Of prejudice and pack ( Bound by fate 2)

Chapter 7: Shadows and Secrets

As the surveillance screens displayed the ancient façade of the theater, the atmosphere inside the van was thick with introspection. Elena's burger sat uneaten, its warmth long gone, a forgotten prop in her hand. The small space seemed to amplify the weight of the memories she had been holding at bay.
Eric, noticing her distant look, nudged her gently. "Hey, Earth to Elena. You seem miles away."

She chuckled softly, her eyes warming, "That's the first time you called me by my name, wolf boy."

"Sorry, meant to call you Officer Big Mac," he retorted with a grin.

Elena threw a chip at him playfully, "This is stakeout food."

"Feels more like prison food to me," Eric quipped.

Elena scoffed, "This is five-star compared to prison food."

Eric raised an eyebrow, "You done time, Officer Big Mac? Sounds like you're speaking from experience."

"Ha ha, Eric," she shot back, rolling her eyes.
Changing his tone, he ventured, "What were you thinking about?"

She met his gaze, then shyly looked away. "Just how... nice it is not to be alone for once."

He regarded her thoughtfully. "I've noticed you don't spend much time with others. Why's that?"

Elena sighed, "Guess I never really felt like I fit in anywhere."

Eric sent her a warm, understanding smile, which she returned. "I bet you'd fit in with the people I know." he remarked, chuckling.

"Your pack?" Elena asked, curiosity piqued.

"Yeah," Eric replied, " They value strength and integrity."

She nodded in response.

"That reminds me" he continues " the Alpha wants to meet you. Go over our finding with us."

"I don't know if that a good idea Eric." Elena says hesitantly.

"You can trust me, Elena. I won't let anyone hurt you."

He proceeded to regale her with tales of his pack life, drawing her into his world with each story.trying to bring her comfort.

.............

The night was cool, and a gentle mist drifted through the air, obscuring the streetlights and casting the world in a muted glow. Elena and Eric sat in an unmarked black van, its windows tinted to keep their presence discreet. The rhythmic hum of the surveillance equipment was the only sound, juxtaposed against the silent tension that hung in the space between them.

Elena's eyes never left the screen, watching as Maple Street's live feed painted a picture of the night's activities. Eric, using his enhanced senses, kept his ear to a communication device that picked up distant sounds. The occasional murmur of conversation or distant car horn filtered in.

Suddenly, a familiar face appeared on the screen. Jake, looking even more sly and cunning under the veil of night, emerged from a black sedan parked near the entrance of a decrepit building.

Eric's hand tightened on his knee, "That's him."

Elena whispered, pointing at the screen, "Look."

Emerging from the passenger side was a disheveled figure, struggling against Jake's firm grip. The figure's clothes were tattered, their head hung low, making it difficult to see their face, but the glint of thick chains around there neck was undeniable. This person was  kidnapped.

"That's one of ours," Eric's voice was soft, yet strained, his eyes locked onto the young wolf. "It's Lila, a recent member of the pack. She went missing a few years ago."

Elena's hand moved to her holster, her duty pushing her forward. "We need to move in, now."

Eric placed a hand on Elena's, urging caution. "We need a plan. If we storm in now, they could harm her or others inside."

"You think there are more in there?" she asked.
He nodded, "it's likely. The building," he pointed, "has Lots of entry and exit points. We need backup."