rissa

The private jet touched down on White Moon Pack''s airstrip, and my stomach lurched as if we''d hit turbulence.

I''d barely slept during the three-hour flight, my mind racing through worst-case scenarios.

As the engines wound down, I gathered my things with hands that trembled slightly despite my efforts to stay calm. Still no word from L. Still no way to reach Ramsey or anyone else in their group.

Through the small window, I could see a convoy of ck SUVs waiting near the hangar. White Moon Pack''s security was legendary, and seeing them in action should have been reassuring. Instead, it only reminded me of how vulnerable my sister was, wherever she was being held.

The aircraft door opened, and I stepped onto the metal stairs, immediately hit by the mountain air that was noticeably thinner and cooler than what I was used to back home. White Moon territory stretched out before me – rolling hills covered in dense forest, with snow-capped peaks visible in the distance. Under normal circumstances, I might have appreciated the stark beauty of thendscape. Today, it just felt like another barrier between me and finding L.

"Alpha rissa."

I looked down to see Ramsey''s Beta approaching the base of the stairs; his expression was serious but weing.

"Beta," I said, descending the stairs quickly. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."

"Of course," he replied, taking my hand in the traditional Alpha greeting. His grip was firm and steady, grounding me in a way I desperately needed. "Though I have to admit, your message was concerning. You sounded..."

"Panicked?" I suggested wryly.

"Yes," he nodded.

I nced around the airstrip, noting the temporary structures that had been erected near the hangar –mand tents withmunication equipment, several workstations with multiple screens, and what looked like a small army of technicians bustling between them.

"Given the urgency in your voice," Lenny continued, following my gaze, "I thought it best we handle this here rather than waste time with formal pack protocols. If your concerns require immediate action, we''re better positioned to respond quickly from here."

I felt a rush of gratitude for his foresight. "You were right to prepare. Lenny, I think my sister is in serious trouble, and I don''t know who else to turn to."

His expression grew more serious. "Tell me everything."

For the next twenty minutes, Iy out the entire situation while we stood beside his lead SUV. I started with my failed attempts to unite the southern Alphas, exined my desperate call to L in the early hours of the morning, and detailed every suspicious aspect of my conversation with the person iming to be Ramsey.

"He didn''t sound like himself at all," I said, wrapping my arms around myself as a cold breeze swept across the airstrip. "The responses were too rehearsed. And the phrases he used – ''Blood calls to blood, and family debts must be paid'' – that''s not how Ramsey talks. He''s direct and practical. He doesn''t speak in riddles."

Lenny nodded thoughtfully. "And when you tried to call L back?"

"Nothing. Her number goes straight to voicemail. For hours now." I pulled out my phone and showed him the call log – dozens of failed attempts to reach my sister. "L is obsessive about keeping her phone charged and essible, especially with the pregnancy. She would never be unreachable this long without a very good reason."

"Or without being prevented from answering," Lenny said grimly.

"Exactly." I continued with the ount of the second call, the one from Ramsey, and he exined his situation and also said L was in grave danger. "I''m worried, honestly, because the Lycan Leader sounded so scared on the phone."

Lenny was quiet for a moment, processing everything I''d told him. Around us, his team continued their preparations, their efficiency impressive even in my distracted state.

"You were right toe to us. The Lycan Leader has already reached out to us, and we''re trying to track his location. Also, if you look around, you''d notice that not only are our warriors here. Warriors from Hollow Kin, too, are currently searching for their leader, who is also with Ramsey. Don''t worry, your sister will be found. Once we get the location of the Lycan Leader."

He led me toward thergest tent, where several technicians were working atputer stations equipped with multiple monitors disying maps, satellite feeds, and streams of data I couldn''t begin to interpret.

"The advantage of using modern age equipment," Lenny said, noting my expression, "is having ess to technology that most supernatural creatures don''t even know exists. White Moon has always invested heavily in staying ahead of potential threats."

I watched as he approached one of the technicians and gave him instructions.

"While they work," Lenny said, returning to my side, "why don''t you tell me more about these southern Alphas who''ve been giving you trouble? Maybe there''s a connection we''re not seeing."

I found myself grateful for the distraction, though part of me wanted to pace restlessly while waiting for news about L. "They''ve beenpletely dismissive of my authority. They wouldn''t even grant me a proper meeting."

"Their loss," Lenny said with conviction. "Anyone who''s met you knows you have your father''s strength and your own unique perspective on leadership. Thebination makes you formidable."

"Try telling them that," I replied, though his words warmed me more than I''d expected. "They see an uncrowned Alpha ying at leadership while waiting for the ''real'' leader to return."

"Meaning L?"

I nodded. "They think I''m keeping her seat warm until she decides toe back and reim Blue Ridge. They don''t understand that she stepped down by choice."

"And even if she hadn''t," Lenny said, "session doesn''t work that way."

Before I could respond, one of the technicians approached us with a tablet in hand. He whispered something to Lenny that made the Beta''s expression grow serious.

"What is it?" I asked.

Lenny looked at me carefully. "They''ve confirmed Ramsey''s location. There''s a live surveince feed from the facility where he''s being held."

My heart stopped. "Being held? So he really is captured?"

"I''m afraid so." Lenny''s voice was gentle but honest. "The good news is that we have visual confirmation that he''s alive. The concerning news is that he''s not alone – there are several other individuals with him, all restrained."

I felt the world tilt slightly. "L?"

"We''re still working on identifying everyone in the feed," Lenny said quickly. "But rissa, I need you to understand that what we''re dealing with appears to be arge-scale operation. This isn''t a simple kidnapping or territorial dispute."

"Then what is it?"

Before Lenny could answer, the technician returned with another whispered update. This time, Lenny''s expression grew more concerned.

"Gamma Caius is mobilising a response team," he told me. "He''s our Gamma and has experience with hostage situations. We''re going to handle this properly."

"Oh, thank you."

He chuckled. "You don''t need to thank us, Alpha. L is our Luna, and Ramsey is our Alpha. Of course, it''s our responsibility."

Relief flooded through me so suddenly that my knees almost buckled. For the first time since that horrible phone call, I felt like I wasn''tpletely alone in this nightmare.

"Now," Lenny continued, "why don''t we head to the pack house so you can rest while the team prepares? This kind of operation takes time to n properly, and you look like you haven''t slept in days."

I started to shake my head. "I can''t rest, not while L is—"

"It''s in the hands of professionals who are working to get her back," Lenny interrupted firmly but kindly. "rissa, I understand the need to do something, anything, when someone you love is in danger. But wearing yourself down to exhaustion won''t help your sister. What will help is making sure you''re rested and ready to handle whateveres next."

I wanted to argue and insist that I couldn''t possibly rx while L was being held captive somewhere. But looking around at the organised efficiency of White Moon''s response, at the serious faces of people who were already working to solve this problem, I realised he was right.

"I should probably head back to Blue Ridge," I said instead. "I have responsibilities, and my children—"

"Are safe with your mother," Lenny finished. "I took the liberty of calling Luna Vanessa while you were en route. She assured me that the children are well protected and that she supports whatever decision you make about staying to see this through."

I stared at him, touched by his thoughtfulness but also feeling guilty about being away from home during such a crisis. "I can''t ask you to—"

"You''re not asking," Lenny said with a slight smile. "I''m offering. And more than that, I''m insisting. You came here for help, and you''re going to get it. But that help includes making sure you''re taking care of yourself."

I felt tears prick at my eyes – the first time I''d felt close to crying since this nightmare began. "Thank you," I whispered.

"Don''t thank me yet," Lenny replied. "Save that for when we bring your sister home safely."