Upon rushing outside, Spencer began searching the area for signs of Thalia.
However, the darkness was limiting his vision, and he could barely make out his surroundings.
Even after scouring the area, he still could not find any hints of her around. In his panic, a thought popped into his head, and he took out his phone to call Thalia.
Right then, the vague sound of a ringtone traveled into his ears.
Spencer hurried in the direction of the sound. As the sound became louder and louder, he became surer and surer that Thalia was nearby.
Indeed, when the ringtone sounded clearest, he spotted flickering lights at the side of the road. He squinted and noticed someone lying on the ground.
“Thalia!” he shouted as he ran over to pick her up into his arms.
Noticing that she was already unconscious, Spencer reached out to place his fingers on her neck. Once he was sure that she was still alive, he let out a sigh of relief.
“Thalia!” he called out to her. “Thalia!”
Her eyes remained shut.
He studied her from head to toe, but it was still too dark for him to figure out whether she had other injuries. He had no choice but to carry her back first.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Dave was still waiting for Alpha Kilian . Every once in a while, he would check the time before returning to his anxious pacing.
Right as he was about to make a call to check on him, he saw Spencer rushing in with Thalia in his arms. “What's the matter? What happened?”
“I'll tell you about this later!” Spencer darted up the stairs without looking back. “Do you need any help?”
“No,” was Spencer's answer before he headed right into the room.
After kicking open the door, Spencer entered the room and placed Thalia on the bed before studying her anew. Once he was certain that she did not sustain more injuries, his heart, which had been in his throat, lowered back into his chest.
Nevertheless, his heart was still thumping fast as he stared at her. His fear had yet to completely fade away.
Despite his reluctance to admit it, he knew he would not know what he would end up doing if anything were to happen to Thalia.
He slowly reached up to brush her hair with a soft gaze in his eyes. He only dared to do such things when Thalia was unconscious.
Alas, time was of the essence, and Spencer dared not waste too much time.
He took out a needle, then inserted it into one of her acupoints. Thalia gradually woke up. Spencer kept his needle away. “You're awake.”
Thalia stared at the ceiling for a moment before turning to Spencer. “Spencer? Why are you here?”
“You messaged me. You told me to look for you outside. You said you were in trouble,” Spencer said worriedly.
I passed out? I was in trouble?
All of a sudden, a thought rushed into her head, and she shot upright. “Where's Nelly ? Where is she?”
“Nelly ? She should be upstairs.”
“Upstairs? Why would she be upstairs?” “Where should she be, then?”
“I saw her leave with my own two eyes! She was the one who knocked me out.” Spencer froze. “Did you just say that Nelly knocked you out?”
Thalia nodded.
Realizing something, Spencer quickly stood up to head outside without saying another word. “Wait for me!” Thalia cried out as she rushed after him.
When Spencer reached the stairwell, he looked at Dave, who was downstairs, and asked, “Has Alpha Kilian come out?”
Dave shook his head. “He's not picking up his phone either.”
Spencer pressed his lips tightly together. “Something must have happened to him.” With that, he went to Nelly 's room.
Thalia followed him with a solemn look.
Upon hearing Spencer's words, Dave stiffened for a brief second before ascending the stairs. Once Spencer reached the door to Nelly 's room, he stopped in his tracks.
The last shred of his rationality was telling him to stay composed.
When Thalia saw Spencer pausing, she reached out to knock on the door, but Spencer grabbed her wrist.
“What are you doing?” Thalia asked. “Are you sure that Nelly 's out?”
“Of course. Unless you're telling me I saw a ghost instead,” Thalia responded.
Spencer drew his brows together.
Just then, Dave walked over to look at them. “What's the matter? Did something happen?”
Turning to him, Spencer uttered, “Thalia said she saw Nelly heading out and that Nelly knocked her out when she tried following her.”
Dave's heart sank.
“So, do we knock on the door or not?” Spencer asked. “Of course!” was Thalia's reply.
Unlike her, the two men were calmer. Dave mulled over the matter and said, “Alpha Kilian 's a punctual man. He has never done something like this before.”
“So, the door...”
“I'll call him again,” Dave said. Spencer nodded.
Dave fished out his phone to call Alpha Kilian , but the ringtone came from inside the room.
Just as he was about to say something, his phone rang.
After glancing at the screen, Dave walked over to the side with his phone. “Hello?”
