Trust From Within - Book 3 Daughter of a Monster Series

Chapter 31- Needle in a Haystack

Leaves crunch beneath my feet, bow in my hands as I stalk forward, the team slowly moving in on the location. Lights flicker inside the windows, and I draw my bowstring tighter, my body silently moving forward, feet finding the patches of grass.

I look to my left to find golden eyes, focussed forward, determination pouring off him. Determination to get our uncle back.

Gaby and Liam are here from the beginning this time, Karn's had to stay behind with Nate, making sure he's okay, keeping tabs on his magic, and being the main defense of my mate should anything happen.

Cameron also has come with us, sword screwed in where his left arm should be, a dagger in his other hand, numerous weapons hidden on his person. Tara has stayed behind as well, Karn refusing to let her leave his sight, and I completely understand, had it not been for Steve being related to me, I would probably have not come with, even if they tried to drag me with them.

Slowly, we enclose on the small structure, silently surrounding the shed like shack.

The shack we believe to hold Steve.

Everything points to here. Nate was able to tell us that they used to come out here whenever he really just needed to let go, the tiny house was set up for a weekend in wolf form, yet also accommodating to human bodies; like the ones Callum and Kayla possess.

Dad's at the door, and my heart beats loudly in my ears, blood rushing through my system, pumping the adrenaline into my shaking limbs. My magic fires itself up, getting ready to potentially pin Callum if need be. But this time the siblings don't know they're here, they can't have traps set up.

I hear the door get kicked in and I look over to Cole, his firm nod confirming for me to propel myself up and through the back window, shadows invading me as I burst through the glass, the material shattering around me, shards skittering across the ground. Cole jumps in after me, crossbow aimed to fire as I hold my bow up. We slowly advance forward, covering each other's blind spots as we clear each room.

We all meet in the middle, each of us looking around confusedly, not understanding. "They're... not here," Dad breathes out, guilt and disappointment washing through him as he sheathes his sword, Liam following suit. Cameron pulls the sheath over his arm sword, Cole attaching his crossbow to his back as I sling my own bow over my shoulders,  replacing the arrow in its quiver.

Gaby looks around in dismay, but her jaw sets, and she walks into one of the rooms they went though, surveying it before walking back out, sword safely secured to her hip once again. "Nothing. Not a drop of blood, or a crumb, there's nothing," she reports sadly.

"Hey, it'll be okay, we'll find him," Liam reassures her, but the worry flowing from him betrays him to my magic.

"You do realise he's immortal, right? He'll just respawn," Cameron reasons.

"Yeah, but each time he dies, how much pain is he going through? How much torture is he going through? Callum's probably hurting him out of rage each time he doesn't stay dead," the ever tactical Gaby breathes out.

"He's a big boy, he can handle it. I mean, he's put up with me for how long?" Dad pipes in, the stoicness gone for the moment as he consolidates Gaby. He's been silent the whole time, said barely a word since Steve was taken, and the worry emanating from him has my heart beating that little bit faster, my magic set on edge.

We go back home, Dad teleporting out while Cole and I teleport everyone else to the portal, and once we're through, I go straight to my mate. He sits up in bed, and I instantly rush into the room, aiding him in placing his feet on the ground. "Hey, take it slow, okay?" I say gently to him, his hand on my arm.