Chapter 5

The garden below was dark and empty, but there was no sign of my son anywhere.

"No, no, no, no." I spun around, checking under the bed, in the closet, behind the curtains. "Jake! Baby, where are you?"

"Elena!" Raphael burst through the door, three warriors behind him. "Where's Jake?"

"He's gone! The window… someone took him!" My voice broke into sobs. "They took my baby!"

Raphael immediately went to the window, examining the frame. His finger traced something carved into the wood, and his face darkened.

"What is it?" I demanded, noticing his expression.

"Feels like a symbol. I've seen it before, but I can't place it." He turned to his warriors. "Send word to Alpha Jackson immediately. Tell him his son has been kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" The word made my legs give out. I collapsed onto the floor, clutching Jake’s stuffed wolf to my chest. "No. No, this can't be happening."

"We need to search the perimeter. They couldn't have gotten far." Raphael pulled out his phone, dialing rapidly. "Alpha Jackson, we have an emergency—what? No, you need to listen! Jake has been—" 

He pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at it in disbelief. "He hung up on me."

"What?" I stood, fury replacing my fear. "Call him again!"

He tried calling again. I also kept calling Jackson too, but he refused to answer.

"I've tried five times already. He's not answering." Raphael's jaw clenched. "I'm going to have to head out there myself."

"Then go! My son is missing, and his father needs to be here!" I grabbed Raphael's arm. "Please. Bring Jackson back."

"I will. I promise." Raphael headed for the door, barking orders at his warriors. "Search every inch and corner of this property! Check the woods, the roads, and question anyone who was near the southern border!"

The next few hours were a blur of chaos. Warriors searched everywhere, while every Pack member was questioned. I stood in Jake's room, unable to move, unable to think beyond the horrible reality that my son was gone.

"Ma'am?" A young warrior appeared at the door. "We found something in the garden. Boot prints leading to the woods. Fresh, probably within the last hour."

"Show me."

I followed him down to the garden, my bare feet cold on the grass. The prints were there, clear as day, leading away from Jake's window.

"They climbed up," the warrior explained, pointing to scratches on the wall. "Someone scaled the building, entered through the window, and took Jake while he slept."

"How is that possible?" My voice shook. "We have guards. Security. How did no one see anything?"

"The attack on the southern border was a distraction," another warrior said grimly. "They drew our forces away from the main house."

"This was planned." I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering despite the warm night. "They knew exactly that Jackson was gone. They knew exactly where Jake's room was."

"Inside information," the first warrior agreed. "I think someone in this pack helped them."

“A traitor. There was a traitor in Red Flare Pack.” I muttered to myself.

I looked up at the pack house, and at the windows glowing with light. Somewhere in there, someone had sold out my son for reasons best known to them.

"We need to search and question everyone," I said firmly. "I don't care about rank or position. Find out who did this."

"We can't do that without Alpha Jackson's authorization," the warrior said apologetically.

"Then where the hell is he?" I shouted, my voice vibrating.

As if summoned by my anger, headlights appeared on the driveway. A car screeched to a halt, and Jackson jumped out with Raphael close behind him.

"Where's my son?" Jackson demanded, striding toward me.

"Gone. Kidnapped." I pointed to the window. "While you were off playing house with Sophia!"

Jackson's face twisted with rage. "This is your fault! You were supposed to watch him!"

"My fault?" I stepped forward, not caring about the warriors watching. "I put him to bed! Where were you? Oh, that's right—at a resort with your mistress!"

"Don't you dare—"

"They called for you!" I screamed at him, months of pain and anger pouring out. "Raphael tried to reach you five times! I called you countless times but you were too busy with Sophia to answer! What was so important, Jackson? What could possibly be more important than your son's safety?"

Jackson's hand rose, and for a moment, I thought he might strike me, but Raphael stepped between us.

"Enough! Please…" Raphael's voice cut through the tension. "We don't have time for this. Every minute we waste, they're getting further away with Jake."

Jackson lowered his hand, his chest heaving. "Show me everything."

We went through it all, the window, the symbol, the boot prints. Jackson's expression grew darker with each detail.

"I don't recognize this mark," he muttered, studying the symbol. "But whoever did this knew our security protocols. They knew our patrol schedules."

"Why would anyone take Jake?" I asked, my voice breaking.

"Leverage. Ransom. Revenge." Jackson ran his hand through his hair. "Could be any number of reasons."

"We need to go after them," I said firmly. "Now. Tonight."

"It's not that simple—"

"Not that simple?" I grabbed his arm. "They have our son, Jackson! Five years old, terrified, probably crying for us, and you're saying it's not simple?"

He jerked away from me. "I need to think strategically! We don't even know which pack took him. We can't just charge blindly into enemy territory—"

"Then what do you suggest? We sit here and wait?"

"I suggest you calm down and let me handle this!" Jackson turned to Raphael. "Send scouts to track them. Contact our allied packs, see if anyone has information. And double the security here in case they come back."

"That's it?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "That's your plan?"

"What would you have me do, Elena? Risk the entire pack on a wild chase?" He questioned, raising his voice at me.

"Yes! If it means finding our son!" Tears streamed down my face. "What's wrong with you? Don't you care that he's out there, scared and alone?"

"Of course I care!" Jackson's voice rose again. "But I'm also the Alpha! I have responsibilities—"

His phone rang, cutting him off. He pulled it out, and I saw Sophia's name flash across the screen.

“Sophia, I can't talk right now.” He said as soon as he answered the call 

“Jackson, please you have to come back right now.” I heard Sophia's voice and I couldn't believe my ears.

"You've got to be kidding me," I breathed, almost choking on my own breath.

“It's Lily…” Sophia began to cry.