Chapter 42 The Kidnapping

Chapter 42 The Kidnapping
Zack stood in the centre of the war room, tension radiating off him like heat. Angela and Joel stood across from him, their expressions tight, worried—but also thinking. “Do you know where she would take her?” Zack asked, his voice low but urgent. “Anywhere Kelly used to go… somewhere she’d feel safe?”

Angela and Joel exchanged a glance, and Joel rubbed his chin, thinking hard. “We couldn’t remember before, but there… might be one place.” Zack stepped forward immediately. “Where?” Angela hesitated. “It’s something from when she was a child,” she said carefully. “We didn’t think it meant anything at the time.” Joel nodded. “She used to visit this place often,” he added. “She told us… There was a woman there.”

Zack frowned. “A woman?” Angela nodded slowly. “She said the woman would talk to her.” A chill ran down Zack’s spine. “What kind of woman?” Joel shook his head. “She never explained clearly. Just said… the woman understood her.” Zack’s jaw tightened. “That doesn’t sound normal.” 

“It wasn’t,” Angela admitted. “That’s why we checked the place ourselves.” 

“And?” Joel exhaled. “We found nothing.”

Zack’s brows furrowed. “Nothing?” 

“No one. No signs of anyone living there,” Angela said. “Just an abandoned house.” Zack’s instincts screamed. “And that’s when you sent her away?” he asked. Angela nodded. “To the highest healer we knew. We thought maybe she was… unwell.” Zack’s gaze sharpened. “And what did they find?” Silence. “Nothing,” Joel said quietly. “They said there was nothing wrong with her.” Zack clenched his fists. But there was something wrong.

“Where is this place?” he demanded. Joel didn’t hesitate this time. “Eastern border,” he said. “An abandoned house deep in the woods.” Zack turned instantly. His voice cuts through the mindlink. James.A second later—Yeah? Bring five of our best-trained warriors. Meet me at the eastern border. Now. No hesitation. On it. Zack turned back to Angela and Joel. “Stay here,” he ordered. “Lock the clinic down.” Angela nodded. “Bring her back,” she said softly. Zack didn’t respond. He was already moving.

Zoe’s POV
Darkness, it was heavy and suffocating. Zoe groaned softly as consciousness slowly returned, her body felt… wrong, weak and disconnected to… “Ugh…” Her head throbbed, her limbs felt heavy, her chest, Celeste…? Nothing, panic flickered. Celeste?

Still nothing. Her breathing picked up. “No…” She tried again. Zack? James? Nothing. Her eyes snapped open, and she saw blurred shapes, shadows, two figures standing nearby.
“Oh, good,” one voice said. “That bitch is finally awake.” Zoe blinked, forcing her vision to focus, and then her stomach dropped “Laura…” Laura smirked, arms crossed. “Took you long enough,” another voice spoke, “Good.” Zoe turned her head slightly, and her heart sank even further “Kelly…” Kelly stood beside Laura; her expression twisted with satisfaction. Zoe tried to move— Pain shot through her body.

Her muscles refused to cooperate. “What… happened?” Zoe rasped. “Why can’t I feel my wolf?” Kelly laughed softly. “Oh, that?” She stepped closer. “I injected you with wolfsbane.” Zoe’s breath caught; that explained everything: the emptiness, the silence and the weakness.  Zoe swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. Her gaze shifted back to Laura “Why are you here?” Laura rolled her eyes. “Seriously?” 

“Why are you helping her?” Zoe pressed.

Kelly answered before Laura could. “Because I was meant to be Luna.” Zoe’s eyes narrowed. Kelly stepped closer, her voice rising, “Zack was supposed to be mine!” Zoe scoffed weakly, “You’re delusional.” Kelly’s expression twisted. “I was going to share him with Laura,” she snapped. Zoe blinked, then let out a short, incredulous laugh. “You’ve both lost your minds.” Kelly’s face darkened. “Shut up, you bitch!”

Her foot lashed out, THUD. Pain exploded through Zoe’s side as Kelly kicked her. Zoe gasped, her body curling slightly despite the weakness. “You will never be with him,” Zoe said through gritted teeth. “Neither of you.” Laura shifted uncomfortably beside Kelly. “This is crazy,” she muttered. “Why did you even do this?” Kelly turned to her sharply. “Because like I said—I want Zack,” she snapped. “And you wanted him, too.” Laura didn’t deny it. “We both hated her,” Kelly continued, pointing at Zoe. “She took everything.”

Zoe laughed weakly again. “I didn’t take anything,” she said. “He chose me.” That only made Kelly angrier. Laura crossed her arms, looking uneasy now. “Then why don’t we just kill her?” she asked bluntly. Zoe’s heart skipped. Kelly shook her head. “No.” Laura frowned. “Why not?” Kelly’s eyes flickered—just for a second. “Because she said not to.” Zoe stilled. “She?” Laura asked. Kelly’s expression shifted. Almost… reverent. “She’s powerful,” Kelly said quietly. A chill ran down Zoe’s spine.

“Who?” Laura pressed. Kelly didn’t answer immediately; her gaze drifted slightly, like she was remembering something, or listening. Zoe’s mind raced. A woman… The abandoned house, Angela’s words echoed faintly in her memory. She used to say a woman talked to Kelly…Zoe’s stomach dropped. “Who is she?” Zoe demanded, her voice sharper now despite her condition. Kelly’s lips curled into a strange smile. “You wouldn’t understand.” Zoe’s heart pounded “Try me.”  Kelly crouched down in front of her, her eyes glinting with something unnatural.

“She sees things,” Kelly whispered. “Things you don’t.” Zoe held her gaze “Like what?” Kelly tilted her head “The future.” Silence filled the room. Laura shifted again “This is getting weird,” she muttered. Zoe ignored her because her focus was entirely on Kelly. “And what did she tell you?” Zoe asked. Kelly’s smile widened. “That you would ruin everything.” Zoe’s breath caught. “And that I was meant to take your place.” A pause. “And now…” Kelly leaned closer. “I will.” 

Zoe’s heart pounded harder, not from fear, but from something else. This wasn’t just jealousy or obsession; it was something deeper, darker, and the realisation that someone else was pulling the strings, and whoever that was dangerous. Zoe swallowed slowly, her body weak and her wolf silent, but her mind stayed sharp. Hold on, she told herself. Zack will come. Because he must, because this time, she wasn’t going down without a fight.