why it keeps going off."

I can hear the eye-roll in his voice.

"What is Plan B?" I ask.

"It seems Emily has had the windows in the house open for the past few days. Today is no exception. We have also noticed that Emily has her own room at night that she and the baby stay in. I think you should sneak into her window and let her see you. This would immediately break the mind control. Then, you could bring her and the baby to safety, and we could go into the house, wolves blazing, to kill the vampire."

"I like Plan B better. This way, I can make sure she and the baby stay safe."

"I figured you would like my plan, but I wanted to give you options. We will make final preparations and be on our way to get you in about an hour."

"Sounds good. See you soon."

After hanging up with my dad, I start to think of our future. It is not long before Christmas. I am happy that our family is going to be put back together just in time for Christmas. I can almost see our pups' faces when Emily walks back through the door. Part of me feels like a failure. I am supposed to be a mate, father, husband, and Alpha. No matter the title, I have not been able to stop Emily from being kidnapped. Twice now. I know I should not keep that weight on my shoulders, but I cannot help it.

As the Alpha, I should be the one making plans and staking things out. But, if I did this, I would be putting myself, Emily, and my pack at risk. I do not know if I would be able to stop my wolf from taking over if I were to see the vampire. If that happened, he might do something to Emily. That is not a risk I am willing to take. It is not long before I hear car doors outside my hotel room.

My dad walks into the room. "You ready to leave?"

"I have been ready since the day Emily was taken."

Getting to Emily's home was easy and only about an hour's drive. The vampire chose an isolated house with no nearby neighbors. Their home is surrounded by woods, making it easier for the pack to hide out while staking the place out. When we arrive, it is about 11 PM. My dad parks in the woods close to the house but keeps the house in sight. We go over the plan again.

My dad places his hand on my shoulder. "As soon as Emily sees you, it will break her mind control. Once you break her mind control, get her and the child out here to safety. Once they are out of the house, we will go in and kill the vampire."

I release a menacing growl. "The vampire is mine to kill."

"Of course, son. We would not want it any other way. Now, go get your mate."

I quietly walk to the house and sneak around, avoiding the front porch light. Emily's window is off to the right of the house, close to a wooded entrance. I can smell Emily all around the house. My wolf is getting more anxious by the second. Getting up to her window, I freeze in my tracks. I can hear her voice drift out the window. She is humming to who I am assuming is the baby. After being in a trance listening to her for a few minutes, I snap out of it and position myself below the window. Before jumping to the windowsill, I listen closely to see if the vampire is anywhere around the room. When I do not hear anything, I quietly jump for the windowsill. Having wolf agility makes my jump almost silent. Emily would not be able to hear me over her humming. I listen for a few seconds more to double-check for movements in the room or around the room. After hearing nothing, I quietly climb into the window. I lay my eyes on Emily, who has her back turned towards me, leaning over a black crib. I do not want to scare her, fearing she may scream and alert the vampire. In the corner of my eye, I see a child's ball. I quietly pick it up and roll it to the side of her. She turns around to look at me.

Our eyes lock, and I watch as her eyes click into recognition. They begin to water up.

"Braxton?"