Chapter 16
ELENA
My heart was in my throat as I held my phone in my hands. Aiden had run out of pack territory. Alone.
My breath caught as I shoved my phone back into my pocket, spinning on my heel to leave. Derek’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist before I could take another step.
“What’s wrong?” His voice was low, concerned.
I yanked my arm free, swallowing back my rising panic. “It’s none of your business.”
His jaw clenched. “Elena, tell me what’s going on.”
I looked into his eyes, those same brown–gold eyes as our son. Aiden:
I said nothing, turning, and sprinted out of the restaurant, my pulse pounding in my ears. I called Mason but his phone went right to voice mail. He had just gone into an important meeting and must have turned it off.
I cursed and called our driver, telling him to bring the car around immediately, I needed to
head home.
As I waited what seemed like an agonizingly long time, I pulled out my phone again. There was only one person I could turn to now.
Loga
up on the first ring. “Aiden’s missing,” I blurted, breathless. “I can’t get in son. I need help.”
ce was low and clipped. All business. “I’ll put my people on it.”
ride back to the packhouse was interminable. Minutes stretched into an agonizing
ar before my phone rang again. Logan.
“I found him,” he said. “He’s safe. But-”
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Chapter 16
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Chapter 16
ELENA
My heart was in my throat as I held my phone in my hands. Aiden had run out of pack territory. Alone.
My breath caught as I shoved my phone back into my pocket, spinning on my heel to leave. Derek’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist before I could take another step.
“What’s wrong?” His voice was low, concerned.
a
I yanked my arm free, swallowing back my rising panic. “It’s none of your business.”
His jaw clenched. “Elena, tell me what’s going on.”
I looked into his eyes, those same brown–gold eyes as our son. Aiden:
I said nothing, turning, and sprinted out of the restaurant, my pulse pounding in my ears. I called Mason but his phone went right to voice mail. He had just gone into an important meeting and must have turned it off.
I cursed and called our driver, telling him to bring the car around immediately, I needed to head home.
As I waited what seemed like an agonizingly long time, I pulled out my phone again. There was only one person I could turn to now.
Logan picked up on the first ring. “Aiden’s missing,” I blurted, breathless. “I can’t get in touch with Mason. I need help.”
Logan’s voice was low and clipped. All business. “I’ll put my people on it.”
The car ride back to the packhouse was interminable. Minutes stretched into an agonizing hour before my phone rang again. Logan.
“I found him,” he said. “He’s safe. But-”
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Chapter 16
“But what?” I said desperately.
“He’s in the rogue community.”
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“He’s WHAT?” My time spent with rogues before Derek found me had been relatively safe.
Happy, even, at times. But my experience was not the norm.
It had been a rogue attack, after all, that had sent me flying off a cliff, waking up with no memory, my family torn apart with agonizing worry, not knowing what had happened to
- me.
“Where are you?” I asked Logan, who gave me the address. “Stay there,” I went on. “I’m on my way.”
a
I was barely through the door of the small, ramshackle house when Aiden launched himself
into my arms.
“Mommy!”
Relief flooded through me as I held him close, my fingers brushing through his unruly hair. “Are you hurt?” I whispered.
“No, Mommy. They were really nice,” he lisped through his missing front teeth, and I couldn’t help but think about just how young he was, how ill–prepared to be running roughshod through rogue territory.
I wanted nothing more than to launch into a hysterical parental rant about how dangerous
what he’d done was and what the consequences could have been. But there would be time
that later.
stead, I looked up, first at Logan, to whom I threw a grateful look, and then at the group of women standing just behind him.
Recognition slammed into me. These were the same rogue she–wolves who had saved me all those years ago.
“Carly?” I said, holding Aiden tightly to my side. “Erin? Maggie?” My voice was tremulous.
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Chapter 16
Erin stepped forward shyly.
“Hi Mia,” she said, her voice soft.
I smiled at her. “It’s actually Elena,” I said. “My name is Elena.”
Carly came forward as well. “You have an adventurous little boy there.”
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I ran my fingers through Aiden’s hair. “A little too adventurous, I think,” I said. “Thank you for keeping him safe.”
Carly gave me a prudent nod.
a
I saw Maggie move a little way away from Logan, her eyes lingering on him in an odd way. “We never thought we’d see you again,” she said. “It’s been a long time.”
“It has,” I said. My mind was spinning. “What happened to you?” I asked. “After Derek
took me to Silverclaw, I came back to find you, but you were gone.”
Carly looked suddenly wary. “After Derek took you,” she said, “someone came after us. We
had to run.”
Logan crossed his arms, his voice deliberate. “Which begs the question,” he said. “Who really wanted you gone, Elena? And why?”
That pulled me up short. “What are you trying to say?”
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