I had to share this news with someone who would feel the same as me. I hurried to my office and with Isabella at my heels. I literally ran for an entire hour without stopping when I found her scarf. Besides, Devon didn’t mind being out. He hadn’t gotten over the fact that Elena hadn’t surfaced in the past few months and was getting oddly suspicious.
I decided to see what Alaia had to say. According to her, Elena hadn’t spoken to her in a while, keeping herself hidden. Devon, of course, didn't take the news so well, so I had to get him focused on something else.
“Where did you find this and why didn’t you call when you first found them,” Isabella asked, holding up the necklace and the scarf.
“I lost my phone on the way back, but that’s not important. I found the necklace on the cliff the night she disappeared. The coat and the scarf were found near the river bank, which could mean she was alive when that happened. She has to be alive, Isa. I just know it.”
“Zira’s alive?” Isa questioned, as if she didn't want to believe it. She paced back and forth, looking at Zira’s things. Then she looked at me with a huge smile on her face. “Zira’s ALIVE!”
She jumped up as I pulled her into a hug. It was a foreign feeling because we’ve been at each other’s throats lately, but it felt good. Finally, some good news. I was so close to finding her-finding both of them. I just pray she’s okay. Isabella pulled back, smiling.
“OK, so what’s the plan?”
“Well, I sent some warriors to the packs closest to the river in that area. Maybe someone saw her and took her to their pack. We’ll start there and see how it goes.”
“I really hope we find her, brother. We could use all the good news we can get.”
For a moment, I forgot about Victoria’s situation. Isabella’s smile faltered a bit and we stood there in an awkward silence. We haven’t been on good terms since she tried to attack Alaia a few months ago. She was convinced that Alaia had something to do with everything.
So I’ve been making sure they weren’t in the same area. So far it was working. I could feel she wanted to say something but I stopped her before she could speak.
Alaia was near. I could smell her scent so I went to my door and peeked out. There was no one in the hall but her scent was lingering nearby. I closed the door to make sure no one could eavesdrop on our conversation.
“I’m sorry about earlier...with Alaia,” Isabella started, “I was angry and she was the only person I could aim my anger at.”
I sat down next to her, putting my arm over her shoulders. “Hey, it’s okay. I get it. I’m just trying to hold on to the positive. It’s either that or letting Devon out enough to kill the prick in the dungeons.”
Isabella laughed, which helped lighten the mood a bit. “Yeah, I’ve had those thoughts myself.”
Isabella stood up and placed Zira’s things on my desk. Her hand brushed over the letters I had on my desk. They were addressed to Zira, Alaia, and my children.
“Are these love letters?”
She looked at me with a playful smile. I got up to put away the letters. Ever since my talk with my father, I’ve been trying to jot down the things that made my life better. It might seem silly, but it kept my mind from going to a dark place.
“Hey, can we focus on the task at hand? I have a favor to ask of you?” Isabella raised one of her eyebrows. “You seem to be good friends with Zack’s friends, so I was wondering if you could ask them to help us. Maybe the warlock can try to locate Zira with these things?”
“Why not ask Alaia? Since she’s been so helpful.”
I could tell she was still bitter that Alaia wanted me to banish her after Isabella tried to attack her. Alaia wanted me to banish her but I couldn’t do that to my own sister. My mother and father would never forgive me. Besides, Isabella was my rock when I needed one and honestly I needed one.
I gave her a look as if she was serious. I didn't want to know how Alaia would react if I asked her to locate my baby’s mother. Especially since the topic of kids was a sensitive topic for her now. No, I needed this to be on the side and out of her way.
“Fine, I’ll ask but they might not want to help. I don't know what you did, but James doesn’t seem to like you very much,” Isabella reminded me.
True, we got off on the wrong foot, but I’m sure he had enough time to get over our little tete-a-tete. Lately, I would see him glaring at me from across the room or he would find excuses to leave when I had just entered a room. There was something else bothering him and it could’ve been the little argument at Zack’s pack. No, I must've done something without knowing.
