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Chapter 71
~Author’s POV~
Silvie almost flinched when she heard Isadora’s voice behind her, but she masked it quickly. By the ti she turned around, her expression had softened into sothing sweet and harmless.
"Oh, nothing," Silvie said lightly. "I was just talking to my mum about my dad’s birthday. I want to plan sothing special for him. A surprise."
Isadora’s eyes lit up imdiately. "Really? That’s so cute. If you need help with the party, you can ask . I’d be happy to help."
Silvie smiled warmly, reaching for her coffee. "Of course, my dear. I will definitely need your help in every way you can offer."
The words sounded sincere, and Isadora did not hesitate to believe them.
She handed Silvie her brown cup of coffee. "Co on. Let’s go before we get late for school."
Taking her coffee, Silvie nodded. "Yes, we should. I’d hate to break your spotless record for a cup of expensive coffee."
The two girls burst into laughter, walked side by side towards the road, chatting casually, but while Isadora talked about assignnts and weekend plans, Silvie’s mind was elsewhere. She was already thinking several steps ahead.
If Jade trusted Isadora, then Isadora would beco the easiest doorway into her life. And once she stepped inside, she would not leave quietly.
— — —
Across town, Kael was pacing inside Jade’s house.
His jaw was tight, and frustration rolled off him in waves.
He had waited at school the previous day for the student who was supposed to connect him to the drug suppliers and eventually to the n running the entire operation. Even after saying goodbye to Jade, he stayed behind for over an hour, expecting the boy to show up.
No one ca.
He had tried calling him several tis, but the calls went unanswered. Eventually, the line went straight to switch off.
Kael’s brows creased as he pulled out his phone again. He opened his ssaging app, ready to send a direct ssage, but before he could search the boy’s na, a notification popped up from an unknown number.
Kael exhaled slowly. "It’s about ti you responded," he muttered to himself as he clicked on the ssage.
The chat opened to a ssage containing a video file.
He tapped it open and waited for the screen to load for a second. And as soon as it did, he pressed play.
His eyes went wide, his chest tightening as his entire body went rigid. "Jade."
The na left his lips in disbelief.
The video showed her unconscious in the back seat of a car. Her head tilted to the side, her hair falling over her face. She looked unhard, but she was clearly not awake.
Kael did not think.
He rushed outside and into his car, starting the engine in one smooth movent. As soon as he pulled out of the driveway, another ssage ca in.
"We know who you are. You cannot interfere with our operation. You should never have tampered with the Wolf Gang. If you want to see her alive again, do as you are told."
Kael’s hand slamd against the steering wheel. "Damn it," he cursed.
Instead of slowing down as the ssage suggested, he pressed harder on the accelerator. If they thought he would sit back and wait, they did not know him at all.
On his way, traffic suddenly slowed ahead. There was an accident scene blocking part of the road.
Kael stepped out of his car, his senses on high alert. The mont he moved closer, his nostrils flared at the recognition of Jade’s scent.
The sll of her blood still lingered faintly in the air. His heart dropped.
He quickly scanned the area, checking the damaged vehicles, looking for any sign of her, but there was nothing. Nobody. No trace except the fading scent.
His jaw tightened.
He hurried back to his car and drove ho imdiately through a different path. But when he reached the house, Jade was still not there.
The silence inside felt wrong. Kael wanted to act, to chase after the n, but he had no location or much to go on with. He contacted his pack’s alpha and requested access to their resources to quietly track her location.
As soon as the call ended, his phone screen lit up, followed by his phone vibrating in his hand.
Jade’s na flashed across the screen. His heart skipped as he answered instantly. "Jade. Oh goodness, you scared ."
"I’m fine," she said quickly.
He listened carefully to her breathing. It sounded steady.
"Are you hurt?" he asked. "Did anyone touch you? I was surprised you weren’t ho when I ca."
"I’m fine," she repeated calmly. "Nothing happened."
He exhaled slowly, though sothing still felt off. "Where are you?"
"I’m at a friend’s place," she replied. "I needed so space, so I decided to sleep over here. I’ll co back soon."
Kael frowned slightly. He knew she was not telling him everything, but he also knew pressing her would only make her defensive and also reveal that his operation put her in danger.
"You recall why your mum asked to stay right?"
"Yes. It’s just for one night."
Kael inhaled and let out his breath slowly. "Alright," he said carefully. "This stays between us. I’ll see you when you return. Just promise you will not stay too long."
"I’ll be fine. You should rest while I’m away."
Kael let out a soft chuckle. "I’ll try." Then he ended the call.
That had been yesterday. And since then, sixteen hours had passed. She still had not returned.
As if that was not enough, her mother had sent him a ssage earlier that morning. She had managed to secure leave and would be returning ho on Wednesday.
Kael shoved his phone into his pocket just as another call ca in.
Alpha Raze Rael.
Wasting no ti, Kael answered imdiately. "Sir."
"You have been exposed," Alpha Raze said without preamble. "Aidan inford when I returned from my eting yesterday. Your mission is compromised. You either hide out or return ho while we restructure and destroy the organisation properly."
Kael’s jaw tightened. "I can track them. I just need the right resources and ti. Allow to..."
"No, we do not know the extent of their operation, Kael," Alpha Raze cut in. "You are to return."
"Understood, sir," he replied firmly, his hands balling into fists at his side. "But I may need to extend my stay. My friend’s daughter has been dragged into this. Her safety has already been compromised."
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
Kael stood still, waiting for his Alpha’s response, knowing fully well that whatever was decided next would change everything.
"I thought you said she was fine?"
"She is, but I owe it to them to keep her safe. Until I’m sure they wouldn’t pose a threat to her again."
Another beat of silence followed. "Fine. One more week."
"Two," Kael bargained.
"Kael, you may be my better, but I have a duty to your wife to ensure your safety as well," Alpha Raze argued.
"I know. Then you can have Aidan co join . I bet your Gamma would love so vacation."
Alpha Raze chuckled lightly. "Fine, two weeks, and no, Aidan stays put."
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