Do too

Ethan's POV

The second Emily mentioned Reuben's name, a rage unlike anything I'd ever felt surged through me. That bastard. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly I thought it might crack. My jaw clenched so hard it hurt, but the pain didn't matter. Reuben had crossed a line this time, and I swore he'd regret it. I cursed him under my breath, a litany of expletives rolling off my tongue, but none of them were enough to express the fury burning inside me.

I glanced at Emily beside me. She sat curled up in the passenger seat, tears streaking her face as she clutched her arms around herself like they were the only thing keeping her together. My chest ached seeing her like this-broken, vulnerable, terrified. Reuben had stolen more than her kids tonight; he'd stolen her peace, and I wanted to rip him apart for it.

"He's not getting away with this," I muttered, mostly to myself, but Emily heard me. She turned her head slightly, her red-rimmed eyes meeting mine. She didn't say anything, just nodded. I could see she wanted to believe me, but fear clouded her gaze.

As we approached the Frost Mansion, my thoughts flickered briefly to Alpha Ronan. What would he do when he found out about this? Ronan didn't take kindly to threats against his family, and Emily-even though she'd never admit it-was part of that family. The fallout from this would be monumental, and Reuben was too arrogant or too stupid to realize what he'd set in motion.

I parked the car in front of the sprawling mansion, its grand facade illuminated by the warm glow of exterior lights. The Frost Mansion always had an air of prestige and power, but tonight it felt heavy, oppressive, like the walls themselves were holding their breath. The silence around us was unnerving, broken only by the soft click of Emily's seatbelt as she unfastened it.

I reached for my phone as we stepped out of the car, dialing my chief of security. The call connected on the first ring.

"Briggs," I barked, my voice sharp. "Reuben's taken Emily's kids. I don't care what it takes, I want him found. Now."

Briggs didn't hesitate. "Understood. I'll have my team on it immediately. Any leads?"

"Start with his estate. Check his usual haunts, and if that turns up nothing, expand the search. I don't care if you have to turn this city upside down, just find him."

"Consider it done," Briggs replied, his tone as grim as my mood.

I ended the call and stuffed the phone back into my pocket, my focus shifting to Emily. She was staring at the mansion's entrance, her expression unreadable. Her shoulders were tense, and her hands were clenched into fists at her sides. I knew she was trying to hold herself together, but she was barely hanging on by a thread.

"Emily," I said softly, stepping closer to her. She didn't respond, didn't even look at me.

"Emily, look at me," I repeated, my voice firmer this time. Slowly, she turned her head, her tear-streaked face breaking my heart all over again.

I hesitated for a moment, knowing what I was about to say might not be well-received, but I couldn't keep it in any longer. "I need to tell you something," I began, my voice unsteady. "I know this isn't the right time, but I can't hold it back anymore. I love you, Emily. I've loved you for a long time."

Her eyes widened, her lips parting in shock. She stared at me like I'd just said the most absurd thing in the world. "Ethan..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

"I know," I said quickly, holding up my hands. "I know this is the worst possible time to say this, but I need you to know. I'm sorry for every time I failed you, for every time I made you feel like you were alone in this. But I'm here now, Emily. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Tears welled up in her eyes again, spilling over as she shook her head. "Ethan, I can't..." Her voice broke, and she let out a choked sob.

Before I could say another word, she turned and ran toward the mansion, leaving me standing there in the cold night air. I watched her go, my heart sinking. I'd hoped my confession might offer her some comfort, but instead, it seemed to have pushed her further away.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Great timing, Ethan," I muttered to myself. Shaking off my frustration, I followed her inside, determined not to let her face this alone.

Emily's POV

I burst through the mansion's front doors, my vision blurred by tears. My heart felt like it was being torn in two. Ethan's words echoed in my mind, over and over, mixing with the fear and anguish that already consumed me. He loved me? How could he say that now, of all times? How could he expect me to process that when my babies were missing?

The air inside the mansion was heavy, almost suffocating. The familiar grandeur of the Frost home felt foreign, hostile. I barely noticed the staff as they looked at me with concern, whispering among themselves. I couldn't focus on anything but the ache in my chest and the burning need to find my children.

"Lila!" I called out, my voice cracking. "Lila, where are you?"

Her voice came from the sitting room, soft and trembling. "Emily? I'm here."

I followed the sound, my steps unsteady. When I entered the room, I found her sitting on the edge of a chair, her face pale and her hands clutching a throw pillow like it was a lifeline.

"Did you find anything?" I asked urgently, my voice a mix of hope and desperation.

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I've been looking everywhere, but there's no sign of them. The nanny's gone, too. I don't know what happened, Emily. I swear, I don't."

Her words only deepened the pit of despair in my stomach. I clenched my fists, trying to keep the panic at bay. "We'll find them," I said, more to myself than to her. "We have to."

Ethan appeared in the doorway then, his expression grim. He took in the scene with a glance, his gaze lingering on me.

"We need to regroup," he said, his tone firm. "Reuben's playing games, but we'll beat him at his own. I've got my team tracking him down as we speak. We'll find him, and we'll get the kids back."

I nodded, though his words did little to soothe the storm inside me. "What if he's already..." I couldn't finish the thought.

Ethan stepped closer, his eyes locking onto mine. "Don't," he said firmly. "Don't go there, Emily. They're alive. We're going to bring them home. You have to believe that."

I wanted to believe him, I really did, but the fear was too overwhelming. I turned away, wrapping my arms around myself. "I should have been there," I whispered, the guilt tearing at me. "I should have protected them."

Ethan's hand on my shoulder was steadying, grounding. "This isn't your fault," he said softly. "Reuben is the one to blame, not you. And we're going to get the kids back."

I hope we do too.