Half-Blooded | The Dark Child Prophecy Series [✔️]

Chapter 32: Hell

He halted suddenly mid-step when her voice whispered into his ear, sounding panicked and defeated. Jason paused and looked out over the grounds of the pack house. It had been forty-eight hours, and he had just returned from the far west side of the property's new boundaries. Luce had reported it was close to where Serenity had disappeared.

She was alive. And he had heard her.

Where are you?, he called.

Nothing.

She was fading. She'd been gone for almost a week. Luce had been right. Someone without a scent trail had taken her, leaving only footprints in the snow behind. Their trail disappeared a half-mile away near an old country road. After inspecting the site, he was certain he knew who the culprit was, and who gave the order. He just needed to prove it.

I'm coming, sweetheart.

Jason turned and headed into the pack house, his fists balling up at his sides. He strode past the guards and the men and women lounging about the great hall, ignoring their questioning looks. He needed Maria. He followed her trail, picking it up easily from the grand staircase where she had walked through from her duties throughout the house. He hopped up the steps, clenching his teeth.

His father's wolves had taken her. And he was certain which wolves had been dispatched to do the job. But he wouldn't confront Thomas or Daniel just yet. He needed confirmation. Maria was the key to that answer.

Jason rounded the alpha floor to the end of the hall towards the offices. He pushed through one of the double doors with a shoulder to find his cousin sitting at her desk, looking tired.

She looked up at him, her face paling noticeably. "Hi, Jay," she greeted, her voice shaking. She went back to flipping through a file folder in her hands.

Jason paused at the edge of the carpet that spanned out in front of her desk to the entrance. The front office was also decorated like a lobby for two or three guests to wait in for his parents. And she had been put up to look like the sweet receptionist at her desk. "Did you know Serenity Mezdor went missing?" he asked, keeping his tone calm. "She's been gone for six days."

Maria glanced up and then went back to her reading. She pushed the folder onto the desk and picked up a highlighter, marking a passage. "No, I didn't," she answered before looking up at him again, remorse in her face. "That's awful. I'm so sorry, Jay. Any sign of her?"

Jason moved forward until he was just opposite of her on the other side of the desk. "Maria, I know she's here. Whoever kidnapped her didn't leave a scent behind. I know my parents ordered Thomas to do it, and I'm certain that Daniel was involved. Where is she?"

"I can't, Jason. I swore my obedience," she whispered, standing up and moving to the file drawers behind her, shoving the folder back in its proper place.

"This is Serenity. I need to know," he begged, leaning on his hands as they braced against the desk. "Maria, where is she?"

The petite brunette continued to rifle through papers, doing her best to ignore the glare he was giving her. She couldn't break her word, but Jason's influence pressed at her instincts. She was loyal to him, but this was defying Alpha's orders. She had sworn not to say a word. "I—I can't. Your parents have been so good to me and Tina after—" she cut off her own words, swallowing. "If I go back on my orders, we'll be disowned."

Jason sighed and came around to her side of the desk. "You won't be disowned. I won't let that happen. You're Pack, Maria. And so is Tina. You're my blood. You're Alpha-blood. Please, just tell me she's here. I can feel her, but she's dying. I need to know she's still alive."