Chapter 85 Chapter 85
_Kayden’s POV_
The meeting room was full.
Alphas from nearby packs sat around the table. Guards stood by the doors. Papers and maps were spread everywhere.
We were discussing new security plans.
Tariq was still a threat. I knew that. Every decision today was about protecting Leah and the pack.
I leaned over the table.
“We need more patrols on the east border,” I said. “And double the number of guards at night.”
One Alpha nodded. “Agreed.”
Another added, “We should also increase training for younger warriors.”
“Yes,” I replied. “That will start next week.”
I was focused, calm and in control. At least, I thought I was.
Then my phone rang.
The sound cut through the room like a blade. I frowned. Only a few people had this number.
I picked it up.
“Fred?” I answered.
On the other end, Fred’s voice came out fast and panicked. “Alpha… something terrible has happened.”
My heart dropped instantly. “What happened?” I demanded.
“It’s Leah,” Fred said.
I stood up so quickly that my chair fell backward.
“What about Leah?” I asked sharply.
Fred sounded breathless. “Some masked men took her. They kidnapped her.”
For a moment, I could not breathe. The room around me disappeared. “What did you just say?” I whispered.
“They took Luna Leah,” Fred repeated. “There were many of them. They attacked inside the restaurant.”
Anger exploded inside me.
“I sent you with them to ensure their safety!” I shouted into the phone. “You were supposed to protect them!”
“I know, Alpha,” Fred said quickly. “I know. I’m sorry. I don’t understand how this happened.”
My hands shook.
“How could you let this happen?” I roared.
Fred spoke again. His voice was trembling.
“I was outside the restaurant. I had stepped out for only a few seconds. When I came back, it was already happening.”
“What do you mean?” I snapped.
“The men didn’t come from outside,” Fred explained. “They were already inside the restaurant. They must have been hiding somewhere. It was a planned attack.”
Leo growled furiously inside me. Find her. Now.
I closed my eyes.
“Was Natasha hurt?” I asked.
“Yes,” Fred replied. “She is injured. There are bruises on her arms. She tried to stop them.”
A cold feeling filled my chest. This had to be Tariq. I could not think of anyone else who would do something like this.
“Stay there,” I ordered. “I’m coming.”
I ended the call. All the Alphas in the room were staring at me.
“What happened?” one of them asked.
“My mate has been kidnapped,” I said coldly.
Gasps filled the room.
“I have to go,” I added. “The meeting is over.”
I did not wait for replies, I ran. Every step felt heavy with fear.
Leo growled again. Drive fast.
“I will,” I muttered.
I grabbed my car keys and rushed outside. My mind was racing. How could this happen?
Leah was supposed to be safe. She was with Fred. She was with Natasha. I had trusted them.
I drove like a madman. The road blurred in front of me. Images of Leah filled my head. Her smile. Her voice. Her eyes.
Fear squeezed my heart.
“Hold on, Leah,” I whispered. “Just hold on.”
When I reached the restaurant, police cars and pack guards were already there.
Fred ran toward me.
“Alpha,” he said.
I grabbed him by the collar.
“How did you let this happen?” I shouted.
“I’m sorry,” Fred said. “I never saw it coming.”
Leo snarled. Control your anger.
I pushed Fred away and walked inside.
Natasha was sitting on a chair near the wall. She looked pale and shaken. Tears ran down her face.
“Kayden!” she cried when she saw me. I rushed to her.
“Are you alright?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No… no, I’m not.”
Her arms had red bruises. Her hair was messy.
“They hurt me,” she whispered. “I tried to stop them. I really tried.”
I felt guilty for a moment.
“It’s not your fault,” I said.
“They came out of nowhere,” Natasha sobbed. “Leah was fine… and then suddenly she wasn’t.”
“What exactly happened?” I asked urgently.
Natasha wiped her tears.
“We were eating,” she said. “Leah suddenly said that she was feeling uneasy. Then some men came and grabbed her.”
“How many men?” I asked.
“Four… maybe five,” she replied. “They wore masks.”
