Twenty-seven

The plane landed and Zane stumbled onto solid ground, breathing in fresh air. He looked around and saw people staring at him. Reed came up beside him and had Simone in his arms. They both smiled at the people who cheered as they saw the woman. A man came forward and took her from Reed. "Take her home. I'll be there as soon as I can. Make sure Jena can stay with her."

The man nodded and took Simone away as Reed gestured for Zane to follow him. They went into a large building and into an office. Reed grabbed a map and pointed to a territory west of his borders. "Is that it?" Zane asked gruffly.

He nodded. "It's it. The disadvantage they have is the numbers. But they make up for it for strength. They're leader is not exactly an alpha, just more of a commander than anything. There are no women either. I think there used to be, but they're dead now."

"Did you hear of one named River?"

Reed smiled. "Yes. Unlike others in the pack, she was a gentle creature."

"She had two daughters and one son. Know about them?"

Reed tilted his head to one side quizzically. "I know of a daughter and very little of the son. Of course, River's been dead for some time now and I heard her son went insane over it."

Zane gave the other Alpha a dark smile. "That's because he's the one who killed her, framing it on his sister!"

"He framed Wren?"

Now Zane tilted his head. "No, the other daughter."

"I was going to say, Wren had never met him all those years ago so I wasn't sure how that could have happened."

"Whisper. He framed his sister, Whisper. Not only that, but he and his friends did horrible things to her, then sent her to a hospital who beat her senseless for panic attacks she had no control over. Not to mention, her mother gave Whisper's brother all her rights and guardianship."

Reed's eyes widened. "Kind of sounds like Simone's situation, but without all the other beatings and hospital care. Not to mention, her mother faked her death."

"Whisper is my mate," Zane said.

That was all the explanation Reed needed. "They don't have patrols, thanks to their numbers, but if we go in at night, then we should be able to get in and search around for a while."

"Do you know where his house may be?"

"Yes, the only thing is that he always has friends over."

"How do you know?"

"We spied there for Simone when she was taken."

Zane nodded. "Okay. So, if she was in there, where would she be?"

Reed took a piece of paper out and flattened it on the desk. It was a blueprint of the house. "Probably the tiny room off the kitchen. Luckily, it has a window."

"Good. We'll start there then," Zane said and sighed. I'm coming, Little Wolf. I'm coming.

A knock sounded on the door and they both looked at it. One of Reed's men was there. "Reed, we have a visitor."

"Who is it, Corey?"

"Wren."

"Wren is here?" Zane asked in disbelief.

"You know her?"

"She's part of my pack."

Reed nodded. "Send her in."

They only waited for a minute before the female entered. "Alpha Reed, I—" She blinked when she saw Zane.

"Wren, welcome. What's going on?" Reed encouraged.

Her eyes flickered to Zane in worry. "I know where Whisper is, I just need help."

"You saw her?" Zane asked hopefully.

"No, but I scented her. Will is hiding her."

"But she's there?"

Wren nodded.

"Is she alive?"

"Considering he wouldn't show me anything, I assume so." Wren's eyes filled up with tears. "Zane, it was horrible!"

Zane launched himself over and embraced her. "Shh, we're going as fast as we can. I'm going to kill anyone who was there and a part of it."

"There's horrible things there! So many horrible things!"

"Reed!" they heard from downstairs.

The Alpha smiled warmly. "I'll be back." He stepped out and disappeared.

Zane sighed. "Wren, I miss her! She was taken straight from my home! She was taken from the couch while I was doing something else."

"Who found out?"

"Anton. I told him to check on her and when he wen there, she was gone. There was only a male scent to let us know who took her."

"Oh Goddess! She's probably hurt! She's probably thinking we are all abandoning her!"

"Wren, shut up!" Zane growled and pulled back. "Don't put more depressing thoughts in my head. It is bad enough how my own ideas might be true, I don't need to imagine yours."

A few hours later, Zane, Nico, Anton, Reed, Corey, and Thrain set off into the forest towards the west border. Reed and his men were ahead as to lead while Zane and his men stayed close behind. As determined as he was to get to her, he needed to follow the others.

It was maybe an hour before they got to the line that separated Reed's pack from the other. They slowed down and continued on more carefully than before. Their ears were alert for any sound of pursuers, their claws and teeth ready for any attack. Zane was especially focused on scents he found with his nose. He found all male scents mixed in with Wren's who's was freshest.

Lights appeared ahead and Zane put his head up, looking around to see any sign of her, but there was nothing, not even the green eyes he loved so much. Reed glanced back at him for any sign that he may have seen her, but Zane just shook his head.

Reed started forward again, creeping towards a house that looked ready to fall with the next wind blow. Even from meters away, Zane could hear drunken laughter from within. He let out a low growl, preparing to attack them if she was in there. As they got closer, he heard a few words being slurred. "Damn bitch ssscratched the hell out of my faccce!"

"Sh-she's going to get it tomorrrrrow."

"Imma firssst!"

Nico and Anton blocked Zane from the window just a few feet away, shaking their heads in warning. Zane growled at them to move, but they stood stalk still, not letting him through. All he could see was red, because he knew who they were talking about and couldn't hold himself back. When Reed gave a low bark, Zane turned away and glared at him. The other Alpha nodded to a dark window.

Curious and hopeful, he walked over and jumped onto his hindlegs. His forepaws on the windowsill, he stuck his head inside and looked around. It was a child's room; the only way he knew was because of the tiny bed on the adjacent wall. But there was nobody inside. Whining softly, he jumped all the way in and looked around, sniffing everything.

It was faint—to faint to be recent—but she had been here. She was everywhere in there and Zane felt his heart throb at not finding her. He was about to leave when he caught sight of a picture. Carefully, he pulled it out with his paw and looked at it. In it, there was a woman with long hair smiling at the camera. In her arms was a girl of about four years old, leaning her head on the woman's shoulder. The girl was the exact replica of Whisper, only in a child's body.

Zane picked it up and walked to the window, jumping out and putting the picture down, then put his paw over Whisper. He glanced at Reed who nodded confirmation. His men nodded as well and Zane put it under a rock for him to return to get later. No one would notice it unless they were looking for it.

The sound of a door opening made all six wolves turn and face the house again. Five men came out, heading towards the forest. Anton and Reed both let out a low growl, each one staring at a different male. Zane was quiet as he did see his enemy, but was curious as to where they were going. Nico nudged him and he looked to see the others going into the forest nearby.

Sighing, Zane followed. Everyone shifted and Reed began to curse. Anton looked at Zane. "The man who took her, he's in that group."

"Which one?"

"The taller one."

Zane didn't seem too surprised about this, only chuckled at how Will let other men do his dirty work for him. "Fine. Anton and Nico can have him."

They grinned and nodded. "Reed, calm down!"

He growled. "I won't calm down!"

"What's wrong?" Zane asked.

Reed looked at him with angry eyes. "One of the men there used to be my pack doctor, he almost poisoned Simone once!"

This is a nice turn of events!

"And now he's hurting my mate?" Zane mused. "Well, he dies tonight, along with the others."