“Yeah, I noticed. Hence, why I’m asking you?”
Isabella picked up Zira’s things and looked over them. “You know, there’s a possibility that this might not work. So don’t get your hopes up. I have a feeling the worst is yet to come, brother.”
We both started to walk out the room when Isabella’s phone rang. She looks at the screen and back at me.
“It’s Zack,” she says while picking it up. I used my wolf’s hearing to listen to the conversation.
“Bells, I’m glad I caught you. I tried calling your brother but it’s going straight to voicemail. I need to talk to you both and it can’t wait,” Zack said with a bit of urgency.
Isabella noticed me listening and switched to her speaker phone. “Zack, he’s right here. We can both hear you. What’s going on?”
“It’s about Alaia,” Zack started. “She’s been playing us all from the start. She’s the reason the rogues attacked the pack and tried to kill Zira.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. “How do you know this?”
“Because the person who had front row seats is standing next to me,” Zack said before another voice chimed in.
“You have someone in your custody. Nas right,” the woman asked.
I looked at Isabella. I was still trying to wrap my head around the first bit of information.
“Yes, he’s here,” Isabella said. “What about him?”
“He’s been part of this from the beginning.”
“What,” I yelled into the phone.
“They were torturing me but I was able to hear most of their plans, including getting rid of your friend, Zira.”
This was getting to be way too much for me to listen to. I started to walk towards the dungeons with Isabella behind me. I made it there in record time with Jace and Chris meeting me at the entrance. Since Devon likes to take control when I’m down here, my boys keep me from killing the rogue.
The moment I entered, the smell of blood and sweat filled the air. I moved to the last cell in the dungeon, custom-made for even the strongest of Alphas. In the middle of the cell, Nas was there on his knees. His body was covered in chains dipped in wolfsbane. The parts of his body that showed were tainted with dirt and blood.
As we got closer, he moved his head to stare at us. His breaths were coming out hard as if he had just finished running a marathon. I could hear a little growl the closer we got.
“Are you working with my mate,” I asked right off the bat. I didn’t want to waste any more time. I wanted the truth.
He laughed before choking on his own blood. “Why don’t you ask her,” he asked after controlling his coughs.
“I’m asking you.”
It was quiet again. So quiet I could hear the sounds of the chains as he moved around.
“I have nothing to say to you, young Alpha,” he said between each breath.
“Would you speak for your freedom?”
“Isai-”
I stopped Isabella and kept my eyes on Nas. I wanted him to know how serious I was or at least I wanted him to think so. He held my gaze until a creepy smile spread across his face.
“There are some things worse than being locked up here.”
“Like losing Danny and Frank,” Isabella said, getting Nas’s attention.
“Don’t you dare speak their names. You know nothing,” he yelled at her.
Isabella held her phone through the bars and the woman from before spoke. “Nas, it’s true.” Nas looked at the phone then back at Isabella. From his face I could tell he knew who was on the other end.
“Mirja,” he growled. “I thought you were dead.”
Mirja laughed through the phone. “I guess I’m harder to kill than you think. Alaia killed Frank to quiet him.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Frank knew she killed Danny. I was down there, remember. Frank recognized her and tried to out her before she drove a knife into his chest. She’s been playing you too.”
“LIARS!”
I watched as he struggled against the chains and for a moment he reminded me of myself. Before I could say anything, I felt a small pain in my head. Isabella looked at me as if she felt it too.
“Someone left the pack.” We both said at the same time. Was this a coincidence? The moment we find out the truth, she leaves. Was this Alaia? There was another sharp pain, but this time in my chest. I braced the wall to keep from falling. Isabella ran to my side, with a worried expression.
“Isaiah, what’s going on?”
“Alaia,” I said through gritted teeth. She was in pain and I could feel it. “Where is she?”
I tried linking her but she was blocking me out. A second pain flashed throughout my body but with Devon’s help I was able to push through it. I linked Hunter, Jace and Chris to find Alaia as I tried to pinpoint her location. Something wasn’t right and I had a feeling the worst scenario was about to happen.