Chad called Eric's phone but got no answer. He sent Eric another text with high priority.
Chad-
URGENT- EMMA'S UNCLE IS A BETA BUT THERE IS SOMETHING I CANT FIGURE OUT, IT IS LIKE THAT IS WHAT HE WANTS ME TO SEE. SEND SOMEONE.
3:38 PM
Chad then set down his glass on Emma's nightstand. He definitely could hold his liquor so he didn't understand the feeling that came over him. Before he know it he was letting go of the tread of reality and falling deep into slumber. Chad could have sworn he saw someone or maybe something before he closed his eyes.
He prayed Eric got there before something happened.
When he woke up feeling light-headed, he knew he had been drugged and it must be some heck of a drug to knock out a wolf. He surveyed his environment but couldn't tell where he was. Also, why was he tied, to the wall? The last thing he remembered was walking into Emma's room and sending Chad a text.
He twisted and turned but couldn't move from where he was.
Jason walked into the house after parking his car. He had gone to the store to buy more beer for his 'family'. This was the first time they were all meeting after Sandra's death.
Honestly, he didn't expect this turn out as most of his pack members had gone rogue since he left them to commit to his daughter.
The few that remained loyal were Frank and about 10-15 men and women.
But looking at the crowd that was well over 50 Jason knew he still had a pack. He inwardly thanked Frank for running things while he was too emotional to do so.
He made a mental note of the person he didn't know as he would have to be mind linked to all of them to ensure the bond that was broken when he left would be revived.
"Thanks, man," Frank said taking the beer from his hand.
"How did you get all these people here?..." Jason inquired.
Frank pulled the beer and chugged it down.
"That hit the spot" he then pulled one and gave it to Jason to which Jason refused and Frank joyfully drank.
"Frank as much as I appreciate this," Jason gestured to the persons who were present.
"It was supposed to be a dinner, as in not this much crowd," Jason stated concerned.
"Word of mouth spread bro..." Frank smiled quite proud of himself.
"Emma was looking for you by the way" Frank was now on his third beer.
"Where is she now?" Jason asked.
"Not sure. Told her you were out back but it seemed you left before she saw you" Jason held his head up and sniffed the air. There was no point in hiding his true nature as they were all there for one main purpose.
"Also I met that boyfriend of hers, obviously a Gamma, and I may have shown him my rank"
"What?!" Jason's nostril flared.
"Did you contain the situation?" He didn't seem surprised.
"Frank" Jason started in his Alpha tone.
"Jason it is contained" Frank stated firmly.
Jason calmed down. He could not risk other packs finding out about Frank or him during this critical stage of protecting his daughter. He had the element of surprise and he wanted to keep it that way.
Jason walked towards his room.
Frank held onto his hand and mind linked him while looking like he was whispering "And Alpha she is changing just like Sandra, she drank the Royal Jelly and her whole body changed, she looked fatter or is it fuller...all I know I'd the changes are happening fast."
Frank let go of Jason and walked off.
Jason feared this. At least with Sandra things went a bit slower. It took years before he found out what Sandra was and years before the Ritual. He didn't believe it then thinking it only to be a myth until the day of the Stinging.
He was sure Emma was in her room, but a faint scent of hers still lingered in his room. He close the door upon entering and walked to his nightstand.
He sniffed.
Oh, fuck!
Jason was at a crossroads. He was on the verge of getting to the bottom of the Ritual of the Apis and finding out about Chad, but the place the book lay was now empty. He walked briskly to his daughter's room, he met her on the stairs with tears in her eyes.
Both of them stared at each other not saying anything.
"All this time you knew?!" Emma cried.
"This book was written by Mom and you knew! You knew what she went through and what I'm going through yet you said nothing!!!!"
Jason was at a loss for words.
"Emma it isn't what you think...your mom" Jason tried to explain.
"No dad! It is exactly what I think. You knew and had me thinking I was going crazy!" You know what it's okay. Am done with all of this, whatever happens, happens." Emma got up and wiped her tears.
"Queen! Queen bee!!"
"So you finally decided to call me huh? Finally decided to accept your faith?" The Queen smirked. When she saw Jason she understood.
"I'm ready," Emma said with determination while white smoke engulfed her.
"Emma! Don't do this!" Jason called as the Queen and Emma vanished into nothingness.
Jason mind-linked Frank. "She's gone Frank" Jason's voice cracked in the link.
"We'll find her." Frank was now sitting beside Jason who was slowly shifting. He had to suppress his true nature for years and now his wolf was anxious to get out.
Frank held him. "Alpha this isn't the place or time, we need them..." Frank pointed downstairs. "...to first accept you as their Alpha before you reveal who you are."
Jason's eyes dilated and his canine descended.
Frank half-shifted as well.
