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Alex was already halfway to the stairs, his shirt pulled over his nose and mouth. The young alpha paused, torn between protecting his mate and helping Zack.

"Go!" Zack ordered, pushing Mo toward the kitchen, where the air seemed clearer. "We'll be right behind you!"

The front door splintered open with a deafening crack. Zack glimpsed dark figures wearing gas masks pouring through the doorway. Mo staggered, his eyes streaming as the gas took effect.

"Run!" Zack shouted, shoving Mo toward the back door. He turned back to face the intruders, determined to buy Noah and Alex enough time to escape.

The first attacker came at him with a stun baton. Zack dodged, his bear's reflexes giving him an edge despite the disorienting gas. He grabbed the man's arm and twisted, hearing a satisfying snap as bones broke. The man screamed behind his mask.

"Tranq him!" someone shouted.

Zack felt a sharp sting in his shoulder. He reached back and yanked out two darts, but already his limbs were growing heavy. Whatever they'd hit him with was designed for shifters—working fast despite his bear's metabolism.

He fought through the encroaching darkness, desperate to reach Mo, who was now crawling toward the kitchen, barely conscious, a dart sticking out of his shoulder. Two more attackers closed in on him. Zack roared, partially shifting his arms to swipe at them with clawed hands.

One went down, blood spraying from deep gashes across his chest. The other backed away, raising what looked like a modified rifle. Zack lunged, knowing he needed to take this one down before—

Another dart hit him in the chest. Then another. The world tilted sideways as Zack's legs gave out beneath him.

"Got the big one," a voice said, sounding distant and muffled through the ringing in Zack's ears.

"What about the other three?" Someone kicked Zack in the ribs, but he barely felt it now.

"Leave them. This is the one we want."

Rough hands grabbed Zack's arms, dragging him across the floor.

"No," Zack slurred, trying to shift.

"This one's fighting the sedative. Give him another dose."

Another dart. The darkness swallowed Zack before he could make another sound.

His last thought was of Victor. Victor would find them. Victor would come.

Then nothing.

Chapter Twenty-One

Bythetimetheygot to the estate, Raschid's wolves were ready to engage the guards. Riley winced as twelve wolves immediately subdued twenty guards without even one of them getting a shot off. He knew the house itself wouldn't be so easy.

Daniel nodded, his expression grim behind his tactical gear. "Keep your eyes open. We stick to the plan, but be ready for anything."

They entered through the service entrance as planned, Kent and Asher taking point while Victor, Riley, and Daniel covered the rear. Three guards were almost too easy to take out, but the first floor was empty—no staff, no security. Daniel's surveillance had reported Pearson leaving with a driver and two men that they assumed were his personal protection.

"Is that it?" Victor whispered, his wolf's senses straining to detect any hidden threats. He could smell a faint scent of shifter, but not strong enough to identify what breed.

"Upstairs," Riley pointed. "I can sense someone."

They moved silently up the grand staircase, weapons ready, while Asher and Kent peeled off to the basement. Victor's wolf was growing increasingly agitated, sensing something fundamentally wrong about the situation. The scent of the house was clinical, antiseptic—nothing like a normal home should smell.

The attic door was locked with an electronic keypad. Daniel made quick work of it with a specialized device, and the door clicked open.

The room beyond was nothing like what Victor had expected. Instead of a bedroom, they found what looked like a medical observation room. A hospital bed sat in the center, surrounded by monitoring equipment. And in the bed, connected to various tubes and wires, lay a thin young man with sandy blond hair.

"Jacob," Riley confirmed, moving quickly to the bedside.

Victor stood guard at the door while Riley checked the boy's vital signs. Jacob's eyes fluttered open, confusion giving way to fear when he saw the strangers surrounding him, the recognizable blue and brown eyes confirming who he was.