Novels by VID

REIGN'S POVPhoebe is quiet for the rest of the drive.We catch a private flight to Prague. One of the benefits of being a wealthy Alpha is having access to transportation that doesn't ask questions.During the flight, I try to sleep. Landon was right about the exhaustion. My body is running on fumes, held together by caffeine and pure stubbornness.But every time I close my eyes, I see Sonya being pulled through that portal. See the anguish in her eyes.And I can't sleep.Instead, I focus on the mate bond. On that thin thread connecting us no matter how far away she is.She's scared. I can feel it clearly. But there's something else too. Determination. She's not broken yet.'Hold on, little omega,' I think, knowing she can't hear me but hoping somehow the sentiment reaches her through the bond. 'I'm coming for you. Just hold on a little longer.'The plane touches down in Prague as the sun is setting. We have five hours until the auction.Selene meets us at a safe house on the outskir

REIGN'S POVI tense, darting a look at Landon and Phoebe like they might tell me not to answer.I do it anyway, putting it on speaker. "Yes? Who's this?”"Alpha Reign." Selene's voice comes through, and she sounds exhausted but urgent. "It's Selene. Don't hang up.""Where are you?" I demand. "You should be at the estate, resting, recovering...""I couldn't just sit there." Her voice cracks slightly. "My daughter is with that monster, Reign. The same monster who kept me bound for twenty-two years. I couldn't just... wait. Do nothing. Hope someone else saves her.""So where are you?""Reconnecting with old contacts. People I knew before I gave myself to Melvanie. Friends from the network of collectors and dealers who... who might have information." She takes a shaky breath. "I've been working the underground markets for the past three days. Calling in old favors. And I found something."My pulse quickens. "What did you find?"“Melvanie's sending Sonya to Prague. There's a black market a

REIGN'S POVIt's been three days.I stare at the wall in my office, at the map pinned there with locations marked in red. Possible facilities. Dead ends. False leads.Three days since Sonya was taken.Three days of searching, planning, calling in every favor I'm owed, threatening people who might have information.Three days of feeling her through the incomplete mate bond. Her fear. Her numbness. Her stubborn belief that somehow I'll find a way to get to her."Reign." Landon's voice cuts through my thoughts. He's sitting across from my desk, fully healed but still moving carefully. "You need to sleep. You can't help her if you collapse from exhaustion.""I'm fine.""You're not fine. You haven't slept in seventy-two hours. You're running on coffee and rage." He leans forward, eyes locked on mine. "Take a break. Just a few hours. Let me and the team keep searching.""I can't." I turn to face him, and I know what he sees. Dark circles under my eyes, several days' worth of stubble, clothe

SONYA'S POV"What's the difference?" I press."Cooperative employees get comfortable accommodations, Sonya. Regular meals, reasonable work assignments, and a degree of autonomy within the facility." She picks up a remote and clicks it. A screen on the wall lights up, showing a room with an actual bed, private bathroom, even books. "This could be yours. Once you've proven trustworthy, you'll have better accommodations""How generous." I scoff."I'm not a monster, Sonya. I simply collect things of value. And you, my dear, are extremely valuable.""And difficult employees?" I ask quietly.Another click. The screen changes to show a cell worse than mine. Barely big enough to lie down in, no window, no furniture. Just stone and darkness."Isolation. Minimal food and water. And if you're particularly difficult..." She clicks again. The screen shows one of those blank-faced people from the cells. "I take your will entirely. You become a puppet. Useful, obedient, and completely empty."My blo

SONYA'S POVThe sound of boots outside my cell wakes me instantly. Multiple sets of feet, moving with purpose.I open my eyes to pale gray light filtering through the barred window above my head.Morning in Melvanie's prison feels exactly the same as night.I scramble to my feet, my heart pounding. Is Melvanie coming back? Is it time for the "training" she mentioned yesterday?The door opens, and two guards enter. Both men, both wearing black uniforms. They're armed with what look like cattle prods, spitting sparks of electricity."Come with us," the first one says. His voice is flat, emotionless. Just like the woman who brought me food yesterday."Where are we going?""Melvanie wants to see you.""And if I refuse?"The second guard raises his cattle prod, and I see the threat clearly. Comply or get shocked.I weigh my options. Fighting would be satisfying but pointless. These guards are just tools. The real enemy is Melvanie."Fine," I say, putting my hands up. "Lead the way."They e

SONYA'S POVThe transition through the portal feels like drowning.Dark magic presses against me from all sides, thick and suffocating. It tastes like copper and ash, coating my tongue until I want to gag. The world spins violently, up becoming down, left becoming right, my stomach lurching as reality twists around me.Then suddenly, it stops.I stumble forward, my knees hitting cold stone. The impact sends shockwaves of pain up my legs but I barely notice. I'm too busy trying not to vomit from the portal sickness."First time is always rough," Melvanie says from somewhere above me, her voice weird and distorted. "Your body isn't used to dimensional travel. The nausea will pass in a few minutes."I don't respond. I can't. My stomach is still heaving, threatening to throw up everything I've eaten in the past day."Take your time, dear. We have all the time in the world now." Her footsteps tap away, heels on stone. "I'll be back shortly. Do try not to vomit on the floor. It's terribly

