I stare out across the grass at the scene in front of me. The air reeks of death. Zane is nowhere to be seen. 

I watch in anger as the last of his pack retreat back into the forest, bloody and bruised while the dead lie still on the ground. I let out a low growl, thankful that none of my men are dead. 

An uneasiness settles over me and I suddenly ache for Acacia's presence. Her tiny body in my arms, her beautiful face smiling up at me. A nervousness floods my mind as I watch the final rogue disappear from sight. 

"Acacia?" I mind-link her, panicked. No response.

Something's not right. Why would Zane and his pack retreat out of nowhere? 

Oh god. 

My stomach sinks as I realise what's happened. I'm a fucking idiot. It was a trick. They weren't here to fight, they were here as a distraction so that Zane could kidnap Acacia again. 

"Acacia?!" I yell, mind-linking her again. Nothing. God dammit, why is she not replying?!

Not wanting to believe it, I sprint towards the house, sniffing the air to try and catch her scent. I pick up on her about halfway back to the house, but it is mixed with something else. Zane. 

To my horror, I quickly discover Bella's lifeless body on the grass. Shit. I race over to her and roll her over, knocking on her collarbone to try and get her to come around. She groans and coughs, eyes opening to look up at me. I let out the breath I had been holding as her tears fall from her eyes.

"Zane... he has her!" she croaks out.

Fuck.

"Beckett" I mind-link. "Come get your sister and take her to the hospital. She's hurt."

"Shit, I'll be there soon" he replies, panicked.

"Beckett is coming," I say, turning my attention back to Bella.

She nods slightly. "Go! I'll be okay," she croaks.

I nod and give her a quick kiss on the forehead before getting up and running away. Quickly, I begin to follow the combined scent of Acacia and Zane, dreading the result. Within minutes I reach the border, a heaviness collapsing against my chest. Both Zane and Acacia's scents have all but disappeared now due to the heavy smell of rogue clinging to the air.

She's gone. He took her. How could I be so stupid!? I'm supposed to be the most powerful alpha out there and yet I've been tricked by a bunch of rogues. They stole my princess. My Acacia.

A roar rips through me as I fall to the ground weakly. Tears begin to fall down my cheeks as I slump onto the forest floor, feeling defeated. I need to get her back and fast. 

Eventually, I pluck up the energy to wipe away my tears and slowly stand up before heading back to the house. 

I will find you, Acacia, I promise.

"WHERE THE FUCK IS HIS HIDEOUT?!" I roar as I slam my balled-up fists on the desk in front of me. "WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SHIT FOR YEARS!! HOW HAVE WE NOT FOUND HIM YET?!"

Annoyed, I stand up sharply, the chair falling out from underneath me. I make my way over to my bookshelves that line the opposite wall of my office and pull out yet another werewolf territory book. 

All these maps were made by so many alphas, the werewolf counsel even, but none contain any trace of rogue bases. Then again, rogues are not known for having bases and if they do, they don't stay in one place long enough to be pinned down. 

I growl and angrily chuck the book on the floor as I sulk back to my desk. I put the chair back into its usual upright position before sitting down, my elbows slamming onto the hardwood surface, my head in my hands. 

I sigh and try to mind-link Acacia again. Nothing. 

God, some Alpha I am. I can't even keep my own mate safe...

Suddenly, there is a knock at the door and I slowly lift my head up to glare at it. I watch it open and in walks my grandad, my dad and my brother. I growl and stand up in acknowledgement, glaring at them still. 

"Grayson, you've been at this for hours now, it's after midnight," Beckett says calmly. I growl defensively but he rolls his eyes at me, my dad and grandad exchanging glances. I groan and run my hands over my face as I slump down into my chair. 

"I have to find her," I say quietly as I look back up at them, a dull ache in my chest. 

"We will find her, don't worry" my grandad replies, with a gentle smile. 

Suddenly, my wrists begin to sting and I groan in pain, my wolf hissing in my head. He's hurting her, I assume with silver handcuffs. 

I have almost gotten over the feeling when a searing pain rips through my neck, quickly spreading throughout my body causing me to scream out in pain. I feel my knees buckle underneath me, and I collapse onto the ground while managing to whack my forehead on the desk on the way down. 

Instantly, my brother, dad and grandpa are by my side, concern painted on their faces. 

"He's poisoning her with wolfsbane" I gasp out as the pain in my heart worsens. I feel like I'm going to be sick. 

A lump begins to form in the back of my throat as a new pain passes through me. He's touching her. 

Within seconds, I'm up and leaning over the bin that I keep by my desk, dry retching as there is nothing to throw up because I haven't eaten since lunchtime. I feel my dad rub my back as I continue to gag up nothing. 

For a moment the pain stops and I am able to rest, leaning back against my dad, too weak to hold myself up before a stinging pain bubbles up in my cheek and my wrists burn again. 

He's punched her in the jaw. I can feel my wolf starting to get very angry, pushing to the surface. I need to find Acacia and I need to kill Zane once and for all. 

I am stirred from my thoughts as my throat begins to close up and I begin to choke. My vision blurs and in the distance, I hear my family yelling at me but all I can do is feel horrible for Acacia. I can't imagine what her pain is like if I'm feeling all this. 

I know I only get a dulled version of it through the mate bond, so she really has got it bad. I feel my throat begin to open up again as my cheek stings once more. He's let go of her, thank god. 

I begin to breathe normally, my heart beating fast and I slowly begin to relax. Surely he's finished? 

Suddenly, an indescribable pain rips through my chest and I scream out in agony, tears running down my cheeks. I begin to sob harder as my vision blurs again. It feels like my heart is being broken and ripped out of my chest at the same time. 

"Grayson, what's wrong?" my dad shouts, worry dripping from his words. I claw at my chest and begin to gag again, this time coughing up blood. My wolf howls in pain as I scream once again. 

"Zane's raping Acacia" I choke out, my voice lacking all emotion before I pass out cold.

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Hey Guys,

So I hope you enjoyed that chapter! Super exciting news... This book just hit 31k+ reads! I never thought in my wildest dreams that my book would take off like this so I am so so grateful for everyone who reads, votes and comments. It honestly makes my day seeing all the notifications pop up on my phone and I love reading your guys' comments and I will be replying to some too!

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- Allamy xx