CHAPTER 482: FUTURE LUNA OF THIS PACK

The rogue wolf shifted back into his human form. He then swiftly hoisted Zoey over his shoulder and headed deeper inside the mouth of the cave, where he had cached his supplies and a silver knife.

After pulling on his clothes, he retrieved a burner phone from the dusty cave floor and immediately dialed a number.

In the lavish living room, William Nightshade jolted as his phone rang with an unknown number. He didn’t hesitate; he snatched it up and answered. His wife, Blythe, and his elder daughter, Naomi, rushed to his side, their faces pale with terror.

"Hello?" William answered.

"William Nightshade," the cold voice came from the other side. "If you want your daughter to be alive, ask your wolves to stop chasing me. I have a silver knife and can slit her throat any moment."

"No, don’t!" William roared, his control snapping. "I’ll do whatever you want! But don’t harm my daughter! Tell me what you want. Just return my daughter back safely," he pleaded, the Alpha authority giving way to the terrified father.

"You should punish your wife for the crimes she committed against my family," the man pronounced. "Also, ask Sage Nightshade to call for the pack’s council. I will bring your daughter there in exactly one hour. Keep in mind, do not play games with me, because your daughter’s life is in my hands."

Before William could utter another word, the line went dead. "Hello! Hello!" William lowered the phone, staring at the disconnected call.

In a surge of immediate action, he mindlinked his son, Sage, delivering an urgent command: ’Return to the mansion. Now! Also, stop the chase. Tell the same to the other wolves.’

’But why?’ Sage questioned.

’Because the one who kidnapped Zoey will kill her if we don’t do exactly what he wants. He will bring Zoey to the pack’s council in an hour. Just hurry home, son,’ William ordered, breaking the mindlink before further argument could ensue.

Turning to his wife, he asked, his teeth gritted, "What happened? Why did you cut the call?" :

William glared at her before snapping, "The rogue blamed you for committing some crimes against his family."

"No, I never did anything, honey! He must be lying," Blythe insisted though a flicker of uncertainty crossed her eyes.

"Mom, why would he lie?" Naomi interrupted with sudden suspicion. "If anything happens to Zoey because of you, I won’t forgive you!" With that emotional outburst, Naomi turned and ran out of the room, tears streaming down her face.

"Did he tell his name?" Blythe pressed, ignoring her elder daughter’s exit.

"No, nothing. We will find out at the council. But it certainly seems like you are the reason for this incident," William stated, his gaze fixed on her with a deep frown of mistrust.

Blythe’s heart hammered against her ribs in fear. She had no idea who this rogue was or what past ’crime’ he could be holding her responsible for, but the connection to her kidnapped daughter was terrifyingly.

~~~~

"Why did you stop the wolves from going ahead?" Katelyn demanded as she and Sage transformed back into their human forms, their lungs heaving.

"Because Dad got a call from the kidnapper," Sage pronounced, running a hand through his damp, disheveled hair. "He wants me home, and a pack council has been called. I think something big has happened. This isn’t just a kidnapping; the kidnapper’s motive is clearly something else." He paused, his gaze softening as he gently brushed the loose hair strands from Katelyn’s cheek and tucked them behind her ear.

Katelyn frowned, thoughtfully considering the cryptic demand.

"Let’s go to the mansion first. The rest of the patrol is already heading back to the pack lands as well," Sage suggested.

Katelyn hummed in agreement, already turning to leave.

"We have to run back in our wolves’ forms," she pointed out, wasting no time. She shifted instantly and sped off, Sage following closely. They ran until they reached the location of his car. Returning to their human forms, Sage quickly took the wheel, driving them at breakneck speed toward his parental home.

As they entered the living room, William immediately rose to his feet. He offered a quick nod of greeting to Katelyn before his intense gaze settled on Sage. "Only fifteen minutes are left for the council to start."

"But what exactly did the kidnapper say to you, Dad?" Sage questioned, his mind racing.

William hesitated, unable to recount the accusation against his wife, but before he could formulate an answer, Naomi, her eyes red and swollen, stepped in and narrated the entire, devastating incident to Sage.

"What?" Sage spun from Naomi to his father, his eyes instantly blazing golden, giving his alpha command. "Dad, you will bring your wife to the council!"

"But why should I be dragged into the council?" Blythe cried, her voice high-pitched, laced with indignation rather than maternal fear.

"Are you serious?" Sage roared. "Your own daughter is kidnapped, and it is a direct result of the atrocities you supposedly unleashed on this rogue’s family! You are the prime suspect in this catastrophe! Think about your daughter’s life first, for once!"

Katelyn watched the exchange between them. Blythe cared more about protecting her own reputation than she did about Zoey’s immediate safety.

"Blythe, you have to come to the council," William stated, his voice now a desperate, heavy plea. "He won’t hand Zoey over without you. He has a silver knife, Blythe, and Zoey... she’s still unconscious. I can’t even mindlink with her. We have no choice."

"I’ll join you as well, Mr. Nightshade," Katelyn opined.

"Your Highness, it won’t be good if you come to the council. Your relationship with Sage, it’s not–"

"We are dating," Katelyn interrupted him. "And I plan to become the future Luna of this pack," she pronounced.

Sage was shocked to hear that confession, so were the others. A smile formed on his lips, but then it immediately faded since he was concerned for Zoey too.

"Let’s go then," Sage said, holding Katelyn’s hand and walking straight to the pack’s council center.