Taken

The sky was getting darker, showing there was a storm coming soon. It didn't seem like it was going to be soon but it was slowly building up. Vee noticed this when she looked out the car window. She was getting worried, not for the storm but for her friend who was becoming obsessed with finding Kieran's killer, the masked Devils Eyes. Over the past few days they've spent most of their time scouring the town and woods, trying to track him down. As much as she had tried to stop her from what seemed to be a suicide mission, Tessa paid no mind to her.

Now they've gone another day, searching the woods and coming up empty still. She sighed and looked over at Tessa who seemed mad, frustrated, angry and disappointed but still she had that determined look to keep searching. "We have covered a lot of places today Tess, I think it's time to head back to town. There's a storm coming too" Vee pointed out.

"I am not done yet. It's just midday. I can drop you off if you want and you can head back home. I told you from the onset, I am doing this with or without you" She stated, tightening her grip around the steering wheel.

"You know I can't do that. I can't let you embark on this crazy journey alone….but let me ask you, what are you going to do if we do find him? What do you think is going to happen?"

"I am going to kill him" She blurted out with no hint of her bluffing in her voice or eyes.

"And you think it's going to be that easy? Have you taken time to think about how crazy strong he might be if one of his followers took on Beta Maynard and Derek alone and the commander was left with just an eye? Don't you think him being their leader means he is stronger? And you think you can take him on" Vee explained, trying to talk more sense into her.

"I don't care how strong he is. I will take his life even if it means me losing mine in the process" She stated strongly.

Vee was taken aback by her words. She knew Tessa was in love with Kieran but didn't think it was that deep, after all they knew each other for just a few weeks. For her to be willing to throw her life on the line for him even when he's no more, made her believe that it was more than love. "Did he mark you? Did you become his mate?" Vee inquired, staring at her quizzically.

"Of course not. If we did that then it wouldn't be a secret" Tessa replied just before her phone vibrated with a notification sound. She fished it out and stared at the text, reading it silently before turning to Vee. "I guess you got what you wanted. My father wants to see me" She explained, sighed and started the engine.

***

Tessa took a deep breath, straightening her clothes. She didn't want to give off any hint about what she's been up to the past couple of days. She wasn't bothered about anything else neither was she interested in anything other than her goal, not even what was going on in her pack or how uneasy everyone was feeling about the war brewing.

She knocked softly on his office door and then pushed the door open upon his invitation. He was seated, staring directly at her as though trying to realize something. "You called me father"

"Well I had no choice seeing as I barely set my eyes on you anymore. I take it you're still angry but I didn't think you would disregard your duties"

"I am not angry at you anymore or at anyone else who wasn't involved. I have my priorities straight and I am fulfilling my duties in my own way. After all, we all want to avoid the coming war" She explained

"You are the next Alpha of this pack and you should be beside me, putting things in order and being more involved in the pack affairs now more than ever"

"Why now more than ever? What's going on?"

"Nothing. I just meant with everything going on right now" The Alpha looked away, realizing he had said more than he was supposed to.

"It's the sickness, isn't it? Is it that serious? Is it getting worse?" She questioned with a worried look.

"Wait….you knew?" He asked with a surprised look.

"Of course I did. What kind of a daughter would I be if I didn't notice such a thing about my father? Seeing as you never said anything, I knew you wanted to keep it a secret and I was waiting for you to tell me whenever you were ready. Is it getting worse?"

"You don't have to worry about me right now, I will be fine. All I need is for you to be wary of Beta Maynard" He warned

"What do you mean? What do I have to be wary of? He's your loyal right hand isn't he?" She asked with furrowed brows.

"I don't know anything for certain but I just need you to be careful. Trust no one, not right now" He advised, leaving her to wonder and ponder on what he meant and what was really going on.

***

Emptying the bottle into the shot glass, Tessa stared at the empty glass more pissed than when she started drinking it. It was frustrating and disappointing that they couldn't get drunk as easily as humans. It was both a blessing and a curse, but more of a curse to her at that moment. She needed to forget about all that was eating her up, even if it was just for a few hours but nothing seemed to be working. She downed the last shot, emptying the whole bottle.

Nate who had been staring at her from where they sat at the corner of the bar shifted his eyes to his sister's mocking eyes that were fixed on him. "What?" He asked, avoiding her eyes. He knew what she wanted to say. It was the same thing she's been saying since he opened up to her, a decision he immediately regretted. She's been teasing and discouraging him nonstop.

"I don't have to say it, do i?" Cassie asked with a mocking smirk.

"Whatever"

"You have no chance with her…look at her; look at how miserable she is. She was deeply in love and it doesn't seem like she will be coming out of it soon. He might have even marked her. Take it from a fellow lady; her heart isn't opening for anyone anytime soon. So you should be focused on why we are here instead" She advised

"Thank you for your advice. I didn't ask for it" He replied, stealing a glance at Tessa. He knew his twin was probably right but he was drawn to her still.

***

Tessa wiped the streak of tears running down her cheeks. She had gone to the bar to try and forget what was troubling her heart and head but instead she came out feeling more emotional, missing Kieran more. It was night already and a storm had gathered. Lightening occasionally running through the clouds and thunder rumbling and clapping.

The memories of her and Kieran were stuck in her head, tormenting her. Grabbing the steering tightly, she pressed her foot on the gas more, speeding down the highway. It was getting darker and she could barely see the way ahead. She wiped the tears from her eyes once more, holding back more tears from coming out.

She looked ahead just as a bright lightening swept across the sky, warding off the darkness for a few seconds simultaneously as thunder clapped loudly. She hit the break forcefully and immediately as her heart jumped a bit when she saw him standing still at the center of the road. The car came to a halt few meters from him. She bowed her head, catching her breath for a few seconds before looking up through the windscreen to make sure she saw right. Another round of lightening came and she saw him again, standing still and looking directly at her through his mask.

There he was. The person she's been searching for, the recipient of her hate, Devils Eyes. She felt her anger and hate immediately rise to the surface. She began staring straight into his eyes too. They stared at each other for a while before Tessa decided to step out and go confront him directly. Just before she could open the door, the other five members came out from both sides of the bush, approaching her car.

She looked around fearfully. She was surrounded and there was no way for her to escape. She immediately tried to move with the car but she heard the tires get slashed and her hope sank. She looked at her side of the window and saw Silas standing there. He raised up his fist and she knew he was about to smash the window.

She shielded her face just as he did and then heard his voice. "It's an honour to finally meet you Tessa….you are coming with us"