KIDNAPPING VALERIA I dont know what kind of mystery the King is hiding this time .


    I just hope hes not plotting another one of his tricks to trap me in his Casanova games .


    Miss Valeria , I need to pee , said the timid voice suddenly , tugging on the sleeve of my dress .


    Now ? Can you hold it just a little longer until your father arrives ? I asked , but he shook his head , fidgeting anxiously in his wheelchair .


    Oh , Goddess , how do I solve this now ? I thought about taking him behind some bushes in the forest , but when I asked the woman sitting next to me , she mentioned there were public bathrooms nearby .


    1 grabbed Edwards wheelchair and we headed that way .


    It was located on a street near the square , at the end of a narrow alley .


    But when we arrived and I saw mening in and out of an old wooden door marked Public Restroom , I ran into another problem .


    How was I supposed to enter a restroom full of men ? It was impossible , so I decided to take him to the womens restroom next door instead .


    Wait , I cant go in there .


    Mom says boys cant enter there , he stopped me , seeing my intentions .


    But Edward , I cant enter the mens bathroom , thats why suggested waiting for your dad .


    How have your managed to pee other times with your mom ? I asked , and he exined that the only time hede , a servant from the mansion had taken him , but today it was just the two of us .


    He was adamant he wouldnt go into the girls bathroom .


    Ugh , this whole motherhood thing wasnt always fun , and I was starting to draw attention , standing in the middle of the area with my peculiar face .


    Miss , I can help with your pup .


    I have mine with me too .


    Its hard for females to take boys to the restrooms , said a man , smiling as he stood next to a boy around ten years old , who was curiously watching Edward .


    1 hesitated for a moment .


    Edward didnt seem well known , and no one was staring at him like he was the Alphas son .


    Maybe they didnt recognize him because he rarely left his mansion on the hill .


    I would really appreciate it .


    Ill wait right here , I said , handing over the wheelchair , though I felt a bit uneasy .


    Still , the man didnt seem suspicious , and he had a child of his own .


    I rubbed I my hands together , standing at a corner nervously as people entered and exited the restroom .


    I hoped I hadnt made a mistake .


    When I finally saw the man return with his son , I scanned the area but there was no sign of Edwards wheelchair .


    Where is Edward ? I asked , my heart pounding with dread a terrible feeling creeping over me .


    KIDNAPPING .


    Your pup ? I thought he was already with you .


    His father came in and said hed take care of it , the man exined , pointing toward the restroom .


    His father ? His father hasnt been here ! What did he look like ? I demanded , and the man described someone tall , with ck hair nothing like the Alpha .


    No , no , I dont know that man ! Wheres Edward ? Wheres the pup ? I left him under your care ! I shouted , my voice trembling with both fear and anger as panic consumed me .


    Im so sorry ! I really thought it was his father .


    The boy didnt protest or say anything when he took him out through the other door .


    They left through the alley exit , he replied , his face now pale with guilt .


    What ?! Theres another exit ?! I gasped , and he nodded , shame written all over his face .


    Without thinking twice , I dashed into the mens restroom like a whirlwind , racing through the long corridor while men shouted insults andints .


    I didnt care .


    My eyes only searched desperately for the open door at the far end , leading into a dark alley .


    The cold night air hit my face , but I couldnt feel anything other than sheer panic .


    Have you seen a child in a wheelchair around here ? The only thing Ive seen is a shameless woman ! How dare you enter the mens bathroom ? Disgraceful spat a woman , pointing a judgmental finger at me I didnt even bother responding to her nonsense , my heart racing as I kept searching frantically in all directions .


    Suddenly , the caw of a raven echoed above me , making me look up in hopes it might guide me as it had in the past .


    Yet , it only circled above my head , a sign I couldnt quite understand Please , has anyone seen a man with a boy who has leg issues ? The boy has brown hair and blue eyes ! Yes , I just saw someone like that heading down that alley , finally , some passing townspeople pointed in a direction toward the square .


    Without thinking of the danger , recklessly , I rushed into the narrow corridors of a pack I barely knew , pushing deeper into a tight passage that opened into a small courtyard .


    Edward ! Stop , you damn kidnapper ! That child is mine ! Help ! Somebody help ! I screamed desperately , hoping some neighbor would assist when I finally spotted the pup struggling against .


    mans grip , who was trying to pull him out of his wheelchair .


    No one had time to react , though some lights turned on in the nearby houses , The bastard quickly hoisted Edward over his shoulder , toppling the wheelchair , and bolted down another alley , away from me .


    I chased after him , panic overwhelming me ,pletely focused on Edwards safety and not realizing how dangerously deep I was going into unfamiliar territory .


    Atst , I saw him from a distance , entering a half abandoned , old , crumbling house .