The drive to the warehouse was silent.
Raquelle sat in the passenger seat of the SUV.
Her eyes were fixed on the road ahead.
Dominic drove while Jake sat in the back.
The discovery from the CCTV footage changed everything.
That symbol.
That vehicle.
The warehouse.
They were all connected.
And Raquelle intended to find out how.
Several minutes later, Dominic slowed the SUV down.
“There.” Raquelle looked ahead.
The warehouse stood exactly where she remembered it.
It was large and old.
Dominic parked a short distance away.
The three of them stepped out.
Raquelle immediately looked around the perimeter.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Where are the guards?” Dominic looked around the empty space.
“I don’t know.” Jake scanned the wood line.
“There should be at least two stationed here.” “At least,” Raquelle replied.
She walked toward the massive iron gate.
No warriors.
No guards.
Nobody.
The silence was heavy.
“Something’s wrong,” she muttered.
Dominic grabbed one side of the gate.
“Let’s open it.” He pulled hard.
Nothing happened.
He tried again with more weight.
The metal barely moved.
Jake joined him on the frame.
Together, they pulled with their shoulders.
Still nothing.
Raquelle watched them struggle for several seconds before sighing.
“Move.” Dominic stepped aside.
Raquelle grabbed the metal gate and pulled with all her Alpha strength.
It didn’t budge an inch.
She released it.
“Forget this.” Dominic looked at her.
“What?” “We shift.” Jake’s eyebrows lifted.
“And jump over the top?” Raquelle nodded.
“Exactly.” The three quickly moved farther away from the gate into the tree line.
They removed their clothes and placed them in a pile before shifting.
Within seconds, three wolves stood where they had been.
They grabbed their clothes with their mouths.
Raquelle’s enormous wolf crouched low.
Then— BOOM!
She launched herself straight over the fence.
Dominic and Jake followed.
They landed on the other side and shifted back.
Raquelle quickly put her clothes back on.
She looked around the dusty property.
“Huh…” Dominic glanced at her.
“What?” “I can’t remember why we made this a warehouse in the first place.” “To store goods?” Dominic asked, placing his hands on his hips as they walked toward the main entrance.
Raquelle frowned.
“I don’t think any goods could be in here.” They reached the massive front doors.
Raquelle grabbed one handle.
She pulled.
The door opened effortlessly.
Her brows knitted together.
“That’s strange.” Then they heard it.
A sound from inside.
A distant voice.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Raquelle froze.
Dominic froze.
Jake’s eyes widened.
The sound became clearer.
Crying.
Children crying.
Raquelle’s heart dropped.
She slowly turned toward the darkness inside.
“What is this?” The three exchanged stunned looks.
Then Raquelle stepped inside.
The noise grew louder.
There were voices everywhere.
Children voices.
Dozens of them.
And suddenly, the mystery of the missing school bus became something far more horrifying.
*** Meanwhile…
Delta Adams pulled his daughter Chloe farther away from the pack house.
The evening had settled over the territory.
Most of the pack members were occupied elsewhere.
Some were returning from work.
Others were in the kitchen preparing dinner.
A group of younger wolves were playing soccer while another group had gathered around the basketball court.
Nobody paid attention to Adams and his daughter as they walked toward the training grounds.
Chloe looked at her father nervously.
“Dad…” Adams stopped.
“You…” He dragged a hand over his face.
“Why?” Chloe frowned.
“Dad, what?” “You don’t know what you’ve done.” Her confusion deepened.
“What did I do?” Adams looked around quickly.
He lowered his voice.
“I killed a man today.” Chloe’s eyes widened.
Her hand flew over her mouth.
“Dad…” “Pete.” He swallowed.
“I don’t know if you know him.
He’s one of the guards stationed around the borders.” Chloe thought for a moment.
“Describe him.” “Tall.
Red hair.” Her eyes widened.
“I know him.” She stared at her father.
“Dad…
why?” “Because he followed you.
I caught him following you.
He saw you crossing the border into your mate’s territory.” “No…” She shook her head.
“Oh, my Goddess.” Her voice dropped.
“I didn’t know he was suspicious.” Adams frowned.
“What do you mean?” “He stopped me when I went to the border.
He asked me questions.
I lied to him.
I thought he wouldn’t notice anything.” Her eyes dropped.
She looked genuinely shaken.
“He’s dead now.” Adams stared at his daughter.
For a moment, neither spoke.
“I regret killing him,” Adams sighed.
“But the Alpha cannot find out about this.” Before Chloe could answer, Adams received a mind-link.
It was Veronica.
*Come to the room.
With Chloe.* Her tone was unusual.
He frowned.
*Alright, love.
I’ll be there now.* The connection ended.
Adams looked at Chloe.
“Stop feeling bad.” She looked up.
“Dad…
a person died because of me.” “It’s not your fault.” Adams stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her.
“It’s better someone else died than you, my child.
I would do anything to keep you alive.” Chloe hugged him back.
After a moment, Adams released her.
“Now let’s go.” “Okay.” They walked back toward the pack house together.
Neither noticed the guards stationed near the hallway.
They were speaking quietly amongst themselves, doing their best to appear casual.
Adams walked past them without a second thought.
He reached the door to the room he shared with Veronica and opened it.
Chloe followed.
The door closed behind them.
Then Adams stopped.
His entire body stiffened.
A scent filled the room.
Strong.
Commanding.
Familiar.
His blood ran cold.
He knew that scent.
He knew exactly who it belonged to.
His Alpha.
But why was her scent so overpowering inside his room?
“Veronica?” His voice came out cautiously.
He slowly walked toward the bathroom.
His hand reached for the doorknob.
He turned it.
The door suddenly flew open.
A hand grabbed him.
Adams barely had time to react.
His hair stood on end.
His eyes widened.
And then he saw her.
Raquelle.
Her golden eyes were cold.
Her expression was terrifying.
There was fury on her face.
Adams stared at his Alpha in horror.
Raquelle leaned closer.
“Hello, Delta.”