Draven’s POV
Joseph followed into my study.The room had turned into a command center. People were everywhere - working on computers, talking on phones, searching for Liam and Caroline.Eleanor stood in the middle of it all.She was organizing everything that ca in. Ryan was giving tasks to the team mbers.
I saw Nate hunched over a laptop.His fingers were flying across the keyboard, working with Leo’s IT team.
"I didn’t know Nate was so good with computers," I said to Joseph.
"Oh yeah, he’s been building so tech startup on the side. Eleanor ntioned he’s developed tracking software for pack patrols. Guess those skills are coming in handy now."
I sat in the chair in my study, forcing myself to stay calm.The series of blows hit hard. Liam and Caroline’s disappearance. Learning my parents’ deaths were murders. All of it had my emotions in turmoil. But I knew that keeping a clear head was the only way to save my mate and child. The only way to avenge my parents.
Alaric paced restlessly within . "We will find them. We will tear apart anyone who dared touch our mate and pup."
As everyone worked around , I replayed Ella’s phone call in my mind. The male voice in the background was distinctly familiar, yet definitely not Daniel or Dennis, nor her lover Bruno. I was certain I’d heard it before, but where?
Leo hurried over, interrupting my thoughts. "Alpha Draven, we’ve managed to crack Caroline’s phone encryption and obtained footage from surrounding buildings. We’ve also identified the license plate of the vehicle used in the abduction."
Finally, so good news.My tense feelings eased a little.
"Have you tracked their direction?" I imdiately stood up.
Kyle shook her head. "The plate was fake, but we’re matching vehicles of the sa model and color. Problem is, the car drove straight out of Harbor Bay. Once they left the city, there’s no more surveillance."
I walked to the large map on the wall, my finger tracing the main roads. "Three possible directions after leaving the city. North takes them two hours to Maplewood in Blood Moon territory. East leads to Pinewood Valley of the Starlight Pack, and south goes toward Willowbrook in Silver Creek territory."
Ryan and Joseph joined at the map, studying my analysis.
"According to pack territory rules,we can’t search other territories without permission," Ryan frowned."The kidnappers choosing to leave our territory ans they understand our limitations. But it also ans..."
"ans what?" Joseph asked, confused.
"It ans they must reach their destination within a limited tifra," I explained. "We know the kidnappers are Daniel, Dennis, and Ella. The brothers may be strong, but they’re not clever strategists. Ella isn’t particularly bright either. They’re unlikely to employ complex anti-tracking asures."
I turned to Ryan."Imdiately assemble three tracking teams.Have them search for the vehicle model, tire tracks,and especially Daniel and Dennis’s scents.We werewolves don’t hide our scents naturally. They must have left traces."
"I’ll handle it, Alpha Draven," Ryan nodded, already mobilizing warriors through the mind-link.
Kyle hesitated before speaking. "Alpha Draven, there’s a complication. It rained last night, which has diluted many scents. And besides the three main roads, there are at least five smaller routes they could have taken."
My heart sank. Using the smaller roads would expand our search area tenfold.
The investigation had hit another roadblock.
I sat back in my chair, rubbing my temples in frustration. "Proceed with the search as planned."
If the car is difficult to track, then they should look into these people.
I turned to Leo with a serious look. "Dig deeper into Daniel, Dennis, Ella, and Linda’s backgrounds. Howard has fled. That ans his mistress Linda is probably involved in the kidnapping.I want everything on her.Call records, bank accounts,social connections. Everything."
Just then, Eleanor noticed Nate’s phone light up. "Nate, you have a ssage."
Nate glanced at it. "It’s from my mom." He started to put the phone away.
"Check it," Eleanor urged. "Don’t make your parents worry."
Nate opened the ssage,a photo. He looked at it briefly before trying to put his phone away again. "Just my mom’s gossip. Caroline’s ex-boyfriend with his new lover. Mom wanted Caroline to see what that jerk looks like now."
The words "Caroline’s ex-boyfriend" made freeze.
Eleanor looked speechless. "First that bitch Serena. Now a new lover. What is wrong with him?"
"Wait," I walked toward Nate. "Let see that photo."
The picture showed a familiar man sitting with a blonde woman at an ice cream shop. I recognized him imdiately. It was Marcus, Caroline’s ex-boyfriend whom I’d t in Maplewood while looking for Caroline.
In that mont, the familiar voice from the phone call crystallized in my mind.
"That’s him!" I nearly shouted. "The voice on the phone was Marcus!"
Ryan leaned in to examine the photo, his expression suddenly changing. "Moon Goddess, Alpha Draven, look at who’s with Marcus."
I focused on the blonde woman in the photo, my heartbeat accelerating.
"That’s Linda!"
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