I didn't know what to say in the beginning, even after all of the things I've learnt about my father I still prayed that this wasn't true.

"Do you really think my father has something to do with this?" I instinctively bit my bottom lip as I looked up at Theo, my angry demeanour quick to fade.

After everything, deep down I still had a love for my father. Up until this point, everything that has been said to me has all been some sort of rumour for me-- never had I seen his wrongdoings in person.

Theo sighed, squeezing one of my hands in his with his other gently cupping my cheek. Instinctively, I leaned my face further into his palm, his scent calming me down slightly.

"It's the only thing that makes sense, I'm sorry Holly." He then leaned down and pressed his forehead on to mine, our noses inches away. He placed both hands on each side of my face, his thumb caressing the skin.

It helped to breathe his scent in, it calmed the nerves within me. If my father was the one doing this, I couldn't let any feelings get in the way.

As much as I hated it, he was the enemy in this scenario. Just thinking about it burned my eyes as I felt tears brewing. I took a heavy breath in, trying harder to calm myself.

Theo saw my facial expression, causing his own to soften further.

"Baby," He spoke softly, his tone reassuring. He lifted his head and placed a lingering kiss upon my forehead, leaving his lips there long. He pulled back, pressing his head back on mine and using his thumbs to wipe any tears that spilt.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be taking time away from Ella." I cleared my throat, forcing myself to pull away from Theo's touch. I wiped my face dry. "I want to be in that meeting." Theo raised an eyebrow at me.

"Holly no, I just told you--"

"I don't care," I stood my ground. I knew that hearing my father's wrongdoings would hurt, but this wasn't the time to be vulnerable. I wasn't going to like this stop me from doing what should be done. "I'm going to be in this meeting, it is my responsibility and I'm not going to let someone else's actions stop me from doing so," I stated, holding my head high as I spoke.

I walked closer to the door of the meeting room, my hand instantly meeting with the door handle. Before opening the door, I turned back at my mate; "Are you going to come in, or stay sulking outside the door?" I asked, tilting my head in the direction of the room.

For a moment, Theo stared at me with eyes focused purely on my face-- I couldn't completely read his expression.

Soon enough, his facial expression softened as a small smile spread on his face. I could read his expression this time-- proud.

With that, he followed me through the door and into the meeting.

✯

I sat in the kitchen with Jack, silence filling the room. The meeting had already ended and both Jack and I were drained.

The meeting was entirely about our father kidnapping Cardella and how we could get her back.

While Theo wanted to go after them instantly, it was agreed that that would be a bad idea-- if that would have worked, Adrian-- Theo's brother-- would be with us right now.

At this moment right now, there were trackers sniffing out the woods for even the slightest scent left behind.

I cleared my throat, moving from my slumped position. "Do you really think Dad did this?" I asked Jack, who was laying his head on his arms that were crossed on the island below him. He sighed, pressing the side of his head on his forearms as he glanced back at me.

"I don't know what to believe Hols," He huffed, pushing himself off of the table. "I'm really lost on this one." He shrugged, rubbing his face rough in irritation.

I sighed back, I felt like I didn't know what to do.

"Okay," I cleared my throat, sitting straight on the seat and slapped my hands on the table causing Jack to shoot up in his seat. "Say Dad really did take Ella, why?"

Jack's brows furrowed and he tilted his head at me, a thoughtful look appearing on his face.

"I- I don't know,"

"He already had leverage with Adrian, so what was the need to take Ella?" I asked, the question confusing me. If my father did indeed take Ella, what does she have that he needs so much?

"Maybe he is still angry about you choosing to stay with Theo instead of coming back to him?" I shook my head at him.

"No, no it can't be. He knows I want to stay here, doing this would intentionally hurt me and he wouldn't do that." I corrected him, praying to God that I was right.

What if this was his way of punishing me for staying with Theo and leaving home? I felt my heart clench just thinking that way.

"What abou--" Before Jack could finish his sentence, a ruckus from the front room interrupted our conversation, both Jack and I jumping up from our seats. The trackers and Theo are back.

The two of us sped into the hallway to see the trackers and Theo walking in the direction of the hallway and most likely on their way to Theo's office, Theo having something in his hand. My brows furrowed as my eyes zeroed in on what was in his hand.

"What is that?" I asked him, it looked so familiar yet I couldn't quite picture where I had seen it last. Jack moved from aside me, gently nudging me out of the way as he stepped closer to the group of men who stood in front of us.

Theo lifted up what was in his hands for us to see more clearly. It was a silver necklace with a cursive L on it. "We found this necklace behind a boulder near the clearing where Ella went missing, it isn't hers and there is no scent on it." He threw it in our direction, Jack instantly reaching to grab it. "They must have charmed it."

L? Who is "L"?

I watched as Jack stared at the necklace with his mouth ajar.

"Jack?"

"This is mine," He said, his voice low as he spoke. My eyes went wide as I looked at my older brother in confusion.

"What?"

He nodded at me, gripping the necklace tight. "Lia gave it to me for our anniversary. L for Lia," That made a little more sense, but I was still so confused.

"Did you happen to drop your necklace in the woods on your way here?" He shook his head vigorously at me, holding the hand that held the necklace to his chest.

"I didn't bring the necklace here, I left it back home in the packhouse." This made me more confused.

"What? Then how did it--" I paused, my eyes widening in realization.

Almost instinctively, Theo was automatically by my side with worry painted across his face. "Love, what's the matter?" He asked, placing his hand on my shoulder. I let out a weak breath, leaning closer to Theo as my hand reached to touch his that rested on my shoulder.

"Hols?" Jack called out to me. I looked up at him and noticed a similar pained facial expression.

He was thinking the same thing as me.

"Holly!" Theo shook me by my shoulder, focusing my gaze to go to him. My widened eyes meeting his confused plastered ones. "What are you thinking?"

I gulped. "I'm thinking Jack and Lia were followed."