Chapter 153

***KARA***

"Wake up, Luna, please open your eyes," the gentle and strangely familiar voice pierced through the haze of confusion that enveloped me. Blinking against the harsh light filtering into the dimly lit room, I struggled to make sense of the faces hovering above me.

"What did they do to you?" The concern etched in Antra's voice mirrored the furrowed brows of the man beside her, whom I vaguely recognized.

"Antra," I whispered, relief flooding my senses at the sight of a familiar friend.

The man's eyes widened with recognition as he enveloped me in a tight embrace. Though his identity remained a puzzle, his comforting presence offered solace amidst the chaos. I leaned into his embrace, seeking refuge in the warmth of his touch as tears cascaded down my cheeks.

“Did they hurt you?” he asked as he surveyed my body for bruises.

I shook my head, “I don't know, the only thing I remember is waking up here.”

"My idol. Damn, they'll pay for what they did to you," Antra's voice brimmed with righteous anger as she brandished a knife she had retrieved from the nearby table.

"Who the fuck keeps people in a garage? She would suffocate," The man's words dripped with contempt as he surveyed our grim surroundings.

"Listen, Jaxon, let's save this for later," Antra's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the urgency of our dilemma. "For now, we need to figure out how to get out of these cuffs."

"I know you," I murmured, locking eyes with the man whose name was Jaxon. Recognition flickered in his gaze, mingled with a profound sense of relief.

Tears shimmered in Jaxon's eyes as he bathed my face with tender kisses before turning his attention to the situation at hand. "How do we get her out of these cuffs?"

Antra's lips curled into a knowing smile as she produced a bar of soap, a simple yet ingenious solution to our dilemma.

It took what felt like an eternity to free myself from the restraints, each passing moment laden with anticipation and fear. I didn't know how Antra knew all these but as the cuffs fell away, replaced by the comforting weight of Jaxon's embrace, a sense of liberation washed over me.

"Let's go home," Jaxon's voice was a lifeline in the darkness, guiding me towards a beacon of safety and sanctuary.

"Who are you?" I inquired, my voice trembling with uncertainty as Jaxon's fingers deftly removed the necklace from my neck.

With a swift motion, the necklace shattered, sending ripples of energy cascading through the air. The world seemed to spin and sway, before settling into a semblance of normalcy. And amidst the disarray, Jaxon stood before me, a figure of strength and resolve.

"Alpha," I breathed, disbelief overpowering my words as I surveyed my surroundings. "What's this place? Where's Riley and Nana? Where's Imefin and everyone else?"

Jaxon's lips curved into a reassuring smile as he brushed a stray lock of hair from my eyes. "I'll tell you everything on the way," he promised, his voice a soothing balm against the turmoil raging within me. "But for now, let's focus on getting you home."

Gratitude flooded my heart as I turned to Antra, her steadfast presence was a ray of hope amidst the darkness. "Thank you for helping me," I whispered, my voice choking with emotion.

Antra's smile was tinged with sadness as she embraced me one final time. "You guys go, please. Run, Jaxon. Take her home."

Jaxon nodded solemnly, his gaze lingering on Antra's face with a mixture of fondness and regret. "Thank you for everything, human friend," he murmured, his voice laced with genuine appreciation.

"I would love to hang out with you again," I offered, a flicker of hope igniting within me at the chance of creating a new friendship.

Antra wrapped her arms around me. “I'll miss you, Kara.”

I leaned forward and picked up the necklace on the floor and wore it on her neck. “This is our gift to you. Whenever you want to see us, wear it. It will bring you to us.”

Antra smiled, “It's beautiful. Thank you. You have fifteen minutes left, I'm still tracking them. So go.”

Jaxon looked reluctant as he turned to Antra, “Will you be fine?”

“Trust me dawg. I can take care of myself,” she said and beamed at us. “If we spend an extra time bidding farewell, you might just get caught and killed.”

With a gentle sweep of his arms, Jaxon lifted me into his embrace as he ran out through the door of the garage. I saw him drop something before we left but I couldn't tell what it was. He ran far and wide into the bush and stopped when it was quiet.

He took off the necklace on his neck and threw it into the air. The necklace glimmered as it soared through the air, casting a radiant trail behind it. Jaxon muttered some words and a blinding light appeared.

Again.

***

ANTRA

I hid behind a pile of trash in the garage, almost suffocating from the odor that exuded it. It was too late to escape now.

I heard the garage door lift and the trio walked in together, excitement sprawled on their faces. And just as fast as it appeared, it disappeared.

Annika looked around, “Braden? Where's Kara?”

“What do you mean where's Kara? Didn't we leave her here?”

Mateo gasped as he knelt to touch the broken ropes on the floor. “She escaped.”

Braden flung the chair across the room. “What do you mean by she escaped? We put damn cuffs on her and tired her to that damn chair. How did she untie herself?”

“I don't know,” Annika yelled, her voice panicky as she pushed back her hair from her face.

Braden seized her harshly and pinned her to the floor. “Where is Kara?”

A bead of sweat broke out on her forehead, “I don't know. She was here.”

He chuckled. “You think you can fool me? You and your stupid staged boyfriend. I helped you guys get what you wanted. Now it's my turn to take her and leave and she's not here?”

Mateo kicked Braden in the side, “You think we did this?”

Braden grabbed the knife off the floor and waved it at Annika. “You and your dumb boyfriend turned your back on Kara. You told everyone her secret because of Jealousy. She loved you— trusted you, but you didn't. If you two could switch in someone you helped from day one? How much more, me?”

“I swear I didn't,” Mateo started and glanced at Annika, “Maybe she did. All of these were her wicked schemes but I promise my hands are clean.”

Braden grabbed Mateo, pressing the knife against his throat, “Tell me where she is or I promise I would slit open your throat.”

Annika stared at Mateo as tears ran down her cheek. “You fucking cunt. It could've been you. You lied that she was your sister. You could've slipped away and freed her.”

Mateo scoffed as he moved backward. “The only person who slipped away when we were having dinner was you, Annika.”

Braden neared Annika as he held the knife to her throat. “What did you do?”

“I promise it was my boss I was talking to,” she stuttered in fear, tears streaming down her eyes as she backed away from Annika.

Braden nodded and raised the knife. “You know what, you two? I'm done with this bullshit.”

He was about to plunge the knife down my sister's neck when I screamed and came out of my hiding place.

“It was me,” I yelled. “Don't you h my sister or I swear I will kill you.”

Braden lunged for me, “How dare you?”

“You’re a monster," I yelled. Jaxon told me everything about being a wolf, the pack, everything. I had to help him. I knew what you all were onto but I was faster. They've gone and if you don't believe me,” I said and pointed at the necklace on my neck. “At least you remember your mother's amulet, don't you?”

“You bastard,” Braden raged and lifted the knife.

I slowly closed my eyes and waited for it to pierce through my skin, for me to scream for blood to spurt out and for me to choke before I died.

Although there was a scream and yes blood did spurt out and splatter on my face. It wasn't mine. It was Annika’s.

My hands trembled as she fell on me. The knife was still secured in her spine. Mateo bolted through the door of the garage while Braden took off his necklace and just like that— disappeared. Yes, I didn't like my sister's behavior recently, but I still wanted to get to live.

“Stay with me,” I whispered through tears as I tapped on my screen, the blood on my fingertips making it difficult to dial the pads.

“911 what's your emergency?”