Almost twenty-four hours...twenty-four hours since that bastard took my family.

Somehow he was able to get Caleb and the kids into Caleb's SUV and drive right out the front gates. The guards said Caleb never linked them informing them he was in danger. Same thing with Brian and the nurses.

Something is stopping Caleb from linking. Brian has searched every inch of Sariah's hospital room and any part that led to the hospital exit looking for a used cup, syringe...anything to help us figure out if Caleb was possibly drugged.

Thankfully, one of the new rules Alpha Jack put into place was that all vehicles had to have trackers installed. We've been able to pull up Caleb's SUV about two-hours over in the next town. All we found was the abandoned SUV and an empty cabin.

The inside of the cabin was immaculate. Not even a dirty dish in the sink. We searched the entire cabin; no mail, no newspapers, maps, trash...not even a single picture on the wall. One of the warriors found the remnants of a fire by the back porch. We shifted through the ash and found a unburned piece of an envelope. We were able to decipher a partial name of a street but no street number, PO BOX, or state.

Alpha Jack offered to drive Caleb's SUV back for me but I told him no. It was hard being surrounded by Caleb and the pup's scents but it made me feel close to them in a small way. It also gave me a hope that in-turn fueled my resolve. I will not stop until they are home...all of them.

We had made the decision to all come back to the pack house, try and determine where the street was on the envelope, and figure out the next course of action.

Alpha Felix and Collin, our resident IT pack member, have been on the computer searching and compiling a list of streets in the surrounding states with part of the name we found in it. Unfortunately, the list was growing. We had warriors out in every direction but they have not been able to find a trail.

I stand looking out Alpha Jack's office window trying to dissect all the information and put a profile together of Pete. Where the hell is his wife? The nurse and the guards only saw one male, but no female. From what Caleb told me, they both were devoted to their daughter and the kids. He had told me that even though they had tried to hide it, they didn't like him at first.

This guy is patient and methodical. Everything has been planned including counter measures. It didn't look like any food was packed or taken from the cabin. He would have to risk being seen if he stopped to buy food, so he wouldn't do that. He had left no paper-trail at the base-camp, the entire cabin was scrubbed clean but, he leaves a partial address...

He knew we would search everything...he had to have known we would find it...

"He wants us to find them" uttering my realization.

"What" Alpha Jack asks.

Turning around, "he wants us to find them."

"Narrow the search to a thousand-mile radius. Exclude the streets in heavily populated areas" looking over at Alpha Felix and Collin.

"They have another place, a cabin, camper...I don't know but they have set-up a secondary location" looking over at Jack and the Council members. "He is using counter-measures. Something went wrong with the primary plan, my guess it was Nero. But, he left a cabin stocked full of food and a partial address in the fire? He wants us to find them" I explain to them.

"Why" one of the Councilman asks.

"They want Caleb and I dead" knowing it was the truth. I hear a small growl from Alpha Jack.

"I'll contact Pete's Alpha and see if he knows anything. We can send a team to go and search their house" Alpha Jack proposes.

"No. That might tip him off. He may still be in contact with some of the pack members or have some sort of security system installed in the home to notify him if someone enters" responding back.

"Councilman...we need to try and determine what packs are in the search radius and their pack boundaries. Also, without drawing attention, which Alphas might be willing to let non-pack members build on their territory. Or those willing to have wolves living on neutral areas next to their boundaries. We then can narrow the search to include streets in neutral areas" Alpha Jack proposes.

I nod in agreement. Alpha Jack hasn't left my-side since this all started and I am grateful. I have almost lost control more than once. Titus baby-sat me when Alpha Jack took a few hours to sleep.

"Dane...with me" Alpha Jack motions and leads me to the couch in my office.

"You need to get some sleep" he says firmly. "Don't fight me on this. You haven't slept in over twenty-four hours. Your body and mind need to rest and gather strength. Caleb and the kids are going to need you to be clear headed and physically strong to help bring them home. Everything that can be done to find them is being done."

I nod but don't really let his words sink in.

"And Dane...Titus is going to be in here with you. If you try and get off that couch or leave this room for the next two hours, I'll have Brian come and give you a shot in the ass to knock you out" he smirks as Titus walks into the room.

I let off a low growl.

"Sleep." Alpha Jack commands in his Alpha voice and then leaves.

Titus moves one of my chairs in front of the door and sits down. He's a big-ass dude and in my current condition, he could take me. I know Alpha Jack is right but it feels wrong to be sleeping like I am somehow not doing enough to find them.

"Sleep. Being even a little off your game will put you and them at a disadvantage. I'll wake you if anything develops" Titus quietly but firmly tells me.

Laying down, images of Caleb and his round belly, Gideon, Seth, and Sariah fill my thoughts. Trying to reach sleep, I take a deep breath and slowly work on relaxing my muscles.

