07/20/2017

Tires screeched as Kristin whipped out of the driveway.

She had thrown her bag into the backseat and jumped into her car.

There was only one place she had to go now.

She pressed the pedal down, the car going faster than it ever had before.

Kristin tried to blink away the tears, so she could see where she was going.

Once logic started to come back into her screwed up mind, she grabbed her phone on the seat next to her.

She had to call her father.

She had to warn him about Nightfall Pack.

She swore when she found that her phone was dead.

She leaned back, stretching her arm to reach into her bag in the back seat.

She kept one hand on the wheel, trying to find her charger in her bag with the other hand.

When she thought she felt it, she turned her head to squint into her bag.

Yanking the cord out, she turned back around and gasped.

Her foot flew to the breaks to prevent her from hitting the car that was stopped in the middle of the road in front of her.

She barely made it without crashing, her heart beating out of her chest.

Her breathing quickened as the smell of burnt rubber filled her nose.

She squinted out her windshield, trying to see who was behind the tinted windows of the car in front of her.

She rolled her window down, and was about to yell for them to get out of the way, when she felt something hard and cold suddenly pressed to her temple.

"Get out of the car," came a rough voice above her.

When she didn't move, the man pressed the gun harder against her head, making her whimper.

She tried to look at who he was, without moving her head, but it was no use.

"Get out!" he yelled louder, causing Kristin to flinch.

She shakily brought her hand to the door handle, opening it slowly.

The guy took a step back, still pointing the gun to her head.

"Now walk forward slowly, with your hands up," he demanded.

Kristin stood up and raised her hands, turning to face him.

Beta Karmin.

She would never forget what this huge bearded man from Nightfall looked like.

"Walk!" he shouted at her.

She slowly took a step forward, followed by another.

She glanced around, noticing five to six other men surrounding her and her car.

Beta Karmin reached out and grabbed her arm, dragging her towards the SUV that was pulling up beside the other car.

She fell hard onto the leather seat, as Nightfall's Beta slammed the back door closed behind her.

Kristin's hand automatically flew to her side, searching for her phone.

When she couldn't find it, she realized it was still in her car.

She started panicking as two men sat in the middle seat, blocking her from escaping.

Beta Karmin and another man got into the front seats and started driving.

Kristin turned around, watching her car disappear behind the trees when the road curved.

She felt panic rising in her body, adrenaline pumping through her veins.

Yet, she knew she was no match against these wolves.

If only she could mind link her father like the rest of the pack wolves could!

Her hand flew to the door handle, pulling it.

"Stop that!" the guy in front of her snapped, glaring at her failed attempt to open the door.

It was locked.

"Let me go!" she raised her voice at him.

He rolled his eyes, "No can do, princess."

She frantically looked around the vehicle, trying to find a possible escape.

"So, you're Ryder's little mate, huh, princess?" The guy continued, grinning evilly at her.

"No, I'm not," she snapped, glaring at him.

He laughed at her, "We knew it'd be too easy to catch you-- well, he did."

"What are you talking about?"

"Once you found out about Ryder, he knew you'd leave. You ran right into our trap," he started laughing again.

"Who's he?" Kristin demanded. She already knew, but she wanted him to confirm it.

"Alpha Rickard, of course."

"My father knows about all of this!" she lied to them, "Once he finds out I'm missing, he'll come after you!"

All of the men chuckled.

"That's exactly what we want to happen," Beta Karmin spoke up.

"He'll go right into our trap we've set for him," another guy spoke.

"You didn't think we wouldn't expect him to come after you, did you?" the guy in front of her rolled his eyes.

"I'm going to tell him!" Kristin sputtered out, thinking of some way she could send a message to her father to warn him.

"Either way, Alpha Rickard's going to take over your father's pack," he shrugged, "How are you planning on telling him anyway? You're a human," he sneered.

Kristin didn't know what else to do.

She was helpless, she could never take on four wolves by herself, one being a Beta.

Kristin couldn't even take on one.

Sinking back into the seat, she willed herself not to cry.

In this moment, Kristin truly wished she was a wolf.

After what felt like forever, the SUV arrived at Nightfall Pack.

Kristin noticed the pack seemed a bit bigger than hers, having more buildings and wolves walking around.

She knew the moment they pulled in front of the pack building, where she was going to be held.

The pack prison was usually under the pack building, much like at her own pack.

