Chapter 45

(Maya POV)

My whole body felt strange, almost like I was not entirely myself. My limbs felt heavy but weak and my head felt cloudy. If I had to guess, the men who had me stashed here drugging me with something. The next thought I had was, where was I? When I looked around the room ow it was nothing like the ones I had been held in so far. It was a regular bedroom, but it looked like a child’s room. There was pink everything and stuffed animals and toys set up. It was strange and a little off putting. Why would I be put in a child’s bedroom. Where was the child that actually lived here?

I blinked a few times trying to fully take in what I was seeing. Sunlight was streaming through the window across the room through some sheer pink curtains. I tried to push off the bed and stand, but my legs gave out as soon as I tried putting weight on them. I groaned and grunted as I tried to wake up my body from its groggy state. Every part of me felt sore and I wished more than anything to soke in a nice bath. Speaking of baths, there was dirt all over my body and my hair was knotted. I must look terrible! Before I could think more on how I must look like death, the door to the room began to open and I flinched back as far as I could until I slammed into the nearby wall.

I my body began to shake involuntary as soon as my heart began to race. It was like my body was on constant alert and now even the smallest sound could send it into panic. I brought my heavy legs up to my chest trying to make myself as small as possible. A man stepped into the room, and I froze. He was not one of the men who had been keeping me. This man was cleaner, stronger, bigger. His whole look screamed Alpha. This had to be the man who had been hunting me all this time.

“Hello Maya.” He said with a deep husky voice.

I gulped loudly before trying to speak, but the voice that came out was not my own. It was laced with fear.

“W-who are you?” I ask.
“I am The Alpha of this pack, Alpha Kace.” He says matter-of-factly.
“What do you want with me?” I asked with a steadier voice.
“I wanted to bring you home. This is your home Maya. This…” He stretched his arm out over the room. “This is your room.”
I looked around me once more before turning my attention back to the man. “This is not my room. This room is for a child.”

“It was meant to be your room. I kept it exactly how I had arranged it all those years ago, before your mother took you away.” He says.
“What do you mean? Why would I live here?” My curiosity was becoming stronger and pushing my fear slightly to the back of my mind.
“Because I am your family Maya. I am your father.” He said straight out.

I froze at his words. My father?

“I had a father and he was killed thanks to you!” Suddenly I wasn’t afraid, I was angry.
“I did kill that man, but he was not your father. You see, your mother had an affair with me shortly before meeting that man. You are my daughter.” He explains.
“No! That’s not true.” I say shaking my head frantically.
“Yes Maya, I am your father. You need to be with me, so I brought you here. With great difficulty, but you are finally home.” He says with almost a genuine smile.
“I don’t want to be here; I have a home and it isn’t here!” I felt almost like I child saying these words, but they were true, and I wanted to go home.
“I know all about that place you call home now. I am disappointed Maya, why would you want to be there when you could be part of a pack as powerful as mine. With you as part of our pack, we would be the most powerful in the state.” He said proudly.
“I want to go back because my mates are there! If you care about me, you would let me go! You know what happens if I am separated from my mates for too long.” I said almost like a threat.

“Mates?” He asks a little taken aback.
I felt like smiling just then. It seemed like he did not know everything.
“Yes, I have 3 mates.” I say proudly.
“3? Interesting. You must indeed be very powerful if you have been given 3 mates.” He says with a smirk. “It seems like we will need to pay this pack of yours a visit and bring your mates back here. Because like you said, we know what will happen to you without them. Get comfortable sweetheart, because I have work to do.”

He turned and headed toward the door.

“Wait! What are you going to do? Leave them out of this! Don’t hurt them!” I yelled after him as he left the room.

I slumped back down onto the bed feeling suddenly tired. My body wanted to sleep, but I had to warn Eli. He was the easiest to reach, for some reason he was always the one I could reach. I had to reach him, but my mind was still cloudy and trying to focus on the mate bond was going to be a challenge in this state.

(Eli POV)

‘Damn, I lost it again!’ I growl to myself.

I had been searching for Maya’s scent for hours and had finally caught a faint trail, but the winds had picked up this morning and after a few minutes the trail was gone. I need to keep going but I was still worried about Noah, and I needed to check in with Tommy anyway. The only problem being, I had left all of my stuff back at the cave. So, I had not clothes and no money, also no phone. Now what?

