Theodore's POV
As soon as I heard Cliff's voice, Derrick and I immediately turned around.
We headed downstairs quickly.
Derrick asked, "What about Jasper?"
I replied coldly, "Leave him here."
Derrick shook his head, "Well."
At that moment, my wolf suddenly issued a warning in my mind.
I didn't understand its meaning but ran in the direction it guided.
And there, I found Vanya collapsed in the corridor.
She just left there.
She was injured! Why didn't she ask for help?
"Hold on tight," I reminded her.
Vanya didn't speak but hugged me tighter.
"Hurry! The bomb is about to detonate!"
Derrick shouted. I clutched Vanya and sprinted out of the unfinished building just in time.
An explosion rocked the building, flames filling the sky.
Vanya watched the fiery blast, her face pale with fear.
Indeed, had I not brought her along, she might have been in danger.
"Get in the car!" I told Derrick.
With that, I placed Vanya in the back seat and prepared to join her when I noticed Cliff's car not far away.
He had just emerged, seemingly startled by the blast.
Then he saw me and Vanya in the back seat.
His panicked expression turned gloomy.
"Alpha Cliff, let's go... I'm so scared."
Melinda's anxious voice urged, and Cliff got in the car.
Vanya watched them sit together in the back, her face expressionless as if she'd grown accustomed to it.
'What a foolish man.'
I thought with disdain.
He didn't deserve Vanya, treating that incompetent rogue as his true love.
Sometimes, I marveled at the Moon Goddess's arrangements.
If that rogue became the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, their decline was foreseeable. I was actually looking forward to that day.
Shaking off these thoughts, I got in the car, and Derrick started the engine.
"We should leave. Humans will be here soon to investigate," Derrick muttered.
On the way back, the atmosphere in the car was as oppressive as the calm before the storm.
Vanya sat there like a statue, not uttering a word.
Her gaze fixed on some distant point. Her eyes reflected an indescribable weariness and contemplation.
Derrick couldn't stand the silence and broke it first.
He turned slightly, looking at Vanya through the rearview mirror, "Aren't you curious who kidnapped you?"
Vanya seemed to awaken from a deep reverie, a flicker of light in her eyes.
Then she blurted out a name, "It was Jasper."
Her tone was as calm as if stating a trivial fact.
"How did you know?" Derrick's face was full of surprise.
"Guessed," Vanya responded indifferently, shrugging her shoulders slightly.
Vanya's POV
I just smirked at Derrick's astonishment, my heart untroubled.
In fact, I had only become certain that Jasper was behind all this recently.
I knew my social circle in the Los Angeles packs was limited, living like a lone wolf.
I seldom got involved in disputes. The only recent event that caused ripples about me was spending five million on that obsidian rough.
If my memory served, Jasper was the one who acquired the obsidian rough in my past life.
Clearly, my purchase, this time, interrupted his plans.
Although he might not have realized the immense value the obsidian rough would hold in the future, his insistence on obtaining it must have hidden other ulterior motives.
And Jasper, as Theodore's subordinate, also explained why Theodore could appear so swiftly in such a critical moment.
With a turn of thought, I took the opportunity to raise the issue with Theodore, "Theodore, your man dared to kidnap me. How should we settle this account?"
"Put it on hold," Theodore's tone was undisturbed, his face as calm as a still lake, with no emotional fluctuations, making it hard to discern his true thoughts.
Derrick glanced at Theodore through the rearview mirror, his confusion evident.
I could almost guess his doubts—Jasper's actions had no direct connection to Theodore, yet he risked his safety to rescue me.
The situation seemed as if he owed me something.
This was unexpected. I thought Theodore would directly disavow any involvement.
The car sped along and reached the boundary of the Silver Moon Pack soon.
Derrick slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching against the ground.
Through the window, I saw Cliff carrying Melinda out of the car and walking straight towards the grand entrance of the Packhouse without pause.
There was no hint of waiting for me.
My heart felt a brief pang, like being pricked by a sharp thorn.
But I quickly composed myself and calmed my emotions.
"I'm off, thank you both," I said, stepping out of the car and walking towards the Packhouse with dignity.
I heard Derrick say to Theodore faintly, "I thought you would step up for her."
"She's not that fragile," Theodore closed his eyes slowly, then after a moment, he whispered, "Let's go."