She was brought through the front doors by Beta Karmin, and walked up the stairs-- much to her surprise-- and into an office.

Inside the room, Alpha Rickard was sitting behind his desk.

As soon as he saw her pushed through the door by his Beta, he smiled.

"Ah, Kristin," he motioned to the chair in front of his desk, "Please, sit."

"What do you want from me?" she demanded, ignoring his suggestion.

Beta Karmin came up behind her, probably to force her into the chair, but Alpha Rickard stopped him.

"Leave us, Karmin," he said.

He nodded his head, and walked out.

Kristin looked to the door, knowing it was no use to run.

"Now, Kristin," Alpha Rickard folded his hands onto his desk, "Don't make me ask again."

Kristin swallowed at his Alpha tone and took a seat in front of his desk.

"That's better," he smiled at her, though his smile was anything but warming.

If anything, it made the room colder.

"Now, I need to act fast because your father is probably on his way. I'm actually surprised he has not shown up yet?" he raised a brow at her, enjoying how helpless she was.

Kristin remained silent. She knew it was because she hadn't told her father.

She wasn't going to either-- not like she had a choice.

"Now, you are probably wondering why you are here," Alpha Rickard continued, not phased by her silence.

"You see, Ryder has stopped listening to my orders."

She kept silent, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of talking, although she was confused to what he was talking about.

"He thought he could get away with going behind my back and planning to overthrow me with his brother," he shook his head, "Now I have both of their mates," he laughed.

"Bring him in," he nodded to the door, as if talking to someone behind it.

Kristin turned her head to see it opening, and Beta Karmin shoved a boy inside.

"Alex?" she gasped, shock running through her.

"Kristin, I'm sorry," he said sadly, looking at the ground.

Alpha Rickard chuckled, "I want you to stay for this, my dear Alex."

Turning back to Kristin, he continued, "If it were not for Alex, you wouldn't be here right now, Kristin. I mean, I could have kidnapped you either way, but Alex made it so much easier for me."

Kristin's eyes flew to Alex. His head was still bent, his eyes staring at the ground.

"After I found out Ryder was helping Gabriel go behind my back, I knew I had to show you that video."

"Alex here, was too kind, and offered to show you it for me."

"I was threatened!" Alex raised his voice at Alpha Rickard.

"So I knew how you would react, once you saw that video," he continued, ignoring Alex, "You felt betrayed, lied to, didn't you, Kristin?"

His smile made her sick.

"How did it make you feel?" he questioned again, "That Ryder had been using you?"

"Kristin, I'm sorry," Alex mumbled, looking over at her.

"Alex... how could you?" her voice broke as her eyes filled with tears.

The last thing she saw was Alex's sad face, as he was escorted away by Beta Karmin, per Alpha Rickard's request.

"I'm sorry Kristin, I knew he was your friend," Alpha Rickard said, with a look of pity on his face.

She knew it was all fake. He was acting, just like Ryder had been.

"When it comes down to it, he's just a weak human, Kristin. Even weaker than you. He stood no chance against us. I knew he would follow my orders, and I also knew he could turn Ryder against you. Alex was someone you trusted. It was best to use him to tell you the truth about Ryder."

He shrugged, as if everything he did, made perfect sense to him.

"I had my men waiting for you to head back to your pack. I knew that was the first place you would go after leaving Ryder. It was just too easy," he chuckled, getting up from his desk.

"Now, if you would be so kind as to join me," he motioned her to follow him out the door.

She stood, her legs shaky, as she followed him out.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked, glancing around to see at least ten other wolves around the office.

There was no way she could make a run for it.

"Patience," he said, as he motioned for her to walk through the door in front of him.

She hesitantly opened it, dread filling her body.

The stairs in front of her led down to where the cells were, she was sure of it.

Her guess was right as she walked down a dimly lifted hallway and into a room with cells lining the walls.

"Ah, here we are," Alpha Rickard said from behind her.

Kristin quickly glanced around, not wanting to make eye contact with the prisoners behind the bars.

Most of them were probably rogues, and they barred their teeth at her as she walked by.

She watched as Alpha Rickard walked over to one of the cells, motioning for Kristin to follow.

She peered around him, seeing a girl sitting on the cement floor, her knees up to her chest and her arms were wrapped around them.

"Jess?" Kristin gasped, watching the girl look up at her.

