39.

Nikolai checked the time for the hundredth time, he was late. He promised her he wouldn't be late for their special night but his last meeting was very long, a client who wanted his service but didn't know what they wanted. Impatiently he began to tap his fingers against his thigh trying to calm himself by picturing his mate standing proudly before the dinner table showing off the delicious meal she cooked for them. Admiring her beauty in whatever dress she chose to entice him, her welcoming arms around his neck as her warm breath tickle his ear as she greets him good night. Her being there is what he looked forward to every day.

Nikolai drew in a deep breath and clutched his arm as he felt a searing pain running along it. He screamed out in pain, simultaneously he heard his mate's scream also in the recces of his head. The car stopped as he stumbled out and sat on the asphalt. "Enna. Where is Enna?" he breathed out. No one answered. They couldn't, they just couldn't. The pain was blinding but it was easing a bit, his men stepped back knowing what was coming next.

"WHERE IS SHE?" he shouted in anger and desperation.

The men that were with him stayed silent until one walked up to him cautiously and handed him his phone. "We followed the protocol of searching on our own after we noticed her gone...." the guard said softly.

"GONE!! What do you mean gone? The entire palace is roaming with guards and no one has seen her?. How the fuck can she disappear," he spat out still holding his arm though it wasn't hurting physically. Only one reason for that, they were hurting his mate, the mate bond was very strong, they now felt each other's pain and emotions much more intense. The guard gently took his prince's phone and opened the unread message that came through while he was writhing in pain. The guard cursed out loud as he saw the contents of the message, he wished that he can keep it away from his prince but it was snatched away from him. His comrade looked at him for any kind of clue but he simply stared into the dark. Heavy breathing and angry growls were heard beside the car, when they looked back, the prince was on all fours, his wolf coming out quickly. Before they can say anything, the angry blue eyes of Vadim stared back at them.

'Betrayal, was all Vadim said to his men before running past them onto the road that led to the palace. The men took up the discarded phone and looked at it. It contained a picture of their princess, head hung low with a newly branded arm. The brand was of the Saville family crest, the caption read 'Welcome to the family cousin'. What pushed them over was Viktor standing idly beside Sienna and Cain beside him with a smug grin. They wasted no time and shifted into their wolves following behind their alpha.

As they approached the palace, Nikolai was calling everyone out into the courtyard. Palace guards and warriors stood before their Alpha with their heads bent low, Mina and Zarif came out next with their own warriors following behind. 'Now. Tell me. How did they get her?' he snarled pacing before them all.

'It was an innocent move on Viktor's part. He asked to have a walk with the princess in the garden' Rafe answered.

'We asked her if she was sure but she wanted to keep appearance but asked for four guards to accompany her. We were to go find her after an hour of no communication in which we did,,' Josef continued.

'And still, mate disappeared?' Nikolai shouted. Everyone winced at how loud he was inside their heads. "Sir" someone shouted from the side of the palace a bit of scuffling and muffled grunts accompanied it. They all turned to the scene, six men bounded with zip ties and covered mouths were being pushed to land before the angry prince. "Last of Cain's men," the guard spat. Slowly Nikolai approached them, snarling, his sharp fangs on display, the men's eyes widen in fear as they saw in his eyes and facial contortion how angry he was. Their whimpers were muffled as they tried to get away from him. Vadim raised them high above the crowd, they kicked and fought to let them self free of the zip ties and the prince's hold. He removed their muzzles, their screams were now heard throughout the still night. "SPEAK!" Zarif commanded.

"Please. Please, your majesty, have mercy on us" one begged.

'MERCY?! Have Mercy? Your Alpha took my mate' Vadim snarled. The six men still held above them all gasped in shock they can hear the alpha of the Dark Blood through the mind link. Even if he was a prince by blood they weren't supposed to be able to hear him in wolf or human form. "We didn't know he was taking her. We just came to get rid of you," another shouted.

'Get rid of me?' Vadim shouted raising them higher then releasing them from his bond, their screams of terror filled the air. Vadim captured them once more before they hit the ground, their screams stopped immediately. 'Where is he?' the Alpha questioned them, throwing them against the wall of the castle. Their groans of pain were heard, Vadim walked over to them slowly while they were trying to escape but he saw it was no use. He picked one up and snapped his neck instantly; he kept the now dead man above his friends as an example to them all. "Where is your alpha?" Zarif asked lowly.

"The outskirts. He said something about the outskirts....."

"Viktor gave him the idea...."

"Please. We are sorry. We were just following orders."

