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“She said she was in a dark place, and it smelled like earth and rotting food. She can’t see a way out, but she’s trying.”

I swallow hard and try to make sense of it. Yelena’s anxiety is throbbing through our bond. “Well, she’s brave,” I tell her, reaching out to comfort my mate. “She’s a smart kid. She knows to give us the information we need to find her.”

I try to smile, but it feels forced. This is outside my comfort zone.

“So, that was her? I heard her? She can communicate through our minds? What if they find out who she is, Austin? What if they find outwhatshe is! Oh, my Goddess, they could keep her forever. We might never see her again.”

The panic is written across her face, and she’s trembling. I do the only thing I can think to do. I pull her into my embrace and kiss her.

She’s stiff at first, her lips pursed under mine, but as I hold her close, she softens, and leans into my embrace.

Her lips move over mine tentatively at first, before a whimper escapes her, and she throws her arms around my neck, kissing me back with gusto.

I deepen the kiss, taking this stolen moment of comfort and giving in, if only for a moment, to the heat between us.

We cling to each other, craving the comfort of our intimacy. By the time we pull away, Yelena has stopped trembling. Her lips are slightly swollen, and her cheeks are flushed, but her eyes are clear.

She’s calm.Ready.

"What's the plan?" Her voice is hoarse but steady.

"I've sent Vincent to organize border patrols. Once we get more information, a small squad will be dispatched to meet with the Alpha of the Highland Pack. We'll get her back, Yelena. I promise."

She nods sharply. "I'll gather the others. We'll be ready."

I exhale slowly and grip her shoulders. “I need you to stay here.”

Yelena looks up at me, her expression fierce despite the tears. "Wewill bring her home. I'm going with you. I won’t argue with you about this. It’s happening."

I hesitate.

She's a fighter, my mate. And there's no way she'll sit idly by while our child is missing. But a part of me wants to insist it's too dangerous. To tell her to stay home.

But, as I gaze into Yelena's determined eyes, I know there’s no point in continuing to argue. As much as I want to protect her, I understand her need to be there when we rescue our daughter.

"All right," I relent with a sigh. "But you stay by my side at all times. And if I tell you to run, you run. No questions asked."

She gives a curt nod, her eyes flashing yellow with the promise of vengeance. "We'll make them pay for this."

With Yelena by my side, it takes us a little over an hour to gather the right team and our supplies. Vincent has assembled a dozen of our best fighters, all ready and willing to lay down their lives for us, and for Cleo.

I stand before them on our meeting rock, humbled by their loyalty.

“Today, the Highland Pack has broken our Sacred Code and put us all in danger. They brought an unprovoked attack to our lands, they spilled blood in our woods, and they kidnapped one of our pups.”

My throat tightens as the words really sink in. “My daughter, Cleo, is being held prisoner. She is only a child, not yet old enough to go to school. And she is the next Seer. Her gifts from the Moon Goddess have been confirmed. Taking her was not only an attack against me and my mate, but against our pack as a whole. We will not tolerate it.”

The assembled warriors stomp their feet and howl in agreement.

“They will not get away with it!” Vincent roars, stepping up to lead his squadron. “Will they, men?”

“We will get her back, Alpha! We’ll bring her home, Luna!” the men shout, eager to get going.

With a howl, I jump off the rock and shift. Yelena follows me, keeping close. The plan is simple. Under the cover of darkness, we will traverse our woods to the boundary line. Alpha Paxton will be expecting us to try to sneak in, but we have a surprise for him. My men will blanket the woods, lying in wait, while Vincent, Yelena, my father, and I will walk right up to his front gate and demand Cleo’s return.

As Yelena and I run through the woods, I can feel her anxiety and anger simmering beneath the surface.

We're nearly at the border when a piercing howl splits the night air.