Sasha’s POV
“So you have a n in ce. That’s good. Because I believed her when she said she was going to deal with us. I only wanted to get my son’s designs back. Are you sure that copies of your first drafts are going to hold up in court?” Joyce asked.
“Of course they are. There is nothing on them. Even though I can’t prove their mine, she can’t prove they belong to her either. We’re at an impasse. Now that we’re pushing Fashion Forward to act, they will force her to return them to us. They can’t be involved in this kind of scandal. Their business will take a hit. They’ll probably fire her, and that will also work in our favor. Once she’s forced to return them, she’ll be unable to get a job. Not with a giarism scandal hanging over her head.
I hit thending, and Rowan walked over to me. “Everything okay?”
I shook my head. “No…but it will have to be. We have to go.” I looked around the room and frowned. “Toya?”
He pointed behind me. “Wendy ran down here asking about a tripod for something. Toya ran upstairs to help her find it.”
Toya ran down the stairs. “Sorry. I’m ready.” She had a bag with her that she tossed at me. “This is for you.” She held up a hand as my mouth opened. “I don’t know what for. But Carl told me you would need it today.”
Carl… “He never quits, does he?”
Toyaughed. “This was myst note. But I think Wendy has one more, and I know for a fact you have a full stack.” I watched her smile dim. “He spent thest year of us life preparing us for the years without him.” She took in a deep breath. “I can only hope I have as much courage as he did near the end.”
I puffed out my cheeks. “Me too.” I turned back toward the soft giggles from the dining room. I headed back there to kiss my pup goodbye for hopefully thest time. “Hey baby girl.” I leaned against the door frame as Abby and Carly turned to me. “I have to go.”
Carly’s smile faltered for a second. “I know.” She hopped up and ran to me. She wrapped her little arms around my middle. “ Please be safe.”
Her words broke my heart. We had forced this little girl to grow up far too fast. “Of course.” I dropped to my knees to pull her into a proper hug. “I need you to be strong for Grandma Ainsley, okay? Promise me.” I could hear her pull in a deep breath, scenting me, like she was trying to remember my smell. It hurt me a little that she felt like she had to.
She rubbed her cheek against my shoulder before her soft answer came. “I promise.” She pulled back and kissed my cheek. My stomach flipped, and I furrowed my brow. “And what should you do if someone gets in here?” She pulled back fully to stare at me. I shook off the weird feeling and focused on my pup.
She smiled up at me. “Run to the closet door, and make sure it closes behind us.”
I poked her nose. “Exactly.” I looked over at Abby, who was still at the table eating a snack. “Where is your dad, sweetheart?”
Abby’s eyes widened for a second, as her cheeks were stuffed with food. She mumbled something, and Carly giggled. She poked me, grabbing my attention back before she answered. “Abby’s mommy and daddy are in the kitchen. They wanted to talk about adult stuff, so they gave us a snack.”
I rubbed her back and stood. “Okay.” I turned away and headed for the kitchen, but Abby’s muffled yell had me spinning around to see Carly’s eyes clouding over, and her tiny frame swaying. “Another one?” I dropped down as her knees buckled.
“A vision doesn’te when it’s expected, Three-spirit, only when it is needed.” Carly’s voice dropped several octaves. Her voice aged a hundred years as her tiny body fought to channel the vision she was seeing.
“She’s already weak.” I tossed back as I stood with my pup in my arms.
“Well then, this just proves she needs to get stronger.” Her white eyes danced for a second before her lips opened. “The crack is open, but the path is still sealed. When the path is fully opened, then you will know the Shaman’s time hase.” She took a breath. “But her time won’te if you do not fight thising battle. Your time here is now done. Run for the bridge to the pack. Your time is running out.”
“What do you mean my time is running out?” My stomach flipped again, and I felt a new feeling unfurl in my belly. A deep pool of dread opened up inside of me. The panic that was eating away at the edges of my sanity started to take bigger bites. And my mind spiraled as sweat broke out on the back of my neck, and I felt my fangs pushing at my gums.
My fear must have filled the room, causing Rick and Shelly toe out of the kitchen in a rush. They looked around the room, looking for the danger, but I watched confusion rece the alertness when they saw nothing. Rick took a step into the dining room. “What’s going on?”
Rowan stepped against my back, steadying me. “We have to go.”
Carly grabbed my face. “Don’t trust anyone.” She looked over my shoulder at Rowan, and I saw something like almost pity hit her face. “And trust in the Goddess’s path.” Her eyes closed, and her body bowed back.
Abby screamed. “Is she okay?”
I just nodded as I stood and hurried into the living room. “She just passed out from the vision.” I ced her on the couch and draped a nket over her. “She just needs a nap.” I stepped back as Abby climbed onto the couch and checked on her friend. ” Watch her for me?” She nodded.