“Dave, where are you guys?” Mike asked. “We've been waiting for you to come since an hour ago.”
Dave lowered his volume and replied, “Something happened. Give us a while. I'll inform you of the right details half an hour later.”
“What about the operation?”
“Don't do anything until we're there.” “All right, I got it.”
Before Dave ended the call, he thought about something. “Right. How are things on Boss' side?”
“He's out.”
Dave's brows snapped together. He knew that more delay meant that they would let the golden opportunity slip them by, so after a while of hesitating, he uttered, “Try to drag this on a little longer. Also, pay attention to whether or not he's meeting someone. If he does, tell me right away.”
“Of course. I understand.”
“That's all,” Dave said and ended the call.
He did not outright mention Nelly 's name, for Mike and the others knew who Nelly was. Once they saw her, they would realize who Dave was talking about. However, if Nelly did not end up meeting Boss, he would save them much trouble by not mentioning her name from the beginning.
With that settled, Dave turned to look at Spencer again.
At that moment, Spencer took out a black bag and opened it on the bed. Dave saw the thin needles kept inside and how Spencer hovered his hand over them all until he reached out to one of the needles. After taking that needle out, he inserted it into Alpha Kilian 's body.
Dave watched quietly at the side. Soon, Alpha Kilian started reacting to the needle. His fingers twitched. Then it was his eyes.
Dave scurried over, and just as he reached Alpha Kilian , Alpha Kilian opened his eyes. “Alpha Kilian ,” Dave called out.
Alpha Kilian frowned from the pain pounding in his head, and he narrowed his eyes when he saw Dave and Spencer. “Why are you both here?”
Spencer kept the needle and replied, “To rescue you.”
Alpha Kilian did not dwell on Spencer's words. After giving him a once-over, Alpha Kilian sat upright.
When Alpha Kilian took in Dave's expression, a spark of realization flashed past his eyes. “What time is it now?”
Dave raised his arm to check the time. “Almost one.”
Alpha Kilian 's body visibly stiffened, and he widened his eyes at Dave. “One?” Dave nodded in response.
Alpha Kilian parted his lips, wanting to say something when he realized what was amiss. He scanned his surroundings and noticed that everything in the room was the same as before.
So that wasn't a dream. It was real. What happened between Nelly and me was real too. Looking back at Spencer, he asked, “Where's Nelly ?”
Spencer turned to Dave at that, wondering if they should spill the beans to Alpha Kilian . Simultaneously, Alpha Kilian cast his gaze at Dave.
With two pairs of eyes fixed on him, Dave took a deep breath and schooled his features into a somber look.
Alpha Kilian knew him well, and he knew that something had to have transpired for Dave to bear a look like that on his face.
“What happened?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
The signals in his body and his memories before he fell asleep told him something had to have occurred.
Dave looked at Alpha Kilian before lowering his gaze when he realized he could not voice those words out loud. He turned to Spencer and threw the hot potato at him. “You tell him about it.”
At that, Dave looked away.
Alpha Kilian 's eyes flicked toward Spencer, but this time, there was a look of impatience in them. “What happened to Nelly ? Did she get another episode?”
Right as Spencer was contemplating what words to use for his explanation, Thalia, who was outside the room, could not hold herself back anymore. She darted in and revealed, “She went out. She said she had something to do, and I said I'd accompany her for it, but she knocked me out.”
Alpha Kilian 's face contorted into a frown. He knew well what Thalia's words meant.
In the next second, he raised his head to look at the two other men. “When did this happen?” he asked.
“About... half an hour ago.”
Alpha Kilian scrunched up his forehead in response and tightened his fists that were resting on his sides.
He needed not speculate much, for the answer was clear—he knew what Nelly had gone to do. Her initiative and her passion for that day were a gesture of farewell to him.
Alpha Kilian smacked his fist on the bed. He then rose to his feet and said, “Dave, I don't care how many people you need to mobilize, but you have to get her back. You have to.”
Thalia fearfully shut her eyes when Alpha Kilian stood up, although Alpha Kilian was still wearing a pair of pants.
He walked to the side to put on his clothes before heading outside.
Dave went after him as he said, “Nothing beats the simplest way no matter how many people we mobilize. I've already assigned the men to keep an eye on Boss' side. If she appears, we'll find out immediately, and we'll be able to bring her back. Mike and the rest know what she looks like. They won't let Boss take her away.”