Chapter 5

Captured

Evelyn's POV

I didn't know where I was going.

I had been walking for what felt like hours, but I hadn't stopped once. My legs were beginning to ache, yet I couldn't bring myself to slow down.

All I could think about was my mother and father and the fact that they were dead. I still couldn't believe it.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw their bodies lying there. I could still hear my mother's voice telling me to run.

I looked at the card my mom had given me. It was already creased from being held for too long.

I didn't understand why she had sent me there. I didn't even know what was waiting for me.

She had sounded terrified. And my mother had never been afraid of anything before.

I pulled my jacket tighter around myself as the cold wind blew against my face.

The road was almost empty, with only a few houses scattered in the distance. I had no idea where I was, and for the first time since leaving home, I wondered if I had made a mistake.

Maybe if I hadn't left that night, they wouldn't be dead right now.

I wanted to turn back, but there was nothing to go back to.

I swallowed hard and continued walking.

I looked around for a payphone. I needed to call someone who would listen to me and be there for me.

I saw one in the corner of the street and hurried over to it. I dialed Theo's number and waited for him to pick up.

“Hello, Theo!” I screamed immediately after he picked up.

“Oh my God, Evelyn!” Theo shouted on the phone. “What happened? I saw the news and I've been searching for you.”

“Theo…” I burst into tears. My hands were trembling, and my chest ached from the pain. “I... don't know what to do. I'm lost with nowhere to go.”

“Okay... where are you?”

“I don't know... I don't know, Theo.” My voice cracked. “I've been walking, and I don't know where I am.”

“Okay... calm down, Eve.”

“I can't! I don't know where I am, and it's getting dark.”

“Listen to me, Evelyn. Look around you and tell me what you see on any signboard or poster.”

I looked around. I was beginning to shiver from both the cold and fear. My mom had told me to run, and I had done just that.

Now I was lost.

I saw a signboard right under the streetlight.

WILLOW STREET.

“Eve, are you there?” Theo called from the other side.

“Yes... there's a signboard here with Willow Street written on it.”

“Oh my God! How did you get there?” Theo exclaimed. “That's a long way from town, Eve.”

“I don't know how I got here.” Tears streamed down my face. “My mom asked me to run, and I did just that. Now I don't know where I am.”

“Okay, don't you worry. I'll come to you now.”

“What if they find me?”

“Who? What are you talking about, Eve?”

“I don't know. Those guys who killed my parents. What if they find me?"

“You just calm down. I'll be with you soon,” he said, and the call went off.

I stared at the phone for a few seconds before slowly placing it back.

Theo was coming.

I wiped my tears and stepped away from the payphone. It was getting darker.

I hugged myself as another cold breeze passed through me.

Then I heard a rustling sound behind me.

I froze.

My heart began to beat faster.

“Theo?”

I slowly turned around, but there was nobody there.

Maybe it was just the wind.

I took a few steps forward.

Then I heard it again.

This time, it was closer.

I turned around quickly.

“Who's there?”

I started walking faster.

Footsteps followed.

Someone was following me.

I didn't wait to find out who it was.

I ran.

The footsteps behind me grew faster.

“No...” I whispered.

They had found me.

The same people who killed my parents had found me.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, but something suddenly grabbed my arm.

I screamed.

“Let me go!”

I struggled violently, trying to pull myself free.

“Get off me!”

Another pair of hands grabbed me from behind.

I kicked and screamed, but they were too strong.

“Please! Don't kill me!”

I fought harder, tears filling my eyes.

“You killed my parents!” I screamed.

One of the men grabbed my arm and pulled me forward.

“Let me go!”

“Keep moving.”

I looked around desperately, hoping someone would see me, but the street was empty.

They dragged me toward a waiting car.

“No! Please!”

Nobody listened.

I was pushed into the back seat, and one of the men got in beside me.

The car sped away.

I pressed myself against the door, staring out the window as the familiar streets disappeared behind us.

“Where are you taking me?”

No one answered.

l

After what felt like hours, the car finally slowed down.

I looked outside.

A huge gate stood in front of us. Beyond it was an enormous estate surrounded by tall walls.

The gate opened, and the car drove through.

My heart pounded heavily.

I had no idea where I was.

****

The moment I stepped into the hall, I noticed a few men standing around. They looked just like the men who had brought me here.

One of them forced me to my knees.

I looked around in confusion.

“Where am I?”

Nobody answered.

Then I heard footsteps coming from the other end of the hall.

The men around me immediately straightened.

I looked toward the entrance.

A man walked into the hall.

The moment the scouts saw him, they bowed their heads.

“Alpha.”

My eyes moved back to the man.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, and there was something about the way he walked that made the entire room feel different.

He simply walked toward me.

I felt my heart begin to pound.

There was something about him that scared me.

I had never seen him before, yet the moment our eyes met, an unfamiliar fear ran through me.

He stopped in front of me and stared down at me.

His eyes moved over my face as if he was trying to make sure I was the person he had been looking for.

“Evelyn Crane?”

My heart dropped.

How did he know my name?