TAKEN

CHAPTER 39: THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN
~ Harper's POV~

I was violently shaking as Thane picked me up and tossed me into the back seat of his car. He climbed in after I was able to sit down properly. I could still hear Gabriel howling and thrashing. He was still fighting to get to me. I was sobbing uncontrollably. My heart has been ripped out of my chest. I agreed to be compliant in order to protect Gabriel. The truth is, I don’t trust Thane not to kill Gabriel anyway after he gets what he wants. This is all my fault. If I had never pursued becoming a member of the Harmony Moon pack, none of this would have happened to him. It seemed like a short ride, but we had been driving for a while. There is a lot of property between pack borders. I am assuming that I am on my way to the packhouse of the Foul Moon. I couldn’t see out of the windows because the tint on the windows was too dark. I didn’t know we were near the packhouse until the car slid to a stop. The tires sliding on the gravel caused white dust to float up into the air. Thane turned to me with his sickening voice.
“Harper you are finally home, right where you belong.” I held my head down. As he extended his long arm across the backseat of the car and traced his knuckles across my cheek. I didn’t pull away from him. It is not me to lower my head for the likes of him. The aura that surrounds higher class wolves has never affected me. I am not sure why. I have never felt the pressure to submit. I will show courtesy to wolves that show it to me. But Thane, he deserves nothing but a hot bed in hell! The only reason I am holding my head down right now is because I need to protect Gabriel. Thane got out of the car and casually walked to my door and opened it. I looked at him. My eyes didn’t beg, or fear, him. I wiped my tears away and forced myself to show no emotion. I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing me hurting because of something that he has done to me. I also didn’t want to show him my anger, unsure how quick he would be to hurt Gabriel, as punishment to me. He held his hand out to me, and I took it. My hand looked so small in his. These hands have beat me. I thought to myself. They have trespassed over parts of my body without my consent. Those hands killed my parents right before my eyes, and now those hands have my Gabriel! My heart clinched and I felt sick again. Thane didn’t like how I was lagging behind him, so he jerked me forward. I stumbled on a rock, but soon regained my footing. He pulled me through the packhouse doors, up the stairs, down the hallway and to his room. I swear this place reminds me of a haunted mansion. It hasn’t always looked like this. It was a beautiful packhouse, bright and happy. Since Thane has taken over, the sun has forever set on this place. It’s like poison has been poured over everything here.

We were standing Infront of his bedroom door. My heartbeat was racing, and not in a good way. Thane must have heard my accelerated heartbeat, because he looked down at me and gave me an evil grin. Oh, goddess! This can’t be real, please wake me from this awful nightmare. He unlocked his bedroom door, and it creaked open. I envisioned bats flying away at the sound. The room was dark, except for a lamp on his bedside table casting a dull yellow light throughout the room. It smelled musty and old. The air was thick, and when I breathed it was like I was tasting dust. Thane picked me up over his shoulder and slammed the door, I heard the lock click. It was a bitter reminder that I was at this man's mercy, and I couldn’t deny anything that he wanted from me. He walked over to his bed and sat me down. I was surprised that he didn’t throw me. I watched him, nervous about his next move. Was this it? Did he intend to force himself on me? I tried to still my trembling body with no success.

Thane brought a chair over to the side of the bed where I was sitting.
“Don’t you think it is time that you and I have a serious conversation?” I didn’t respond. I didn’t care what he had to say. He licked his lips as his wicked eyes traveled down my body and back up landing on my breasts. I didn’t move to cover myself; I was biting the bullet. Thane forcing me was one thing that he promised from the start. I had to face this nauseating feeling. It all may last a little while, but not forever. As soon as I get the chance, I will end this monster. I just have to pick and choose my battles for Gabriel’s sake. Thane sat down in front of me, allowing one of his knees to settle in between mine.
“My sweet little Harper. You ran away from me. You tricked me, causing me to trust you. Then you ran...” Anger was growing in his eyes. He stood from his seat in an angry motion. “You ran from me and into another wolfs bed!” He swung his large arm and bashed it against the chair causing it to go flying into the air. It slammed into the wall on the other side of the room so hard that it splintered. Leaving only wood chips on the floor and a large hole in the wall. My heart was racing, beating hard in my chest. I wiped my sweaty palms on my shorts and tried to just exist... for now. Thane stalked back over and stopped in front of me. His wolf was coming out. I could see hairs extending from his arms and face. I heard the sound of bone cracking and shifting as his wolf took form. His pants and shirt started ripping from the growth of his body. What the hell is he! He’s bigger than any wolf that I have ever seen in my life. His entire body was that of a wolf including his head, but he was upright like a human. His muscles were big before, but now he looked mutated. His long snout held rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth. I have seen sharks have multiple rows of teeth. When one falls out another takes its place. Thanes were extended twice the length of normal wolves. Red glowing veins that looked filled with lava were pulsing under unkept charcoal gray fur. His claws were long and sharp but not made of keratin, they looked shiny and sharp like knives. His tail was large to match the size of his body. Last I looked at his eyes. They were seared into the sockets looking still on fire like iron fresh out of the furnace. His aura was more than evil. This wolf is demonic, a mutant demon taking the form of an upright wolf. I shuffled back on the bed. He bent his knees and positioned his body before he belted out a painfully bone chilling sound... It wasn’t a growl; it was more like a roar. Something like what I imagine a dragon to make. I quickly covered my ears with my palms. My head was ringing from the deafening sound that came from him. This is what Thane really looks like. His evil and vile ways have finally boiled over causing his wolf to mutate. He was truly from hell, a demon wolf. I was staring the devil right in the face.

~ Tanner’s POV~
Something is wrong! I couldn’t get that howl out of my head; I know it was Gabriel. It sounded like despair and anger combined. I let Kai know right away that I felt like something was wrong. It was four hours past sunset; he and Harper were still not back. I went out looking for them and ran across two bike helmets in the middle of the road. The smell in them confirmed my fears. Harper and Gabe were wearing them. Splatters and puddles of blood were spread across the blacktop road. The blood belonged to Gabriel as well as dozens of other wolves. Someone took them! Gabe didn’t get taken without a fight, but by the look of things he was hurt badly. I mind linked Kai.
“They have been taken. From the amount of blood that I have found Gabe is hurt really bad. We need to assemble the warriors including the ones in training as well as our elites and trackers. Inform Alpha Titus. I'm sure we can guess who is behind this.”
“We will all be waiting on you when you get back. Alpha Titus may be able to turn to his contacts in allying packs to gain some intel.” I closed the mind link. I picked up a helmet and slammed it to the ground in anger. My best friend has been taken as well as our pack's possible future Luna. We have to do something, fast!