Chapter 56 Where is Jonathan?

*Diana*

After we asked the cooks in the kitchen to make a hearty meal for more people and left Aunt Athena to oversee the kitchen staff, I guided my father, Uncle Mike and Jonathan to the laundry room. Ethan tended to the butler, chaining him to the four poster bed in the room beside Elder Allen's room so it would be easy to keep an eye on both of them.

When the doors of the elevator opened to the laboratory, my Uncle Mike let out a low whistle.

"Look at this place. It's like a laboratory of one of those secret science labs in the military. Right Jonathan?" Jonathan nodded his head. Uncle Mike pointed to the office. "There's a laptop in his office. I'm going to see if I can bypass his security and see what's in it. Jonathan help Lucas and Diana. I know you are loyal to the Elder since she brought you in while the pack kicked you out. But I believe this isn't what you signed up for." Uncle Mike trying to give out one of his pep talks.

"Beta, I was banished from the pack for fighting for what is right. I am still that wolf," Jonathan said. "Plus, I can help you. I still have contacts in the military. If you can not bypass his security, I know someone who can and I know people who can help transport these people home."

"Good. We need all the help we can get. Michael, here's Andrew's phone. It might help you." My dad hands Uncle Mike the butler's phone. "Now let's help these people. Jonathan, what are doing near that vat?" Jonathan was peering through the vat while covering his nose with his hand. He suddenly ran to a corner and started puking.

"The vat... is full of people's skin," Jonathan said after wiping his mouth. "I think I'm going to be sick again." He turns back to the corner and pukes again. I didn't want to take a look at the vat. Jonathan's violent reaction to its contents was enough for me to believe him.

"That is gruesome! I don't want to look at it. My stomach is already churning from the smell. I better head to the office and start bypassing security," Uncle Mike said and heads to the office, punching in the security code to unlock the door.

"Dad, the people, they're waiting." I start walking to the prison area.

"You're right, Diana. Jonathan, when you are, uhm, finished, we'll be over there." My dad points to the opened steel door.

I enter the prison area and I hear sighs of relief from the people, but their reaction changed when they saw my dad. They backed away from the doors and huddled together. "No, no, no. Don't be afraid. This is my dad. We're going to get you out."

"Are you sure?" A woman said, fear evident in her voice.

"I promise you...I will keep you safe," I assure them. My dad was trying all the keys one by one. There were about 10 keys on the key ring. Why did the butler have so many keys in his pocket? Did he still have prison cells within the area?

"Where the truck parks, go to it." Onyx voice whispered to me. Evidently, there is more to this story.

"Eureka, I got one cell open! Sweetie, help these people out," my dad instructs me. I help some of the people who were too weak to get up. I guess Andrew made them so weak they couldn't put up a fight when he skinned them.

I led them outside where Jonathan was waiting. Some of them again, screamed in fright.

"Don't worry, Ma'am. Ex-military. I'll be escorting all of you upstairs. We have rooms and meals waiting for you. Then, we'll be transporting you home."

My father ushered everyone out and they all stopped where the first group was standing. "That's all of them. I think they're about thirty of them," my father said, closing the huge steel door behind him.

The young teen who had told me about the keys suddenly was by my side, tugging on my arm. I looked down at him and saw the fear in his eyes. I saw his mouth quiver and move, he was trying to tell me something. I lowered my head for him to whisper in my ear.

"I've seen him before. I was gassed in his car. I'm a swimmer and I can hold my breath for long periods of time. That's him," he whispered.

I looked at Jonathan who was apparently feigning innocence. I walked towards him and clasped his hand in a tight grip to see what secrets he was hiding.

Andrew approached him one day when he and the Elder were visiting. Andrew asked him if he wanted to make some money by providing him with some humans, young humans, children if it were possible. He masqueraded as a driver of one those 'hail a ride' transportation apps, arriving at restaurants, bars, malls and parks. The passengers would mistakenly enter his vehicle thinking he was there to pick them up. He would then spray a noxious gas into the vents of his car so his passengers would lose consciousness. Since the Elder was busy all day and slept early at night, he was able to go and come as he pleased.

