129 Chapter 129 Stolen From Safety
Elena’s POV
Someone was going to pay for what happened to those innocent vampires. I didn’t c how many stones I had to overturn or how far I had to dig to find the bastards
responsible. They crossed a line when they attacked beings who never harmed anyc in their lives.
The problem with most people is they hear the word vampire and immediately assu evil. Those narrow–minded fools could kiss my ass for all I cared.
Chloe and I were deep in conversation at the dining room table when the sound of frantic footsteps thundered down the staircase. The panic in the voice that followed made my blood run cold.
“You did put Briar down for her nap, right?” Skye’s voice cracked as she burst into the dining room.
“Of course I did. She was sleeping peacefully when I left her room. What’s wrong?” My heart started hammering against my ribs.
“She’s not in her crib.” The words hit me like a physical blow.
I shot up from my chair so fast it nearly toppled over. My legs carried me to the living room where Damien sat on the floor with Caleb, building blocks scattered around them.
“Did you get Briar from her room?” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. “No. Why would I?” Damien looked up, confusion creasing his features.
“She’s missing from her crib. I put her down myself. She can’t climb out of that thing on her own. She’s not even walking yet.” My voice rose with each word, hysteria creeping in around the edges.
I took the stairs three at a time, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. Our bedroom became my starting point as I tore through every corner, every shadow, every possible hiding spot. My voice carried through the packhouse as I commanded the warriors to seal the borders immediately. Nobody enters, nobody leaves until we locate my daughter.
The search consumed us. Every room, every closet, every space large enough to hide a
129 Chapter 129 Stolen From Safety
child got turned inside out. We crawled under furniture, checked behind curtains, opened every door and cabinet.
Something foreign lingered in our bedroom air. A scent that didn’t belong to anyone i our pack. Damien moved through the space like a predator, his nostrils flaring as he analyzed every molecule.
“Human.” His voice carried a deadly edge when he emerged. “The scent is definitely
human.”
“How in hell does a human make it to our bedroom on the fourth floor?” The question came out as a growl.
“I don’t know. But they were here. And they have her.” His jaw clenched so tight I coul hear his teeth grinding.
“No.” The word ripped from my throat. “They don’t get to take my baby. Nobody gets t take my fucking baby.”
I bolted from the room, my feet barely touching the stairs as I flew down them. The front door slammed against the wall as I burst through it, my body already shifting int supernatural speed before I reached the tree line.
The forest blurred past me as I raced toward the border patrol points. Each warrior I reached gave me the same report. Nothing unusual. No unauthorized crossings. No disturbances.
My legs burned as I ran the entire perimeter myself, checking every inch until I found it. A section of border with no guards in sight. The head warrior appeared within minutes of my howl summoning him.
“Who’s supposed to be stationed here?” My voice could have cut glass.
“Two guards are assigned to this post. I don’t understand why they’re not here.” His face went pale as the implications sank in.
“Find them. Now”
The human scent trail was faint but detectable. I followed it deeper into the woods, my nose pressed almost to the ground as I tracked the foreign smell beyond our territory line. Damien’s footsteps pounded behind me as he matched my pace through the
dense forest.
The trail led us in a winding path through unfamiliar territory until we reached a
<
129 Chapter 129 Stolen From Safety
paved road. There, the scent vanished completely, as if it had never existed.
“Vehicle.” Damien’s single word confirmed my worst fears. “They had transportation
waiting.”
“Briar.” Her name fell from my lips like a prayer.
My knees buckled. Damien’s strong arms caught me before I crumpled to the asphalt. and the sobs that had been building in my chest finally broke free. My daughter was gone. Vanished without a trace or a clue about who had taken her or why.
Damien held me tight against his chest, his own pain radiating through the mate bond even as he tried to project strength for my benefit. I could feel his heart breaking alongside mine, but he refused to let it show. Someone had to remain functional, and he was taking that burden on himself.
My baby girl was really gone.
The walk back to pack territory felt like a death march. The head warrior waited for us with the two missing guards flanked by several other warriors. Both men hung their heads in shame, unable to meet our eyes.
“Where were you?” Damien’s voice could have frozen fire.
“We spotted something suspicious further down the border line. We went to investigate.” One of them stammered out the excuse.
“Lock them up.” The command left my mouth before I could think about it
Both guards stared at me with wide, terrified eyes, but I felt nothing for their lear Their negligence had cost me everything. Because they abandoned their post, my daughter had been stolen from her own bed.
Damien wrapped his arms around me again, whispering plans and promises about finding Briar. He outlined search strategies and tracking methods, but the words felt distant and muffled. Shock had settled over me like a heavy blanket, numbing everything except the gaping hole where my heart used to be. I managed to nod at appropriate intervals, but inside I was already drowning
<
130 Chapter 130 Grave Conversations
130 Chapter 130 Grave Conversations
