FULL NOVELXO Chapter 42 - Caged
Luna Winter’s P.O.V.
A week has passed since I arrived back in Berlin. Maddox and Eva are still blissfully unaware of the turmoil raging inside of me every minute of my day. I miss my mate, the distance between us is killing me. I don’t know if he met the Council, if he’s in New York or Greece, if he’s safe.
I stare at my phone screen, the countless messages I have sent Kaden over the past week seeming pathetic. Here I am, desperate to know how he is and he doesn’t care. But then, I think that something bad might have happened only to quickly chase those thoughts away.
Sighing loudly in frustration, I press the call button and hold the phone up to my ear. And just like every other time, it goes straight to voicemail.
“Hey Kaden...it’s me. I’m uh just calling to see if you’re okay. Please call me back, I-I love you.” I trail off at the end, my voice a whisper in the quiet room.
I throw my phone on the bed haphazardly, covering my face as tears start to blur my vision. What if something happened? What if the Council hurt him? What if I never see him again? All these questions are playing in my mind like a broken record on repeat.
I wipe a tear from my cheek before taking painkillers for my increasing headache, I knew it’s from stressing over exams and my mate...mostly my mate. I focus back on the books and notes spread out on my bed, picking up my pen to start studying once more.
But I have only written down a sentence when the doorbell rings, the distinct sound echoing in the quiet house. I grumble under my breath, wondering why my friends had not taken their keys tonight. Before I called Kaden, Eva texted me that she is in the library studying for her in class exam tomorrow so maybe it’s Maddox downstairs.
I make my way down the stairs and towards the door, unlocking it. “Why didn’t you take your keys, Maddie?”
My eyes widen when I see the burly man standing outside, a wicked smirk on his lips. My entire body freezes and I feel my chest constrict, fear consuming me. Snapping into action, I back away and try closing the door but it’s futile when the man pushes forward, the door slamming against the wall with a loud bang.
A blood-curdling scream escapes my lips as I try and run upstairs, but before I can reach the top floor, I am pulled back harshly. My head slams against one of the steps and I cry out in pain, my temple stinging. I feel my body being turned and the man from before appears in my line of sight.
“Let me go!” I scream, kicking uselessly but also feeling my body weaken.
The last thing I remember is his hands on me, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. I see the panic button and try to grab it without alerting the man, my fingers closing in around it. I press the red button before hiding it under my sleeve.
A hoarse scream escapes me when I see Rico and Derek knocked out, their bodies on the ground with blood oozing from their wounds. My heart hurts at seeing the people I care about in this state. I feel helpless not being able to struggle or escape, my body feels heavy just like my eyelids as they quickly droop, closing completely as the pain in my head becomes worse.
The unknown man’s eerie chuckle is the last sound I hear before I’m thrown in the back of a vehicle, landing unceremoniously on the ground with a loud thud. I cry out in pain, clutching my head when it hits off the carpeted floor. As the doors close on me and lock, I hide the device in my bra.
And then my world becomes dark.
I groan when I feel my temple throb painfully, raising a hand to clutch it. Only to find myself unable to move. My eyes snap open and I look around the dimly lit cell, the sight of metal bars and a door greeting me. My breathing quickens until I’m panting harshly, wondering what is going on.
Snippets of last night come rushing back to me, making me gasp. I was kidnapped. Before I can think of anything else, something groans loudly and I hear footsteps. They make their way down the hall and stop right outside my cell, unlocking the door and stepping it.
I glance up to see my captor, an evil grin on his lips as his brown eyes roam over my figure. His hair is cropped and his skin doesn’t look healthy, he seems weak as he takes steps towards me. His features are slightly sharp and he has a muscular build which is clad in a brown leather jacket, dark shirt, jeans and black shoes.
“W-Why am I here?” I ask, trying not to shake in fear when he leans down and swipes my hair away from my neck.
He chuckles, tracing my mark making it burn in protest. My body didn’t like that someone other than my mate is touching me. He inhales deeply, eyes darkening before my very eyes. That fact that he is a werewolf just caused me to fear for my life.