"Jason your brothers are awakened, you must keep your cool and find Emma, you know what will happen if you fail to reveal to them what you know. You have to find her before they find out she is yours". This reasoning calmed Jason but his wolf was on edge.
"Let's question that boyfriend of hers" Jason knew exactly what he meant. Frank was one to always get his way and drugging Chad was his doing. Matter of fact all the liquor was drugged. He just didn't tell Jason. Only the strongest could resist it. Only those would be a part of the elite force Frank was recruiting. All the original pack members were keeping watch on the Lycans and searching for The Vespa sorcerer.
Chad had cuts and bruises on him that weren't healing. He could only self-heal for so long and he felt he had been in this hell for a few days, or at least that's what he thought. Chad prayed Eric was looking for him and that Emma was okay.
He endured this pain as it was nothing different from losing his mate the first time. But when he could no longer feel Emma's presence his wolf started to slowly take over.
"Hey you, no need to behave like that" A voice from behind sang. Chad wolf continued to struggle as his previous torturer entered the shadows.
Jason stood in the corner watching, surely he could use his Alpha tone and get any information that he needed but he didn't want to reveal himself so soon. He wasn't sure he could control his wolf.
Frank flipped the wall that Chad was chained to and now he was on a table wearing nothing but his underwear.
Frank looked at his tools, it's been ages since he had the pleasure to torture with his Alpha watching. He had some new trick to show off.
"Chad is it?" Chad did not answer.
"Yeah, right the cloth in your mouth no problem" Frank removed the cloth. Chad remained silent.
"Playing brave, no worries, I expect no less from a Gamma." Jason rolled his eyes. Couldn't Frank speed this up?
Frank's hand lingered on the pliers. He sat near Chad's toe and got a good grip on the nail with the pliers. Frank then ripped out the nail.
Chad screamed.
"F**k you!" Chad cursed.
"Gay much?" Frank questioned.
And then continued the procedure over and over and over again. Chad's nail slowly started to grow back and before it could form properly Frank removed it again.
Chad cursed. All this time Frank's face remained emotionless. Jason took note of this wondering what his friend had been up to all the while he was gone.
"You know people like us..." Frank started.
"Wolf if you may say, we aren't God's creation, but a glick created by the universe, and if we aren't created by God then no doubt we shall not see heaven..."
Frank pulled out another nail. Chad screamed. Jason made note of the fact that Frank hadn't asked Chad any question regarding his daughter or about the Ritual of the Apis.
"...then we are most definitely going to hell.." He pulled another nail.
"...feel honored. Am just giving you a VIP treatment so you'll get accustomed." Franked smiled sinisterly then put away his pliers.
He turned towards a scissor on the table
Jason observed this while the previous torturers emerged from the shadows. Three in total.
They proceeded to ask the question.
"What's your intention with Emma?" Chad remained silent as he tried to mindlink Eric but something was blocking him.
"Who are you and who is your Alpha?" Chad continued to look into nothingness.
In a swift movement, Chad's ear fell to the ground. The scissors Frank was earlier holding now glisten crimson.
Chad hollered. Cursing profusely.
A pack warrior known as Moses then asked.
"Who was at Emma's windows last night?" Chad's eyes widen, someone was at Emma's windows and he wasn't aware. He didn't even smell anything while he was outside the house. Who could it be and why didn't he smell it?
Jason saw the confusion in Chad's eyes and mind-linked Frank stating this.
"What length would you go through to protect the one you love?" Frank asked the first question relating to the situation at hand.
Chad remained firm.
"What length would you go through to protect Emma?" Frank asked.
Chad met Frank's eyes.
"I would die for her" were the only words that left Chad's mouth.
*********
Somewhere on the other side of the earth, well not so far. Eric read his message over and over again wondering what happened. He tried to mindlink Chad but to no avail. He tried calling him as well but his phone only rang to voicemail.
He needed to inform his Alpha but feared the worst as the Luna grew sicker by the minute.
"Eric!!!" The Alpha's voice rocked the cave and dust fell from the ceiling.
"What is going on?!" The Alpha mind linked him.
"Chad, his mind link is being blocked. The last place he entered was Emma's house. I have my men on it" Eric responded.
"And the Queen?"
That's all you think about.
"She cannot be found" Eric waited for the Alpha's anger which didn't come. Eric feared the worst.
"Fredrick I am going to ask you one question and think wisely before answering"
"What is your purpose as Beta?"
"To protect you and the Alpha" Eric answered.
The Alpha then responded. "And if the Queen is missing, what should you do?"
Eric had no idea how to answer. So he waited.
"Go and fucking find her!" The Alpha bellowed.
"No problem Alpha, right away Alpha."
Eric appointed some men to protect the Alpha while he emerged from the cave.
He often sat admiring the above. Now he was where he always wanted to be and he would do whatever it took to save his Alpha and flee.
So he headed towards Chad's last location. Emma house.
*******