Chapter : Ripped Free

Inside—The Struggle started...

The grip on Roo's wrist was iron.

Not just strong—unnatural.

Fingers dug into his skin, cold and unyielding, sending a jolt of terror through his veins. His first instinct was to pull away, to wrench himself free and run, but the moment he tried—

The hand tightened.

Too tight.

Too fast.

The air caught in his throat, a strangled sound escaping as he twisted in the grip. His captor's scent was unfamiliar—bitter and sharp, laced with something metallic.

Blood.

Not his.

Not yet.

Roo barely had time to react before another hand shot forward—grabbing for his throat.

His instincts screamed.

He moved.

His body dropped low, slipping out of reach just as the fingers swiped the air where his neck had been. His heart thundered, panic surging as he kicked.

A desperate move.

A reckless move.

But it worked.

His foot slammed into the intruder's knee, forcing a sharp grunt from the man. The grip on Roo's wrist loosened—just for a second—

And Roo ripped free.

He staggered back, chest heaving, his legs trembling beneath him as his wide eyes locked onto the figure in the darkness.

Tall.

Dressed in black.

A mask obscured most of his face, but his eyes—cold, lifeless, empty—were locked onto Roo with a predator's patience.

No panic.

No anger.

Just certainty.

Like Roo's fight meant nothing.

Like it was only a matter of time before he was caught.

Roo's stomach twisted.

Run.

The instinct roared through him.

Run. Now.

He turned—bolting toward the bathroom door, his bare feet barely making a sound against the cold marble floor. His fingers grasped the handle—

Yanked.

Locked.

No—no, no, no.

His breath came in frantic gasps as he ripped at the door, his fingers slipping against the polished wood. His mind screamed at him to move, to find another way, but—

Too late.

A shadow loomed behind him.

A hand clamped over his mouth.

And Roo was dragged backward into the darkness.

Outside—The Realization struck the triplets hard...

Alexander felt it first.

A shift.

A disturbance that made the air wrong, thick with something unspoken.

His steps faltered.

For the first time in years, an unfamiliar sensation clawed at the edges of his mind.

A gut feeling.

A warning.

Roo.

His head snapped toward the estate.

He was too far.

Too damn far.

Alec's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Three left. Moving in—"

"Forget them." Alexander's voice was steel. "Get back to the estate. Now."

Alec hesitated for half a second. "What? Alexander, what—?"

"Roo."*

That was all it took.

Alec moved.

Ace's voice was next. "I'm already running."

So was Alexander.

His feet barely touched the ground as he sprinted toward the estate, every muscle in his body coiled with urgency. The gates were still intact. The security measures still in place.

But he knew.

Someone had gotten in.

Someone had reached Roo.

And if they had so much as touched him—

Alexander's vision turned red.

Inside—Roo turned Desperate...

The hand over Roo's mouth was unyielding.

His screams were muffled, his struggles met with ruthless efficiency.

His captor was strong.

Too strong.

Every move he made to twist free was countered. Every frantic attempt to claw at the man's arms was ignored.

He was being taken.

Ripped from the room.

Dragged toward the open window.

No.

No, no, no.

Terror pulsed through him as he fought harder, his breath coming in ragged gasps against the gloved palm pressed to his lips. His vision blurred, his body thrashing with everything he had—

A low voice hissed in his ear.

"Stop struggling."

Roo's pulse spiked.

The voice was unfamiliar.

Deep. Rough.

And entirely unbothered.

Like this was just another job.

Like he was just another prize.

A sob caught in Roo's throat, his panic rising like a tidal wave. His arms jerked against the bruising grip, his head twisting to see—

A flash of silver.

A knife.

Cold steel pressed against his side.

"Move," the voice ordered. "Or I use this."

Roo's breath hitched.

The blade pressed harder.

Tears burned his eyes.

His chest heaved as his vision spun, his pulse roaring in his ears. His mind screamed at him to fight, to keep resisting, to—

The knife pressed harder.

Roo froze.

His fingers trembled.

His body went rigid.

His captor exhaled, satisfied. "Smart. Now—*"

The door slammed open.

A snarl.

A blur of movement.

And then—

Chaos.

The Triplets Arrived...

Ace struck first.

A streak of black and silver, his speed inhuman as he lunged, his claws slashing through the air.

The captor barely had time to react before Ace's hand closed around his wrist—

And snapped it.

A choked cry.

The knife clattered to the ground.

Roo barely had time to process before Alec was there, his hand yanking Roo away from the attacker's grip, pulling him back against his chest, his arms caging Roo like a shield.

"You made a mistake," Alexander's voice was lethal.

The attacker stumbled, clutching his broken wrist, his breath ragged. He didn't beg. Didn't plead.

He knew there was no escape.

But he smirked anyway. "We were just getting started."

Alexander's golden eyes burned. "No, you weren't."

And then he ripped the man apart.

The aftermath the gruelling...

Roo couldn't stop shaking.

His breath was shallow, his body still frozen against Alec's chest.

The scent of blood was everywhere.

Warm hands.

Familiar scents.

His mind was spinning, but before he could collapse, Ace's arms were around him, lifting him effortlessly.

"Shh," Alec murmured, his fingers brushing through Roo's hair. "We've got you."

Alexander turned from the corpse, his golden eyes still burning. "We're tightening security. No one gets in again.*"

Alec's grip on Roo tightened. "And the ones who sent them?"

Ace's voice was dark. "We make them regret it."

Roo shivered.

Because the way they said it—

They meant it.

To Be Continued...