The Beaten Path.

chapter 12 : Turn of events

Kyle's POV

It's been a few days since Dom finally woke up from his coma, and I can't shake the weight of responsibility off my shoulders. I find myself on my way to his room, anxious to check on him. In his absence, I've stepped up significantly, taking charge of the pack's affairs. I've organized search teams and developed intricate plans to track down Kelly. My mind races with concern; I hope Dom doesn't lose control when he finds out she isn't here.

As I approach the door, I can't help but feel a mix of apprehension and hope.

"Hey Doc, how's Dom?" I ask, trying to read the doctor's expression.

"He's 100% healed. He's just eaten, so he should be back to full strength soon. You can see him now if you want," the doctor replies, giving me a reassuring nod.

"Thanks, Doc," I say, placing a hand on their shoulder in gratitude before making my way toward Dom's room.

I push the door open slowly, stepping inside to find Dom propped up in bed, looking more like himself.

"Hey, Dom, how are you, man? You had us worried about you," I greet him, forcing a smile despite the tension in the room.

He looks at me, his expression shifting from confusion to concern.

"I'm good, man. How's everyone and the pack? Where's Kelly? I haven't seen her yet," Dom asks, a hopeful glint in his eyes that makes my heart sink.

My smile drops, and my shoulders sag under the weight of the truth. As he sees my reaction, his demeanor instantly shifts, turning from hopeful to frantic.

"Kyle, where the hell is Kelly?!"

I take a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure.

"Dom, calm down. Getting angry isn't going to help anything. Trust me, I understand how you feel, but I'm working on getting Kelly back," I explain, trying to keep my voice steady.

"What do you mean, getting her back? Who took her, and how did they get to her?!" he demands, his voice rising with each question.

I swallow hard, knowing this is going to be difficult for him.

"Her mom took her at the party when the wolves from the Blood Night pack showed up," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

In an instant, Dom yanks the wires off himself, and with a furious movement, he flips over the nightstand. The sound echoes in the room, filled with his rage.

"I want my mate found and brought back here! Tell me everything you've found out!" he shouts, his eyes blazing with determination.

Without waiting for my response, he storms out of the room, heading straight toward his office. I don't bother trying to calm him down; I follow him, knowing he needs to vent.

Once inside his office, I begin filling him in on everything that happened at the cookout, detailing the moments of chaos and confusion.

"Joe, Jarred, and April are nowhere to be found on Blood Night territory," I inform him, watching as his expression hardens further.

"Well, if they're not there, where are they? Why haven't you tried tracking their scents?" he questions, his voice laced with frustration.

I shake my head, feeling the weight of the situation.

"We can't; they masked their scents so that we couldn't follow or track them. We've set up spies to keep tabs on everyone in the Blood Night pack to ensure that if someone leaves, we can follow them," I explain, hoping this information will ease his mind, even slightly.

"Good. I want to be made aware of any movement; is that understood?" he commands, the authority of an Alpha firmly in his tone.

"Yes, Alpha," I respond, trying to maintain a professional demeanor despite the tension in the air.

"Good, now let's find my mate," he says, determination radiating from him.

Kelly's POV

In another part of the world, I sit in a dark room, the weight of despair pressing down on me as Joe and Jarred leave after Joe finishes his rant.

"Athena, I think we'll be okay if we can get Jarred to turn on his father," I say, trying to find a glimmer of hope.

"Kel, don't worry about it. We'll be safe either way; watch and see," Athena reassures me before retreating to the back of my mind, curling up like a protective blanket.

I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, desperately waiting for something to happen. Eventually, exhaustion takes over, and I doze off.

Suddenly, the sound of a door shutting jolts me awake. I blink rapidly, my heart racing as I realize it's just Jarred.

"Look, this doesn't change how I feel about you. I'm only doing this because I don't want my father to get what he wants. Helping you escape is how I can ensure he doesn't," he says, approaching cautiously as he undoes the gag and chains that bind me.

"Feelings are mutual," I reply, rolling my eyes, trying to mask the whirlwind of emotions inside me as I jump down from the bed.

"How are you going to get us out of here?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.

"It's 3 AM, so my father and April are sleeping. We'll sneak out through that window behind you. Once we're out, we need to shift into our wolves and run as far as possible," he explains, urgency in his tone.

"Why can't you take the car?" I question, half-expecting a logical answer.

"Because my father has the keys, and I wasn't going to risk getting caught," he replies, frustration evident in his voice.

"Smart. I guess you do have a brain of your own," I retort, attempting to lighten the tension, but the gravity of our situation lingers.

"Shut up; let's just get out of here," he says, a hint of a smile creeping onto his lips.

We climb out of the window, and as we step into the cool night air, we take off deep into the forest. I feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as we run, both of us shifting into our wolves once we're in the clear.

Jarred leads the way, and I keep a steady pace, careful not to reveal how fast I genuinely am.

We run for what feels like an eternity, the moonlight guiding our path. Eventually, we come to a river and decide to stop and take a break for a few minutes.

"So, where are we?" I ask, panting slightly as we pause.

"We're about a three-day drive from your pack territory," he replies, his voice steady despite the exertion.

"How long on foot and in wolf form?" I inquire, wanting to gauge how far we have to go.

"It'll take about five to six days," he responds, his expression serious.

"You're telling me I'm stuck with you for six freaking days?!" I exclaim, disbelief coloring my tone.

"Yup, so get used to it and be grateful I saved your ass!" he replies with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well, if you hadn't kidnapped me in the first place, you wouldn't have to!" I yell back at him, unable to hide my frustration.

I storm off to the other end of the river, curling up and letting the exhaustion wash over me as I drift off to sleep, hoping that tomorrow brings a chance for freedom.