Closing my eyes, sleep finally comes.

"Beta Dane...Beta...wake-up, they've got something" I hear Titus's voice say. I took me a second to register what he is saying, but as soon as I did, I jump up and run to the Alpha's office.

They were all there—Alpha Jack, Felix, Collin, and most of the Council. Titus came in right after me.

"We've narrowed it down to three locations. The first is approximately five-hundred miles from here. The street is in a farming community an hour outside of Chicago. I wasn't able figure out if it's a neutral area or not. We do know the two main packs in that area and can contact them easily.

The second is west, about a thousand miles. It's located by a large lake that has several campgrounds and rental cottages. Part of the lake is a state park. The main town is a good size. The street is off one of the main roads about ten miles outside of town. However, it's a long road that dead ends and is surrounded by forest. It's in the Silver Lake Pack territory. We have the contact number for their Alpha, Tyler Riggs" Alpha Jack informs me.

"Is it just one-way in and out? Does it have smaller secondary roads that can be used" asking wondering about multiple escape routes.

"Not that we have been able to find. It looks like that road is the only way in or out" Alpha Felix answers.

"The third is also about a thousand miles to the east. It's a rural area between two large cities. The street has two-lanes and is one of the roads that can be used between the two cities. There are homes on either side but they are pretty spread out. It's in the Eagle Ridge Pack territory. We are still working on finding out the name and contact information for the Alpha" Alpha Jack continues.

My mind starts identifying the advantages and weaknesses of each location.

"It's not the first one in farm country. He would have to get permission from the surrounding packs so they would not be considered rogues and hunted. Plus, it leaves them exposed to rogues without he protection of a pack. Only limited forest area to use for hiding or escape routes. Farming communities tend to be tight-knit, he is going to avoid nosy neighbors" giving my rationale for excluding the location.

"The second location is our best option. Can we get Alpha Tyler on the phone" I ask knowing the third location had to much potential for unwanted human attention if anything was to go wrong. He won't risk that.

Alpha Jack quickly contacts Alpha Tyler and explains the situation. He puts Alpha Tyler on speaker-phone so we can all hear.

"Well Gentlemen, today must be your lucky day. About two years ago I was contacted by an older couple that wanted to buy a small cabin on the edge of the territory for vacations. They came, we met them...didn't get any red flags. Even spoke with their Alpha. We made an agreement that they could purchase the cabin as long as they checked-in coming and going and didn't cause problems. We've only seen them a handful of times and they only stay three or four days. He checked-in with my Beta around lunch time today. Said he was here with grand-kids for a few days.

I can have my Beta go out and invite him to the pack house tomorrow. I'm sure he'll decline but at least my Beta can look around and get an idea of the layout" Alpha Tyler suggests.

"Alpha Tyler. Pete is extremely intelligent. Don't have any of your border patrols do anything different. He was somehow been able to collect intelligence about the day to day movement at our pack house without us even knowing. I have no doubt that he's set up some type of monitoring system for the cabin and surrounding area. We'll leave within the hour and keep you up-dated on our progress" hoping Alpha Tyler would take my warning and request seriously. His Beta better be one hell of an actor.

Cell-phone numbers were exchanged and in less than an hour, a convoy of five SUV's was heading west. Alpha Jack, myself, and Titus in the front SUV. Two of the Council members and warriors filled three and the last one was equipped with car-seats, the kids blankets and stuffed animals. Felix said it would help them not be so frightened smelling familiar scents.

Every mile of the over fifteen-hour drive was absolutely horrible.

I want Katon and my pups. Zeus whimpers.

I do too. I know you're going to want to come out and kill the bastard but I need you to keep in control. If we lose control, we could make a mistake and loose everything. I can't lose them Zeus.

Did you hear me Zeus?

Yes. I won't risk losing Katon or the pups. Zeus answers.

We each took turns driving letting the others sleep. We up-date Alpha Tyler every several hours. He's arranged for us to stay at one of inns on the out-skirts of town. We arrive the next evening tired and hungry. We met up in Alpha Jack's and my room with the Alpha Tyler, his Beta, and several of their warriors once we got checked-in and settled.

"My mate had me bring you guys some food. She figured you'd be sick of gas station and fast food" Alpha Tyler says pointing to a small feast laid out on the table. Our warriors took no time inhaling it. We quickly ate and then focused on the intel Alpha Tyler was able to gather.

"The cabin is on the east side of the territory. It's secluded, one-way in and out. My border patrol observed an older man, a pregnant male, and three kids. They didn't see any visible wounds" Alpha Tyler informs us pointing to the cabin on the map he had brought of his territory.

"No older female" Alpha Jack inquires. Alpha Tyler shakes his head no.

"If the blood we found at the base-camp was hers, she's probably dead. Which means he's even more desperate and not thinking straight, making him all the more dangerous" I sigh trying not to think of the horrible things he could be doing to my mate.