“Amy?” I heard a voice call out, but I was already running out the front door.
“Okay, calm down,” Violet muttered to herself, taking deep, forceful breaths. “This isn’t permanent. You’ll go back to normal as soon as this is over. Easy as breathing.”
She tried to sound hopeful, but inside, she was freaking out. Badly.
She turned to Griffin, her voice mixed with nerves and determination. “This is a good thing, right? At least everyone knows Oscar is your beta, so I won’t be refused entrance.”
Griffin gave a short nod, his expression serious. “You’re right about that part. While I keep Zara upied, you’ll sneak off to ric’s room and release him. We’ll figure out the rest from there.” His intense gaze locked on hers. “You still remember theyout of the house from the map I showed you, right?”
“Yes, I do,” Violet said obediently.
“As long as Zara hasn’t made any major changes, this should be straightforward. Once ric is free, we’ll regroup and hopefully settle things with his mother peacefully.”
“Alright, captain. Let’s go get our boy back.” Violet gave Griffin a yful salute, her nerves hidden behind bravado.
Griffin nodded once, and started toward the vige where they’d find a ride straight to the packhouse. Violet followed close behind, her boots crunching softly in the snow. Neither of them said a word, both focused on the mission ahead, blissfully unaware of just how dangerous the mission they had taken truly was.
Meanwhile, back at the Packhouse :
“What is it this time? Where are you taking me?” ric’s voice rose in panic as he shot up from the bed the moment the guards entered the containment room.
Two of them came inside while the other two stayed posted at the door, their expressions hard and watchful.
One guard stepped forward, saying in a calm, nearly coaxing tone. “Alpha ric, we just need you toe peacefully with us. It’s your mother’s orders. There’s no need for violence.”
But damn it if ric was going to let themy a single hand on him. His muscles tense as his mind raced. What the hell was his mother up to now?
From the wild, rugged look in his eyes, it was clear he was nearing his breaking point. It had been more than two days since they’d locked the suppressor cuffs on him, and he was starting to lose it.
This was the longest he had ever been separated from his wolf, and it was beginning to take its toll on him.
Suppressor cuffs were designed for criminal werewolves locked up in prison. Even then, the prisoners were given brief, scheduled releases to breathe and reconnect with their wolves.<fnd913> Official source is Find1Novel</fnd913>
But prolonged continuous use of the suppressor cuff was practically a death sentence. Weeks of this would lead to madness, and finally, death.
However, ric was no criminal. He had been raised like royalty, treated like a prince all his life. And now, here he was, chained, humiliated, and stripped of his freedom by the very people who should have protected him.
He knew why his mother wouldn’t release him. Unlike ordinary wolves, he had powers — and he wasn’t afraid to use it. Once these cuffs came off, he would roast every single traitorous fool who had stood by and let Zara do this to him.
“Come on, let’s go, Alpha ric,” the guard said.
ric let out a bitterugh. “Oh, suddenly you remember I’m your Alpha?!” His voice dripped with sarcasm and rage. “You dare call me Alpha while standing there, letting my mother treat me like her personal prisoner?!”
“Alpha ric, this isn’t the time for talks—” the guard began, trying to cate him.
“Don’t touch me!” ric snarled, his voice a guttural hiss as he jerked back. The sound was so feral it made even the seasoned guard hesitate.
The man’s jaw tightened, and after a tense beat, he gestured to the second guard. The two of them began circling ric, moving slowly and cautiously, like hunters closing in on a cornered beast.
With a guttural snarl, ric mmed his shoulder into the nearest guard, ramming him hard against the wall. The second guard then lunged in from behind, his arms locking around ric’s torso.
But ric roared and dropped his weight, twisting violently. They both went down in a messy tangle, the sound of their bodies hitting the floor brutal.
ric tried to roll on top, his fists swinging wildly. But before he could regain control, the two guards stationed at the doorway charged in. It was now four against one, and with theirbined strength, they crushed down on him.
“Get off me!” ric snarled with his teeth bared, electric blue eyes zing with fury. He bucked and twisted, his muscles straining, but the suppressors were doing their job. His wolf’s power was still there, howling furiously, yet unreachable.
They pulled him up to his feet, dragging him across the corridor. ric fought them with every ounce of strength he had left, snarling and thrashing, but exhaustion quickly settled into his bones.
The corridor felt endless, and by the time they reached his mother’sboratory, his strength hadpletely waned. His head hung low, sweat dampening his hair, but his eyes still burned with defiance.
Zara barely spared him a nce when they arrived, too busy arranging the instruments on the nearby table. Her voice was calm, if not detached, as she gave her order.
“Put him there and make sure he’s strapped tight. As you can see, my son’s a little rabid at the moment. We wouldn’t want him hurting himself during the procedure.”
“You’re the one who’s fucking sick, you bitch!” ric roared, his voice cracking with fury.