“Let’s just say you’re a surprise for someone special.” He chuckles, untying the shackles around my wrists and ankles before sliding a tray to me that I had not noticed when he came in. “Eat.”
Our eyes meet in a staring contest as he locks the door and I watch him leave before looking down at the plate. There is some bread with soup and water, making me grimace in disgust before I push the silver dish away. There is no way in hell I’m going to trust him.
I bring my knees to my chest, feeling the small device push against my bra. A relieved sigh escapes me, thankful that he had not noticed and destroyed it. Everyone will know my location and I’m suddenly hopeful that someone will get me out of here.
Kaden Reid’s P.O.V.
A thunderous growl escapes my lips as I glare at the investigator for what feels like the hundredth time today. The Council had flown in from Greece after Vulcan somehow convinced them. Currently, each of my friends and I are in a room being questioned. Axel and his family along with Natalie and the gang are in New York, except for Rico, Derek and Matt. I needed someone to guard Luna and make sure she’s safe so they will be flying in as soon as everyone here is done.
I want my mate. She possesses my thoughts every second of the day and trying to focus on anything else proved futile. I miss her, I want to hear her voice and hold her. I long to kiss those pouty lips of hers and breathe in her sweet scent.
The Council took every type of device I owned just so I wouldn’t be able to contact anyone. They think I’m guilty for every murder and don’t want to risk me warning anyone of the investigations.
“Where were you on May twenty-second exactly?” She asks, writing down notes from my previous answer.
“How the f*ck am I supposed to remember exactly where I was and what I was doing?” I reply flatly, wishing this to be over.
“Sir, I need you to cooperate.” She grits out, annoyed with me just as much as I am with her.
“I was in Spain.” I roll my eyes, mentally smirking when I notice her grip on the pen tighten.
“What were you there for?”
“Completing a project for my company.” I answer, bored out of my mind.
“And after you moved to Berlin and made it your permanent address -”
“Look woman, I don’t need a recollection of my goddamn life. So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to leave instead of answering the same questions repeatedly. You’re not going to suddenly get new information out of me, this is all I have. Now let me go.” I growl furiously, slamming my fist down on the table in anger.
She stares at me in shock before opening her mouth to protest. At that moment, the door bursts open and Vulcan rushes in making both of us stand. Something isn’t right. The only time Vulcan ever looked so distressed was when Aurora was taken.
“Sir! You are not authorised to be in here!” The lady yells for security who run in and try to pull Vulcan out.
“It’s Luna.” He states, my mind going into overdrive. “She pressed the panic button...Kaden, somebody took her.”
“No!” I roar in anger and pain, shoving everyone out of my way before running down the hallway.
Axel and everyone rush out of their rooms, looking at me with worried eyes. I run down to where the pack’s security centre is, the others following behind. Barging in, I ask on any updates of her, noticing the familiar cameras I had made Rico put outside her house.
It is night there and I see the door left wide open, the familiar faces of Rico and Derek just regaining consciousness on the front lawn and Matt still knocked out in the back garden. The bloody wounds on their faces and bodies confirm that it was an attack.
I grab the phone and quickly dial Rico’s number, hearing it ring. I watch the screen as he fumbles around for it, noticing it a few feet away and picking it up.
“What happened?!” I growl dangerously, seeing him wince at the loudness of my voice.
“Kaden...your dad is alive. He took her.” He replies quietly, turning to Derek when he comes back out of the house, shaking his head.
“What?” I croak, my mind going blank at his words.
My father is dead, I know he is. The very few pack members that survived told me they saw him burn in the fire as they were escaping. So, how could he have lived?
“Rewind the footage.” Vulcan orders one of his men, who nods and presses a button on the keyboard.
I watch as the time goes back, everything playing in reverse until the man hits a button making it pause. He presses play and the time is around eight at night when Matt and Derek suddenly drop to the ground. I watch as Rico becomes alert, backing up towards the house and taking out his gun which is loaded with silver bullets.
I then see a man walking into the driveway, Rico pointing the gun straight at his forehead. His familiar chuckle filters through the speaker and I freeze, the sound confirming all my fears. The motion sensor light turns on and his face is illuminated.