"Stop, I beg you." He tried to yank his hand away from my grip watching his sins flash in his mind.

"Dad, take the people upstairs and give them something to eat. Jonathan and I have something important to discuss." My dad nodded his head.

"Sure thing." He gestured to Uncle Mike. Uncle Mike ran out of the office towards us.

I turned to the crowd so I could address them, twisting Jonathan's hand in the process. He whimpered in pain. I didn't care. "Everyone, my dad will protect you. Rest assured you are in the hands of a good man." Uncle Mike upon seeing my grasp of Jonathan's hand raises his eyebrows, perplexed.

"I'll take the people upstairs, Michael. You keep an eye on Jonathan and Diana." My dad ushers the people to the elevator doors. "Come on. Let's get you fed."

I watched my dad instruct the people to type in the security code to get topside. My father with a group of 6 went up first. When all of them had left, I yanked Jonathan to the vat with Uncle Mike following us.

"Those are the children you abducted and gave to that insane mage. Is that worth all the money you received?" I asked him, disgusted.

"Jonathan, you helped Andrew with his operations? How could you?" I heard the disappointment in Uncle Mike's voice.

"When you and Lucas left our pack to destruction, I had to do anything I could and as much as I could to funnel money to my family. You do not understand what has happened to our pack. Because I had fought against the money laundering scheme of Lucas's brother and his father, my family was demoted to Omegas." Uncle Mike lowered his head and shook it in disbelief.

I let go of Jonathan's hand. People loved to point the blame at someone else.

____________________

*Michael*

"Jonathan, we didn't leave the pack on a whim. We didn't leave because we wanted to destroy the pack. We left because we had a baby to protect. We left so we could save all of you from death." The audacity to try and pin the blame on me and Lucas. Didn't these wolves see we hid so none of them would have to bear the brunt of Eric Lockwood's machinations?

"The fact still remains that you left." Jonathan looked me straight in the eyes thinking I would flinch. I challenged his gaze until he blinked. I, for one, stood by our decision to leave. The problem with wolves, none of their actions were because of their own decisions or fate. It was always the Alpha's.

"The Alpha's decisions are for the good of all and not of one," I said. "Many would have been slaughtered if Lucas had chose to remain as Alpha. There are still wolves who remain loyal to him." Jonathan sneered at Diana and I knew he would argue Lucas's choice of mate.

"NOT FOR ONE?! He was only thinking of himself when he had relations with the human. Lucas shouldn't have mated with the her. It was forbidden!" I shook my head again. I glanced at Jonathan and wondered if he had ever fallen in love. I actually assumed he and Athena had a thing, but apparently I was mistaken.

"No one on this earth can ever forbid love. I myself fell in love with a human. She was a soldier like myself at the time. There was no man in our unit who was as brave and courageous as she. If she were still alive to this day, I would have been mated to her." I have never spoken about my love life to anyone. This was the first time I ever admitted to falling in love. Diana looked at me with understanding and much respect.

Emma, she was something else. She was a small lady, an Asian, but what she lacked in height, she made up for in courage. We fought about everything, laughed at all things nonsensical, talked about our dreams and our passions. We fell in love in the desert of Afghanistan.

Yet, as much as I tried to protect her with all my being, death came to her. We were ambushed. I remember covering my body as the gunshots went through our vehicle. I survived, but my Emma, died in my arms that fateful day. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. I probably would have had pups the same age if not a bit older than Diana. This is probably the reason why I'm so protective of her.

"This was the main reason why I tried to push Lucas to risk it all because sometimes, you may never get a second chance. I didn't want Lucas to be like me." I sighed. Both of us weren't given second chances.

"Even then, Lucas has a half breed daughter. An abomination." I growled at him and punched him in the face. No one talks to Diana that way.