"That might also give us an opportunity. If he's not thinking clearly, he might make a mistake" Alpha Tyler suggests.

"When I approached him at the cabin, I sensed I caught him off-guard. He didn't let me in but from what I could see, the kitchen and living room are one big area. I didn't notice light fixtures or switches. Not even a stove. I smelt a fire-place" their Beta reports.

"Do you think that your scouts or warriors could get in close enough to the cabin to get a good layout of everything" Jack asks.

"Actually, I have a couple of omegas that are perfect for that" Alpha Tyler smirks looking at his Beta.

"I don't want any omegas made to do something against their will" I state firmly.

"Don't worry Beta Dane, our omegas aren't made to do anything they don't want to. And these two can hold their own in a fight and live for these kind of missions" their Beta responds.

"Let's get some sleep and meet at seven o'clock tomorrow morning back here. We should have some more answers by then" Alpha Tyler suggests.

We nod are heads and we disperse to our rooms. Alpha Jack is asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. The trip was rough for him seeing he had to command Alpha Felix to stay back at the pack house. Alpha Felix was pissed and every phone call Alpha Jack has gotten since then, he's gotten an ear full.

My body is sore from the traveling and from the lack of contact with my mate. I want to run my hands over his round belly and feel my pups move. I want Gideon, Seth, and Sariah in my arms. Fear, anger, concern, guilt...it feels like my body is going to explode. Turning over, I bury my head in my pillow and finally let the tears come that I've held back for too long.

Seven o'clock came quickly and we formulated a plan and even a back-up plan that involved a fake rogue attack. The omegas found out that the kids were sleeping in a room in the back. Caleb was on the couch and Pete on a recliner. They followed a strong scent of gasoline to a small shed in the back. Cans lined the outside and the wood had been saturated with gasoline. I have no doubt that is meant for me and Caleb.

My heart nearly dropped when they described Pete holding a black box with a beeping light on it. What the hell was that? Would it set off traps? Explosives? We could easily storm the cabin or have Alpha Tyler demand he hand Caleb and the kids over, but he would see Caleb dead before letting him go. That much I knew for certain and I am not willing to risk Caleb's or the pups lives.

Alpha Jack and Alpha Tyler outlined the plan. Alpha Tyler's warriors would take cover at different positions in the forest around the cabin. Alpha Jack would contact Pete's Alpha asking him to try and locate Pete. We don't really know if someone is keeping Pete informed but if they are, it could buy us some wiggle room. IF someone was keeping Pete informed, we hoped it would give off the impression that were are still back in out territory instead of close by.

Both Alpha Tyler and his Beta would drive up to the cabin and try to get Pete into a conversation. While Pete was distracted, the omegas would extract the pups from the yard or the house through the back window. If Caleb was able to get out the back window safely, then great. If not, I would go and get him and basically run like hell into the woods. Titus would be with me for extra help. Once they were all safe, Alpha Jack and our warriors would come from there hiding spot down the road and surround Pete. It was made clear that he was to be taken alive.

Titus, Alpha Jack, the warriors from our pack, and myself would mask our scents.

We asked Alpha Tyler and his warriors to retreat once we had him surrounded. We didn't want to risk any of their pack members' safety any more than we had too.

If that didn't work, we would retreat and get ready for plan B. We knew we were already at a disadvantage not being able to link with the other pack and concerned if we linked Caleb, Pete would know.

The biggest wild card...the black box.

By eleven o'clock, everyone was in position. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest when I saw Caleb and the kids come out of the cabin. I had to push Zeus down when I saw the dark circles around Caleb's eyes. He looked pale and weak. I watched as he sat down on the small front porch rubbing circles around his belly. Sariah was slowly moving around the front of the picking flowers but at lease she was up on her feet. Both boys looked solemn and were barely kicking around a soccer ball. Most of the time they were looking at Caleb and Sariah.

At the designated time, the two omegas and I make our way to the edge of the forest just as we hear a vehicle approach the cabin. An older man, who I assume is Pete, steps out of the cabin and heads towards Alpha Tyler and his Beta. With ease, Alpha Tyler starts a conversation distracting Pete. As the conversation continues, we shift back and run towards the cabin. The smaller of the two omegas easily picks-up Sariah, the larger grabs Gideon and Seth football style and runs back into the woods.

Gideon is protective of his sibling so I can only hope he doesn't struggle against the omega and lets him get Gideon and Seth out of area.

Even before I reached Caleb and link Alpha Jack,

I jump onto the front porch, carefully pick-up a shocked Caleb, and run like hell. As I hit the edge of the forest, Titus runs past me towards Pete.

Yelling and loud growls fill the air. I don't stop, I don't look back.

My mate was in my arms. My pups were safe.

Nothing else matters.