Danny POV

Hours, I think I've already spent hours locked. It stinks, it's wet here, and there is no light. I have no idea what to do, what actually happened.

Rogues were waiting for us close to the pack. Everything happened so fast. I remember they pushed our car from the road. It made a few lapses, then I was dragged from it back to the road and pushed into the van. The driving was very long before we stopped. And since then, I've been here; I didn't get to see anything because they put the bag on my head. And it's still there, just like my hands are tied behind my back. They are so numb I can't feel them anymore.

My heart is hammering so hard in my chest, and I feel the blood pulsing in my temples. I don't cry, not yet, at least, but I'm scared; I'm so scared, and I have a huge experience of being scared.

When the door to my cell finally makes some noise and vital steps come closer and yank me up, I feel even happy that I'm not alone and this blood-freezing waiting is finally over.

"Hello, dear," Brandon says, pulling the bag out of my head." And don't look so surprised; you have been taking me as stupid, haven't you? I've been planning this even before Julius sent me to the infirmary. After I returned from my mission with Alexa, the small group of rogues came, and I was in charge of ensuring they would pass our territory without any trouble, but I offered them a deal. I showed them this place and promised money in exchange for help."

I try to get a grip and instinctively push myself more into the wall; I want to be as far away from him as possible. He is changed; he seems more vile, more mad. I tremble so much because I have never been so afraid of him as now. I can sense Bruce, but... he is gone; he is no longer himself; all I get from him is bloodlust.

"I knew that I wouldn't be chosen an Alpha because of everything that happened, or more likely, what I did to you. So I accept an excellent deal from someone. Together we set the attack on the pack giving the patrol details to the big group of rogues who came from the West, not those with whom I had made the deal before. We needed that distraction, so they helped me move some things hidden on pack territory. And your kidnapping helped me lure Natasha and Julius straight into the trap."

"What do you mean?" I whisper.

"I told them I could find you since we are the marked mates, and they listened, but I lured them into where something special awaited them; I hope they died. But I didn't wait to confirm it. If I could let Bruce take over, and let me say he was really thirsty for Julius's blood, I would kill him myself if I had more time."

He touches my cheek gently, and I cringe away from his touch.

"Bruce changed. He is more dangerous and more difficult to control. And it was tough to hide it from everyone. But thankfully, you cheated on me again; that made something to our bond, Bruce snapped; he is feral. I can feel it, but I still have some control over him, but soon I will be free of him. My poor father would be so disappointed; pity he is dead," he smirks.

"Why?"

Brandon starts to chuckle and gives me the look of a madman.

"After I gave up my claim for Alpha title, he made a scene in the house that evening, he was so irritating, so I hit him too hard, it turned out. I hid his body and went into the pack's dungeon alone, saying I would accept punishment for my crimes against you. Unfortunately, the person who was helping me stage your kidnapping left his scent on the scene, so the Howl Pack was sure it was him who had kidnapped you."

"And who helped you?" I ask, even though I'm scared as hell.

"Two persons, actually, and you know both of them. And by the way, have you liked my gifts?"

"What gifts?" I ask although I have to struggle to make any voice leave my throat.

"The paintings on the bar's wall, the otter, and of course, the candies," he chuckles.

How the hell did he find out about it? That's just impossible; how the hell...

"I've marked you, Danny;  I've seen some of your memories. That's when I found out what a dirty leftover you really are. Pity I didn't get to see Terry in your memories; then I would be the hero who saved the pack from the bad hunter."

"What really happened the day?" I ask; although I'm scared as hell, I have to keep him busy to postpone whatever he has planned for me.

"Nothing exciting. I ensured you drank a lot but also put something into your drink. The moment I found you, I knew that this was some joke. I shouldn't have been mated to the pathetic human, but Bruce... Bruce has become so strong since you came; I could feel him reaching his greatest potential and also mine, so I had to make you mine. Which, of course, was impossible in Black Moon because your damn family watched my every move as some hawks. Dating you was tiring, but coming back to our mating. When you got dizzy, I took you to our motel room and fucked you hard." He reaches his hand to touch my face, and my trembling worsens.