There stands my father, who I thought was dead all these years.
He looks straight at the camera and my eyes narrow in suspicion over the fact that he knew the house had been amped up with security. He lifts a hand and wiggles his fingers, mocking me. He then turns to Rico with a wicked smile, looking up at the house.
“You can’t stop me.” My father states arrogantly, crossing his arms and taking a small step forward.
“I’ll die trying.” Rico rolls his eyes, holding the gun with both hands.
My father sighs mockingly before nodding, a smirk on his lips. The bastard was treating this like a game. “Then so be it, but let my son know I said hi.”
“Wait, what...” Rico trails off in confusion, unable to say anything further when he is suddenly attacked and pushed to the ground.
I snarl at the sight of Ace slamming Rico’s head against the concrete, effectively knocking him out cold. My father just steps over his body and rings the bell. My heart starts to race and I shake my head, knowing what’s about to happen. She probably thinks it’s either the boys or her housemates.
I see Luna open the door, her eyes widening at the sight of a stranger at her house. I roar in pure fury when I hear her scream and struggle, the sickening sound of her being hurt before my father carries her out of the house making me want to kill him. There is blood dripping down her temple from a large cut and I can’t take it anymore.
I feel my body tremble, my beast wanting to take over and kill everyone and everything in his path. Vulcan and Axel slam me to the ground when I turn and run, all the men in the room pinning me down as I struggle, wanting to be freed so I could find my father and make sure he’s dead by my hands this time. My beast is howling and whimpering in my mind, wanting his mate.
As soon as I gain control over my wolf and calm myself down, I push them away before marching towards the meeting room. I knew it was where all the Council members were and they were in for it. Slamming open the door, I hear them protest at disrupting their meeting.
“Quiet!” I roar, slamming my fists down on the large table where they all sat.
I glare at every one of them, looking them in the eyes and challenging them to disobey me. It was frowned upon to disrespect a Council member but I couldn’t give a damn right now. My mate is out there, hurt, unsafe and terrified.
“Show them the video.” I order one of the men from the tech team, who scrambles to get the footage up and running on the television screen.
Everyone watches the video and I find myself clenching the table so hard just to keep my cool. I hear her screams, her cry of pain and her pleads for my father to let her go. It feels like someone is stabbing me in the heart every time.
They are silent when it ends and my growl reverberates around the room, catching their attention. I lean forward, baring my elongated canines at them. Their eyes are filled with slight fear at how close I am to losing control. They knew I could destroy everything in a second.
“Now do you believe me when I say that I had no part in the murders? My father is very much alive and he is the reason for those deaths.” I snarl, shame radiating off them for doubting me. “You all caused this.”
“Now Kaden, we didn’t -”
“Shut the f*ck up when I’m talking. It’ll only take me a second to snap that neck of yours.” I cut the young werewolf member off with a yell, demanding silence and obedience.
I make my way around the table slowly, my beast completely taking over. “Because of your orders, I had to make my mate leave. Years of keeping to myself weren’t enough for you? The second some murders happens you blame it on me?!”
I lean down to look one of the Alphas in the eye. He was persistent in wanting me to pay for something I didn’t do. I smell his fear when he realises that I have surrendered myself to my wolf.
“Now, she’s gone.” I chuckle, feeling like I’m going insane without her. “My human mate is with my f*cking father who would kill her without hesitation or remorse. Do you want to know why?!”
“Because he’s the killer, not me!” My scream echoes in the silent room, everyone’s eyes on me as I make my way to the front. “I could have protected her, this wouldn’t have happened if you all had investigated further instead of singling me out.”
The Alpha from Britain, who seemed to have a vendetta against me from day one, cried out in shock when I dug my nails into his neck, pulling his head backwards to meet my eyes. “I should just kill you all for putting my mate in danger.”
“Kaden,” Eloise, the vampire member of the Council stands with her hands up. “We’ll find her, our warriors are at your disposal.”
“I’ll make sure you end up in your grave this time if she’s harmed in any way.” I growl deeply, my form trembling as I storm out of the room.