“Her rooms are empty. The staff says she left before dawn.” Carlton’s report was precise, professional, but I could see his own shock. “Sir, if she’s involved...”
“She doesn’t just want to hurt Rhea.” The realization came with crushing clarity. “She wants to destroy her. Make her disappear.”
“The warehouse?”
“Get everyone. Full tactical team. If my mother has lost her mind enough to do this, there’s no telling what else she’s planned.” I was already moving, grabbing weapons, letting my wolf closer to the surface. “And Carlton? Tell them we’re going in hard. Anyone who stands between me and my mate dies.”
“Yes, sir.”
The drive to mobilize a full response felt like hours but took minutes. Every second counted now. Rhea had been gone for at least two hours, possibly more. Long enough to be moved, to be hurt, to be... No. I couldn’t think about that. Couldn’t let the possibilities paralyze me.
My phone rang as we prepared to leave. Unknown number, but I answered anyway.
“Missing something, son?” My mother’s voice, cold and mocking.
“Where is she?”
“Gone. Where omega whores belong. You should thank me. I’m saving you from making your father’s mistakes.”
“If you hurt her, if you touch one hair on her head...”
“What? You’ll kill me like you killed your brother?” Her laugh was bitter, unhinged. “You already destroyed everything I loved. Now I’m returning the favor.”
The line went dead. But we had what we needed. The warehouse, the confirmation of her involvement, the knowledge that this was personal vengeance disguised as protection. I’d deal with the betrayal later. Right now, only Rhea mattered.
We raced through the territory in a convoy of security vehicles. I was half shifted, claws extended, wolf barely contained beneath human skin. The warehouse district loomed ahead, abandoned buildings like broken teeth against the morning sky. Decay and rust filled the air, but underneath it, growing stronger with each moment, was Rhea’s scent mixed with fear and pain that made my wolf howl.
But it was what my mother was screaming that froze everyone in place.
“You think carrying his pups means something? That it makes you important? You’re nothing,” she hissed. “Even with those pups, you’re nothing. Because he isn’t even a true heir. Legally, he’s a bastard. So what does that make your little parasites?”
“He’s not even my son! He’s the bastard child of that omega whore my mate couldn’t resist!” Spittle flew from her lips, decades of hidden hatred finally erupting.
“What are you talking about?” My voice sounded strange, distant, even as I calculated angles and distances.
That is when she noticed us. She turned toward me slowly and for the first time I saw the hatred in her eyes so palpable.
“Serena! Her name was Serena! She died birthing you and I had to raise you!” The knife shook in her grip, rage making her careless. “Forced to pretend to love my husband’s bastard while my real son watched!”
“Mother...” But the word felt wrong now, hollow.
“You killed my only real child over this omega bitch, just like your father betrayed me!” She was sobbing now, tears streaming down her face. “First his whore, then her spawn, now another omega to continue the pattern!”
Carlton and his team spread out behind me, weapons drawn but waiting for my signal. Rhea’s eyes found mine across the space, and even chained, even threatened, she was trying to protect me from this truth.
“Serena was your mother,” Lucinda spat. “A healer who spread her legs for a married alpha. She died bleeding out while birthing you, and I had to take you in. Had to raise you as mine while knowing you were the proof of his betrayal.”
The world tilted, everything I thought I knew shifting. But I couldn’t process it now. Not with Rhea in danger, not with our twins’ lives hanging in the balance.
“Mother, put the knife down. Please.” I took a step forward, hands raised, trying to look non-threatening despite my partial shift.
“Don’t call me that!” She pressed the knife closer to Rhea’s throat. “I’m not your mother! I never was! You’re nothing but the bastard of a dead whore!”
“Then put the knife down for Laziel.” Desperation colored my voice. “He wouldn’t want this. You know he wouldn’t.”
“Don’t you dare speak his name!” The knife trembled against Rhea’s skin. “You took him from me! My beautiful boy, my only real child!”
“I loved him too. He was my brother.”