"Do not ever say Diana is an abomination or I will personally break you neck." I grabbed Jonathan by the neck and the arm. In my rage, I felt my wolf take over. I may be forgiving, but my wolf isn't. "Better yet, I'm going to throw you in this vat." Before Diana could stop me, I threw Jonathan in the vat of boiling chemicals and skin. She immediately backed away.

Jonathan screamed and tried to get out, but the skin floating in the vat weighed him down. After several moments, Jonathan stopped moving and sank into the boiling mixture. I took Diana into my arms and hugged her. She buried her face in my shirt. It was quite frightening to watch.

"He deserved it, Diana and I did say I would kill anyone who called you a half-breed," I explained.

A phone suddenly starts ringing. I release Diana and take out the butler's phone from my pocket.

"This is Andrew's phone. It says here, the truck is nearing its destination."

The elevator doors open and Ethan walks out.

"Diana, there's a warehouse type building about a click away from the mansion. My men have spotted a truck entering the premises. Where's Jonathan?" He asked.

"He's somewhere." Diana answered Ethan. "Uncle Mike, it's time to welcome an old friend."

________________

*Elder Allen*

If it weren't for voice activated devices, I wouldn't have a way to contact my secretary for the invitations I needed. I told her to make sure 'my guests' were included in the list.

Where was Jonathan? Andrew was now in custody the idiot that he was. I didn't know he was a mage, however I did have a feeling he was doing something illegal that made him rich. When he convinced me to buy this estate, it was in such a mess. Yes, it didn't cost me much since the property was deemed foreclosed although I was doubtful Andrew could do the necessary renovations. I did contribute financially to the renovations of this estate at the beginning, but only from the start. I had to give the credit to Andrew for making this estate to what it is today. If I were to put this property up for sale, it would probably sell for millions.

Now I am a prisoner on my own property. Lucas and his Beta no longer trusted me as well as the wealthy Alpha Ethan Crowne thanks to that half breed Diana. Why did I have to listen to the Moon Goddess? Why did I think this 'adventure' would benefit me the most? All it has given me is remorse and my loss of vision. Although the black wolf mentioned that she had taken something from the High Lord Wolf, I still felt I was suffering the most. Whatever the black wolf took from the High Lord Wolf, it was probably a small nuisance compared to my fate.

My phone starts ringing and I pick it up not knowing who it was.

"Elder Allen, there has been a development. The High Lord Wolf's asistant has called to tell me that everything is in order. The meeting will push through before the Christmas Ball program starts. The High Lord Wolf will be sending you a limousine to pick you and your guests at your Hampton Estate. If there are other necessities your guests may want, he says to call him directly. What he means is he wants the 'guest of honor' to call him directly." The black wolf DID take something of importance from him. I wondered what it was.

"Thank you. Please send all information to Athena Lockwood through email. She knows who to give that information to. Again, this is of utmost secrecy."

"I understand, Elder. The High Lord Wolf's assistant had also cautioned me. He said if anything leaks, the High Lord Wolf will have my head." Goodness. The High Lord Wolf had threatened my secretary.

"I'm sorry about that. Everything will be revealed in time," I apologized. Diana was such a liability to me.

"Another thing, Elder, one of the donors of the Council has called and wants to know why the High Lord Wolf will not be meeting with them as planned. I had taken the liberty of telling them you have not spoken to the High Lord Wolf and are not privy to his actions and decisions." My secretary knows what to say. I will definitely increase her Christmas bonus.

"Thank you. Do inform me of any other developments that may arise."

"Yes, Elder Allen." She hangs up. I must inform Athena. I stomp on the floor. I hear the door open.

"Jonathan, please inform Athena she has an important email she needs to read."

"Ah, sorry Elder. It is me Colt. Jonathan is busy at the moment. I will inform Athena immediately." Ethan's Beta?

"Thank you, ah, Colt. Do tell Jonathan I need to see him as soon as possible."

"I will, Elder. Do you need anything else?"

"Something to eat and some red wine please."

"Certainly Elder." The door closes. I sigh.

Where is Jonathan?