Leo growled. They are surely Tariq’s men.
“Did you recognize anyone?” I asked.
“No,” Natasha answered. “They moved so fast.”
I clenched my fists. I turned toward the restaurant manager.
“Where are your security cameras?” I demanded.
The manager looked nervous. “They are… out of order,” he said.
“Out of order?” I repeated dangerously.
“Yes,” he stammered. “There is a technical problem.”
Anger burned through me. “So my mate gets kidnapped in your restaurant and you don’t even have working cameras?” I shouted.
“I’m very sorry, sir,” he said.
“Sorry is not enough,” I snapped.
I stepped closer to him. “Or maybe you are part of this,” I said coldly.
The manager’s face turned pale. “No, sir! I swear I don’t know anything.”
“If you are working with Tariq, I will not spare you,” I warned.
“Tariq?” he asked, confused. “I don’t know who that is.”
Leo growled again. He might be lying.
I looked around the restaurant. The tables were messy. Many chairs were knocked over. The air still felt tense. My chest hurt.
This was the place where Leah had been taken. I had failed her. I had promised to protect her. And now she was gone.
Fred came closer again. “Alpha,” he said softly.
“What?” I replied sharply.
“We checked outside. No one saw which direction they went.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Of course they didn’t,” I muttered.
Natasha stood up slowly. “Kayden,” she whispered. “Please find her.”
“I will,” I promised.
“I feel so guilty,” she cried. “If only I had been stronger.”
“It’s not your fault,” I repeated. But inside me, guilt burned like fire.
Leo spoke in my mind. We should never have let Leah out of our sight.
“I know,” I whispered.
Memories of yesterday came back. I remembered Leah warning me. She was trying to tell me something was wrong. And I had not listened to her. Pain and regret twisted in my chest.
“Start a full search,” I ordered Fred. “Search every road, every border, every possible place....”
“Yes, Alpha,” Fred said.
“Call all warriors,” I added. “No one rests until she is found.”
Fred nodded and rushed away.
Natasha touched my arm. “I wish I could help more,” she said softly.
“You already tried,” I replied.
She lowered her eyes. “I hope that she is safe."
So did I. But deep down, fear told me otherwise. I stepped outside to get some air. The sky looked too bright. Like the world did not care that mine was falling apart.
Leo’s voice was dark. Tariq will pay for this.
“Yes,” I said through clenched teeth. “He will.”
I called the pack house. “Lock everything down,” I ordered. “No one enters or leaves without my permission.”
Guards answered, “Yes, Alpha.”
My phone rang again.
It was Fred.
“Alpha, we found something.”
“What?” I asked.
“A black van with no visible license plate was observed leaving the area at approximately the same time.”
My heart pounded. “Track it,” I commanded.
“We’re trying,” he replied.
I ended the call.
Every minute felt like torture.
Where was Leah right now?
Was she scared?
Was she hurt?
Leo growled in agony. Our mate needs us.
“I know,” I whispered.
I clenched my fists.
“Tariq,” I muttered. “If you touch her, I will destroy you.”
Natasha came out to stand beside me. “Kayden, you will find her. I believe that.”
I nodded. “I have to.”
She touched my arm again. “You are strong. Leah knows that.”
Her words comforted me slightly. But nothing could calm the storm inside me. I turned to Fred when he returned.
“Any news?” I asked.
“Not yet,” he said.
I felt frustrated. Time was passing and Leah was out there somewhere. She was all alone and she must be scared.
Leo howled inside me. We must act.
“I am acting,” I growled.
I looked back at the restaurant. This place would haunt me forever. I took a deep breath.
“Listen to me,” I told Fred and the guards. “Continue searching every building, every road and very corner.”
“Yes, Alpha,” they replied.
I raised my head.
“I will find her,” I said loudly.
“No matter what it takes.”
My heart burned with determination.
Tariq had made a mistake....a very big mistake. He had taken my mate. And I would bring her back alive and safe. Even if I had to burn the entire world to do it.