I figured I would have to do what Will did and steal some clothes somehow. Unlike Will though, it was morning now and there was a greater chance of me being seen. I shifted quickly and hid the best I could behind the tree line along the outside of the nearby village. Not fa from where I was hiding, I noticed a small house, with several pieces of clothing hanging to dry. As I scanned for further choices, I fell short of any other options and had to settle on a neon orange shirt and khaki shorts. Not my best look. Once clothed I walked down the small lane toward what I was hoping would be the center of town.

As I passed a couple of smaller homes, I caught sight of a pair of sandals sitting in front of one of them. I doubt checked for anyone passing by, but the street was deserted so I grabbed them and quickly put them on my feet. They were a bit small, but it would have to do for now. I walked a few more minutes and as I had hoped there seemed to be a little town center not far off. I didn’t have money but usually in these small towns they are very friendly, I hoped that friendliness would get me an opportunity to use a phone.

As I entered the town square, I examined the few shops I passed. I was in search a diner or restaurant that would be very busy with people so I could blend in easily. Although with this shirt I was sure I could easily be spotted anywhere. After passing a few more stores I finally spotted a sign for a small café. I had hoped for something bigger and more crowded but maybe this was not one of those kinds of towns. Everything around her had a very small-town feel, and rustic quality. A quick sprint landed me in front of the little café, and with a push of the door I walked inside.

Unlike what I had hoped, all eyes turn to see me as I enter the shop. I smile and walk toward the girl behind the hostess counter. She smiles back at me and greeted me with a friendly but rehearsed line.

“How can I help you today sir?” She asks after her little monolog.
“Well, my car broke down not far from here and my phone died. Is there a phone here I can use to call my friend to come give me jump?” I ask her with the most charming smile I could muster.

She blushed slightly, which made my stomach churn slightly.

“Of course! We have a curtesy phone near the bathrooms. Down that hall to the left.” She said pointing to the other end of the café.
“Thank you so much!” I say and walked away.

The phone was right in between the doors to the restrooms and like she said, it was a courtesy phone so I thankfully didn’t have to pay to use it. I quickly dialed Tommy’s number.

“Hello?” Tommy said on the other line.
“Hey its Eli!” I reply.
“Hey! What number is this?” He asks confused.
“I’m using a phone in a café. I left my phone back at the cave. How is Noah?” I ask trying to make this conversation short.
“We got him to the hospital, and he had already started healing once he had shifted, but his leg is still broken. He lost a lot of blood, so he needs a few hours to fully recover. They will discharge us soon.” Tommy explained.
“Where are you going to go after they release you?” I ask.
“We will take him back to the pack to heal. Did you pick up Maya’s trail?” He asks.
I pause. “For a short time, but the winds disrupted the trail and I lost it again.”

Tommy let out a frustrated sigh. “Do you think you can pick up her trail again?”
“I will search the are again but….” I hear the ding of the bells hanging on the front door again and my attention shifts for a quick look.

My heart begins to race, because the man who had just walked in was the man who had taken Maya from the cave.

“Eli? Hello?” Tommy’s voice broke me from my trance.
“Yeah…what?” I say still watching the man carefully.
“You were saying something about the search.” Tommy replied sounding a little impatient.
“I think the lead we need just walked in the door.” I tell him.
“What do you mean?” He asks.

“The man who took Maya at the cave. He is here, if he is going back to where Maya is, I can follow him.” I explain to him quickly and in a hushed tone.
“Ok, do not lose him Eli! Follow him and find out where he is going. If you pick up Maya’s scene there, try and reach me through the mind link. I will head back soon. Will can take Noah on his own, you will need my help.” Tommy says firmly and in his alpha voice, which meant this was an order.
“Ok, if I cannot reach you through the link, I will call from this number again.” I tell him and quickly hang up.

I watch the man from my seat in front of the phone until he turns and walks out the door. I stand quickly and walk to where he was standing. I sniffed the air subtly trying to pick up his scent. Only doing this just filled me with rage, because the scent I picked up was not only one I was not familiar with, but it was also Maya’s scent.

He had been with my mate, and it was recently.