Mina stepped forward with a smile on her face, she crouched before two of them then glanced at the other three. "Kidnapping the prince's mate. Treason against the prince. Do you know the punishment for that?" Mina stated calmly stretching her hand to her mate who simply grinned at her. He threw his two Glock 21 to his mate, she shook her head at his excitement halting the guns mid-air and taking off the safety. Standing up she snapped her fingers, releasing the men from their bonds. Nikolai manipulated two of them to step forward as he brought the other three to their feet, taking control of their bodies. "Now. What does Viktor have to do with any of this?" she asked bringing the guns on the two men before her, she waved a hand before their faces. In a daze, they grabbed hold of the guns and placed it near their temples. "Alpha Cain said he was the one. The one who attempted to take the princess." With that last sentence, screams of agony filled the air, the three Nikolai held were now on the ground scratching at their bodies, holding their heads in pain. "Thank you" was all Mina said before she willed the remaining two to pull the trigger. She watched with cold eyes as their bodies fell to the ground, liquid silver flowing from their wound, she stretched forward her hands and collected the guns as she watched the life drain from their bodies.

'To the outskirts now. Groups of eight.' Vadim ordered before taking off to the woods. "That was a complete turn on," Zarif whispered in his mate's ear, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Hmmm if that's what it takes," she teased while holstering his guns for him. Stepping away from him, she blew a kiss for him, calling out to her eight guards who shifted running towards her. "See you. Love you," she said with a smile before shifting. Zarif watched his mate run off into the night. "Damn I love her," he said with a grin.



*****

"He will be looking for her now," Viktor said idly walking out to the ledge of the rocky cliff. "Why here?" Cain asked lighting a cigarette.

"Away from prying eyes. Feral wolves. Lots of hiding spots for an ambush. His mate is the perfect bait before he gets here the feral wolves would have her as a feast. He being weak you can get rid of him easily. You get your throne, I get my position as Alpha. Everybody wins."

Cain scoffed. "How long you've been planning this. I was going simple and less messy. Silver Nitrate."

"Let's just say I burned a lot of bridges to get here. I knew of her since she was a baby, your grandmother sent a letter to my brother about her. I happened to come across it on his desk when he brought me to the palace to announce the next high Alpha. Imagine being passed on by an eleven-year-old kid who kept to himself all the time. A freak of nature with those powers of his." Viktor's voice was filled with venom as he recollected his past memories.

"You knew of Sienna? He had powers at eleven?" Cain asked in disbelief. "The letter simply explained the little girl is from a pack in Venezuela. An alpha's daughter. It was good enough for me. I had some of my men tracked the father, the queen had him protected but we kept on scouring small packs. Your grandparents were smart. They knew I was onto them so as little messages, I sent them the worse ones. As to your cousin having his gifts early, my brother said he had them between the age of four and seven, they kept growing," he continued flicking the butt of his cigarette over the cliff.

"Hmm and I thought I hated the prick. This whole family has a lot of secrets," Cain mused walking back into the hidden cabin in the rocks. The cabin was abandoned but was still intact surprisingly so. It was musty but served them to the best. He leaned against the doorpost watching how weak Sienna was; he smirked as her body trembled in reaction to the silver and wolfsbane they injected into her system. They chained her to the kitchen sink with silver chains it all made her weak and enough to keep her wolf away. She tried to attack them but she wasted whatever energy left on it didn't even will a fireball. He strode over, crouching before her. Smiling, he tucked her hair behind her ears, she visibly flinched and cracked her eyes open an inch. "Awww there she is. I have bad news for you little cousin" he taunted pouting. Sienna took in a deep breath, trying to move away from him but her body screamed at her not to. She cried out in pain as the chains bit into her skin, her head rocked back leaning against the wooden wall. "Please" she wheezed out.

"Wait. Wait. I still have to share the bad news. Do you remember Nikolai? Your mate? Well sad to say he hasn't shown up since. Guess he realized you are really disposable."

"N-Nicky...." she started to say but had to stop to take a deep breath."He will....come," she finished. Her throat was parched, her eyes felt so heavy, she just wanted to go home. She thought of her parents, how they sacrificed a lot to keep her safe and now she was in this situation. She thought of Nikolai and how torn he must be, this was her second abduction and the chance of escaping was not good.

"If he does then he will be too late. If you know what I mean" he sneered. The look in his eyes was evidence of what he truly meant, he had a crazed look in his eyes and she knew he would do anything that he has his mind set on. Cain made his way back out to Viktor who was now accompanied by two men. "Scouts spotted the first group of palace wolves heading up. It won't be too far that the prince himself is near." Viktor reported looking down at the dark valley. The cabin was a perfect vantage point, miles away from palace borders, and lots of hiding spots. The forest covered most of it but it let out to a huge valley which made you open to any attack.

"Good. Send them in" Cain ordered. Both he and Viktor watched as twelve of their men ran across the valley.

"Time to get to work" Viktor murmured with a sly smirk on his face.