Chapter 51 FIFTY-ONE
"Father," Jasper greeted as he stepped into the office. Derrick's piercing eyes met his son's.
"Sit down," Derrick ordered, his tone firm. "Where have you been?" he asked, his voice edged with suspicion.
"I told you, I was with a friend," Jasper replied casually, crossing his legs. His expression remained calm, giving nothing away.
Derrick studied him closely, searching for a crack in his composure, but found none. Frustrated, he leaned back in his chair.
"We’re launching an attack in a week," Derrick began. "I've gathered a pack of rogues to strike the Crescent Stone Pack. You’ll lead them," he added. Jasper’s lips curled into a faint smile.
"Alright, I can handle that," he said with ease. "Is that all?" he added.
Derrick gave a stiff nod, watching as Jasper rose from his chair and slid his hands into his pockets. He turned toward the door, but Derrick stopped him.
"Jasper," Derrick called, his tone carrying a warning. Jasper paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Don’t do anything stupid," Derrick said firmly, his gaze hard and unyielding. Jasper’s smirk widened, a glint of defiance in his eyes.
"Wouldn’t dream of it," he said smoothly before walking out of the room, leaving Derrick to wonder just how far his son was willing to push him.
Jasper entered his room and retrieved a box from under his bed. Placing it on top of the mattress, he walked over to lock the door before sitting down. He opened the box, revealing photographs of Brienne and Raven taken at the hotel he got from Reagan.
Picking up his spare phone, he dialed a number.
"Hello, boss," a voice answered on the other end.
"They're attacking in a week. Be ready to execute the plan," Jasper said, leaning back against the headboard.
"Understood, boss. I'll inform the others," the man replied. Jasper ended the call with a satisfied smirk. If his father had a plan, so did he—and Jasper was determined to ensure his plan succeeded.
Brienne woke up feeling a bit queasy. She quickly got up, rushed to the bathroom, and threw up. Sitting on the cold tiled floor, she rubbed her belly gently.
"Baby," she whispered softly.
After regaining her composure, she took a shower and returned to the room. Sitting on the bed, she smiled as her eyes landed on the tray of food Raven had prepared for her.
Earlier, Raven gently woke her up to ask for her permission to leave. One of his staff members had been in a serious accident, and he needed to visit him. Brienne, understanding the situation, agreed. After all, Raven had been staying at the hotel with her for several days now.
"Your father's as sweet as ever," Brienne said with a smile and began eating. Once she was full, she decided to step out of the room. She was craving something and wanted to buy it from the convenience store she had visited before.
As Brienne walked down the street, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She stopped to check it and smiled when she saw it was an email from the clinic. The results of their baby's test were ready to be viewed.
Brienne was about to turn around when she felt something hard press against her back.
"Don't scream, and don't try to run, or I'll shoot," a man whispered harshly. A wave of fear washed over Brienne as she froze, nodding slowly. Her hand instinctively went to her belly, terrified for both her life and her baby's.
"Walk," the man ordered, placing his arm over her shoulder as if they were acquaintances.
"Get in the red car," he added. Trembling, Brienne obeyed and climbed into the car.
"Where are you taking me? Who are you people?" Brienne asked, her hand shaking. The man slid into the driver's seat, while another man sat in the back, holding a gun. Without hesitation, he grabbed Brienne's hands and tied them securely before binding her feet. Finally, he placed a strip of tape over her mouth, silencing any plea she might attempt.
"Let's move," the man in the back said coldly.
"Did you leave the note?" the driver asked.
"Yeah, it's done," the other man replied, nodding. The driver started the engine, and the car sped off with Brienne paralyzed with fear and dread.
Raven was fuming as he parked his car in front of the hotel. He handed the keys to the valet and stormed inside. The accident had been dealt with, but the warehouse they owned had been burned to the ground.
Raven had to file a police report, and an investigation was now underway. He assigned Miggy, one of the supervisors, to handle the follow-up on the report.
Raven took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He stepped out of the elevator and entered the room, but Brienne was nowhere to be seen. Concerned, he pulled out his phone and dialed her number, but it was unreachable. Frowning, he searched the room and found a note. As he read it, a mix of anger and worry consumed him.
"Good luck searching for your woman because you will never see her again."
Raven's heart pounded violently in his chest as panic surged through him. He rushed out of the room, grabbing his car keys before bolting to his car. His hands trembled as he started the engine and dialed his father’s number, his voice frantic.
"Dad... Dad!" Raven yelled, slamming his hand on the horn to clear the road.
"Raven? What’s wrong? Are you okay, son?" Arthur’s concerned voice came through the phone.
"Dad, Brienne... Brienne’s been kidnapped!" Raven shouted, his voice breaking. He slammed the horn again, weaving through traffic. "Dad, I don’t know what to do—I don’t know where to start!" he added.
"Where are you now?" Arthur asked, his tone firm and serious.
"I’m driving home," Raven said, cursing as he slammed on the brakes to avoid a collision. His grip tightened on the wheel. "Dad, I need help. I can’t lose her," he added, his voice raw with desperation as he pressed the gas harder.
"Alright, calm down. I’m waiting for you here. We’ll figure this out together," Arthur assured him, his tone steady.
Raven swallowed hard, his jaw clenched as he focused on the road, determined to get home and save Brienne.
When Raven arrived at the Crescent Stone Pack, Arthur was already waiting for him alongside Cecil and Ravena. Raven barely parked the car before his mother rushed to him, pulling him into a tight embrace. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to him.
"Oh, Raven," Cecil sobbed. "I heard what happened," she added.
"Mom… Brienne is..." Raven’s voice broke, his desperation evident.
"Take a breath and tell us everything," Ravena said, her tone sharp and focused. Her face was stern, and her hands clenched tightly into fists.
Raven fumbled in his pocket and pulled out the letter, handing it to Ravena. She snatched it and quickly read through the contents, her expression darkening.
"Damn it!" Ravena hissed. "Who the hell did this? Do you have any idea?" she added.
"I don’t know!" Raven snapped, anger and frustration surging through him. He turned to Arthur, his face pale. "Dad, Brienne is pregnant with our child. We can’t waste time. Please, help me!" he added, begging.
Arthur stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Raven’s shoulder. His calm but authoritative presence steadied the younger man.
"Get a grip, Raven," Arthur said firmly. "We will find Brienne and bring her back safely. I promise you that," he added. Just then, a warrior came sprinting toward them, his face pale with urgency.
"Alpha Arthur! Alpha Raven! We have a serious problem!"
"What is it?" Arthur demanded, his tone turning sharp.
"Rogues, Alpha! There are too many of them—and they’re unnaturally strong. We’re barely holding them off!" the warrior reported, panting heavily. Arthur’s expression hardened as he turned to his son and Ravena.
"This isn’t a coincidence. Ravena, prepare the warriors. Raven, stay focused. We’ll fight off the rogues and still get Brienne back," he added. Raven nodded, determination lighting his eyes despite the fear twisting in his gut.
"I’ll do whatever it takes, Dad."