She had bruises all over her arms and her cheek had a nasty gash, followed with dried blood running down.

"Kristin?" At first she looked confused, then realization hit her. "Oh no, he's got you too?" she cried.

"Please, let her go," Kristin begged Alpha Rickard, "Please!"

"Kristin, no! You have to get out of here!" Tears were flowing out of her eyes.

"I'll do anything!" Kristin pleaded with Alpha Rickard, "Just let her go!"

"I am afraid I cannot let that happen, Kristin. Though I admire your bravery, Jess is an important pawn for me. As you know, she is my son's mate. With her, I have control over Gabriel," he smiled, his eyes darkening, "Without her, my son will go crazy."

"You'll never get away with this Rickard! Gabriel and Ryder are on their way right now!"

"Jess, Ryder's helping his father. You can't trust him," Kristin tried telling her as Alpha Rickard started unlocking her cell.

"No," Jess smiled for the first time, yet it was a sad smile. "He was just protecting you."

"That will not work anymore though, because I know the truth," Alpha Rickard sneered at Jess.

Suddenly he yanked Kristin's hair, bringing her closer to him.

Kristin yelled out in pain, as Jess screamed for him to stop.

"Now I have two pawns," he grinned into Kristin's face.

She didn't know what he meant. She thought he knew her and Ryder weren't really mates. Ryder wouldn't care if he had her.

"Don't you dare hurt her!" Jess yelled at him, trying to pick herself up from the floor.

Although by now, most of her bruises were healed, she still had dried blood on her arms and face, and she looked weak.

A sick feeling settled in Kristin's stomach when she realized Jess was talking about Alpha Rickard hurting her too.

He had done that to Jess.

Anger built up inside of her. How could anyone hurt Jess? She was too kind and gentle to deserve this!

Her own father-in-law had hurt her!

Kristin knew Alpha Rickard was going crazy ever since he had lost his mate three years ago. But now, she knew he was truly mentally unstable.

He was dangerous.

Alpha Rickard grabbed Jess' arm and walked her out of the cell.

"Stop!" Kristin yelled, as he threw Jess onto the cement near her feet.

She immediately knelt down and reached out for Jess, who gave her a small smile, "Its okay, Kristin. I'm a wolf."

Kristin knew that, yet she knew wolves could get hurt too.

Alpha Rickard grabbed Kristin's hair again and threw her into the cell he had just taken Jess from.

Kristin got up and grabbed the bars as he locked her inside, panicking.

"Don't worry Kristin, Gabriel and Ryder are coming!" Jess called as Alpha Rickard knelt down in front of her.

"Jess," Alpha Rickard clicked his tongue at her, "Even I'll admit, Gabriel may have a stronger wolf than me."

He held her down, preventing her from sitting up.

"That's why I have you," he chuckled darkly as Jess struggled to free herself from his hold.

"Kristin, do you have a good view of your dear friend Jess? I want to make sure you see this."

She watched as he extracted his claws in his free hand.

Kristin was on her knees, gripping the metal bars in front of her, staring with wide eyes.

"Kristin," Jess whimpered out.

"Jess!" Kristin yelled, wishing she could break through the cell and go to her.

"I always thought it would be sweet to have you as a sister," she turned her head, giving Kristin a smile.

Yet this smile was different. It was filled with sadness, but also with fear.

"How touching," Alpha Rickard's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"It's a good thing, Jess," he continued, bringing his hand closer to her throat, "That you are a pawn I do not need to keep alive."

"Tell Gabe I love him," Jess whispered, wanting Kristin to hear her.

"Jess!" Kristin screamed as Alpha Rickard's claws slashed through her throat.

Jess' eyes widened, she started gasping for air, her hands flying to her throat.

"Jess!" Kristin screamed again, watching her struggle to stay alive. She could tell she wasn't healing fast enough.

Tears uncontrollably fell from her eyes as she watched Jess struggle.

This wasn't happening.

It had to be a dream, all of this.

This wasn't real.

This wasn't real.

This wasn't real.

Although everything felt surreal to Kristin, as she stared at all of the bright, red blood spilling onto the floor, she knew it was real.

A choked sob escaped Kristin's lips, as she watched the light leave Jess' eyes.

•. •. •. •. •.

Chapter Seventeen.

Thanks for reading.

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Chica_2016