MEGAN'S POVHarlow rises to his full height, actually considering it."Maybe. That would certainly be the final straw, wouldn't it? Killing you would destroy Xarion completely. And then his company would be mine for the taking."I can't believe what I'm hearing.This man is talking about murdering me like it's a business decision.Like I'm just a piece on a chessboard he's trying to remove.I stare at him, horror and rage warring inside me."You're also the one behind my car accident, aren't you?" I blurt out, my mind racing. "The one right after I came back to Arkon?"Harlow frowns, and for the first time, he actually looks confused."Your car accident?" he repeats slowly. "I have no idea what you're talking about."I blink, thrown off completely."You… you didn't?""No," he states firmly. "I had nothing to do with any car accident, Megan. The first time I targeted you was at Prime Build Supply."The admission catches me completely off guard, and I feel my mind scrambling to adjust.

MEGAN'S POVThe man stops a few feet away, his hands sliding nonchalantly into his pockets."My name," he announces, his voice smooth, "is Harlow Hale."The name doesn't ring a bell at first, and I frown, trying to match the name to a face.But then he continues."Perhaps you've heard of me," he adds casually. "I'm an investor in Xarion Luther's company. One of his… business associates, you could say."My blood runs cold.And just like that, everything clicks into place.Xarion.Of course this is about Xarion.I was kidnapped because of him.The realization slams into me, and I feel a bitter laugh clawing its way up my chest. Everything always comes back to Xarion, doesn't it?"So that's it?" I mutter, shaking my head. "You kidnapped me because of Xarion?""Smart girl," Harlow replies with a pleased smile."Then you're wasting your time," I fire back, my voice hardening. "Xarion and I aren't together. We're not even on good terms. So if you're planning to use me as leverage, you're

MEGAN'S POVI'm so tired I can't even think straight anymore.My body hurts in ways I didn't know were possible, my wrists are torn up from where the zip ties have been digging into my skin, every muscle in my body is screaming from being forced into the same position for goddess knows how long.How long have I been here?Is it one day? Two days? More?I've lost track.Time doesn't work the same way when you're tied to a chair in a cold, dark warehouse with silver burning into your skin and a needle full of poison coursing through your veins.All I know is that I'm exhausted. Starving. And so thirsty my throat feels like sandpaper.But worse than all of that, worse than the physical pain, is the hollow feeling in my chest that has nothing to do with my restraints.Maverick and Makayla. My babies.I can't stop thinking about them.Their little faces. Their voices. The way they hug me like I'm their entire world.Are they okay? Are they eating? Are they sleeping?Or are they still sitti

XARION'S POVI don't respond right away.I just stand there, my fists clenched at my sides, my eyes locked on his, and I let my wolf surge forward just enough that my eyes flash gold.The temperature in the room drops instantly.Renzo's smirk wavers, just for a second, and I can see the hint of unease in his eyes.He stands slowly, palms up, that slow infuriating smirk still in place like he’s enjoying this. "Whoa, Xarion. Easy," he murmurs, his tone light, but not nearly as relaxed as he wants me to believe. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. We can talk about why you came into my territory like civilized adults. No need to get all… murderous.""Cut the act, Renzo," I snap, taking a step forward, my voice dropping to a lethal threat. "I'm not in the mood for games. You know exactly why I'm here."He raises an eyebrow, his expression morphing into something that almost looks like genuine confusion."Do I?" he counters, cocking his head. "Enlighten me.""Where is she?" I demand,

XARION'S POVThe moment I arrive at Renzo's territory, I know something's off.It’s not what I see that raises every alarm in my head. It’s what’s missing.Resistance.There's no blockade at the gates. No armed guards stepping forward to demand what the hell I'm doing here. No one trying to turn me away or make this difficult.Just… open gates and a clear path straight to his mansion.It's too easy.I cut the engine and sit in my car for a moment, my hands still clamped around the steering wheel, my pulse thrumming steadily in my ears.My wolf is on high alert, pacing restlessly inside me, every instinct warning that this could be a trap.'Careful,' he growls. 'This feels wrong.'I know.But I don't have a choice.If Renzo has Megan, if he's the one who took her, then I'm walking into this house whether it's a trap or not.I dart my eyes to the rearview mirror and catch sight of the two cars behind me, my gammas waiting for my signalAnd then I notice something else.The car that's be

DANIELLE'S POVBrett nods, pulling out onto the road, and Skye twists in her seat to look at me, her eyes wide with alarm."Danielle, what the hell are we doing?" she hisses, her voice rising slightly. "This is insane.""We're following Xarion," I reply flatly, crossing my arms. "What does it look like we're doing?""I know that," she counters, her tone sharp now. "But why? What's the point of this? What did he say to you?""Nothing worth repeating," I grit out. "He stonewalled me, Skye. He wouldn't tell me anything… wouldn't let me see Megan's brats, wouldn't even let me touch him. And now, I need to know where he's headed. Because wherever it is, it's serious. He's up to something. And I'm willing to bet it has something to do with Megan."Skye fidgets in her seat, her fingers twisting together. "Danielle, are you sure about this? I mean… what if he finds out we're following him?""He won't," I bite out, shooting her an pointed look now. "Not if we're careful.""But if he does…" Sky