"But I lied when I said you sucked in bed. Fiona was good, but you, Danny... fucking you was out of this world for some time. But then something started getting wrong with Bruce, and you no longer gave us the same satisfaction. I presume the bond started rotting." He continues, "You were a bit stiff every time, but I wonder, were you that stiffy with Julius. I don't get why the fucker is so interested in leftovers of Jordan Nightingale. I really don't get it."

As he says these words, the door again opens, and Fiona enters. She looks at me, shocked.

"Why is he here? Madison told me that he had been left on the border, that you would lead the way to him and escape and..."

"And I did. I made them follow me and used the opportunity to run away," Brandon interrupts her. "The only difference is I've never intended to let him go."

"But why? You promised me nobody would get hurt. Madison said that your bond can be broken without harming both of you!" she screams, stepping back. "We were supposed to leave together."

"Have you managed to bring Madison along the cargo of blood as I requested?" he snarls and steps in her direction. She nods, which makes him smile. "So everything is alright, you did well, and our plan is going smoothly."

He smiles brightly, and she smiles back at him and comes closer, trying to hug him. That's when he raises his hand and slaps her hard in the face. She falls on the floor; I see blood in the corner of her mouth. She looks shocked, as if she has never expected anything like that.

"Why Jason Blackwood wasn't with Danny and Mae in the car! I wanted his head too! You made sure he wouldn't get hurt, you stupid bitch!" he screams as she huddles on the floor.

I flinch as he kicks her hard in her spine, and next kneels in front of her and yanks her head up by her hair.

"You are my bitch! Have you really thought I haven't smelt that you had let him touch you? That he slept in your room a couple of times! You refused to fuck with me because you didn't want him to suffer! You are fortunate that you are not a cheating whore like Danny, and you didn't let him between your legs! But don't worry darling, when I finish, there will be no Howl Pack again, and your fucking sister will be gone along it. But don't worry Fiona, you are an idiot, but you are a loyal idiot, so that you will be awarded."

When Brandon spits these words, I see his eyes gleaming red, his canines are out, and I feel Bruce, although he is no longer Bruce. Now he is a bloodthirst beast, ready to kill at any possible moment.

Julius POV

How the hell could I be so stupid? As Alyssa finishes caring for my wounds, Terry Nightingale watches me from the other side of the room, and I have a problem withholding his glare.

Brandon nailed it; he nailed it completely. 

He convinced us that he knew where Danny was and would take us to him. Natasha wasn't sure to trust him, but I was ready to make a deal with the devil himself if it meant finding Danny. Brandon lured us straight into the trap, the rogues who were waiting for us were feral, but it wasn't normal feral. I saw this before; it was Red Venom's influence.

And Bruce, I saw his red eyes, but during the chaos that erupted, I had no chance to get close to him, but I'm sure of it.

We won, and we managed to kill them all, but we have many wounded now, and Natasha can't move, but as an Alpha did great, she managed to command us so well that no one died. But fucking Brandon escaped, and not only he. During our absence, Madison and Fiona also disappeared.

"What is Brandon's plan?" asks Terry but I say nothing because I have no idea what is happening and why.

Alexa enters the room alongside Chen.

"I made sure to inform all our allies. Brandon must be now on human territory, but the moment he gets close to any other pack, he will be uphanded; there is no way for him to sneak away." She says, "My guess is he must be somewhere in the West; that's a huge inhabitant territory, with many places to hide. My stupid sister made sure to get Madison out of the pack unnoticed, Danny's kidnapping was a perfect distraction, and she wouldn't do anything like that if Brandon didn't ask, so I'm sure they did these together."

"How is Natasha?" Jason Blackwood, also present in the room, asks.

"Still unconscious, but she will be alright, but I'm now in charge of the pack," says Chen. "We checked Brandon's house and found dead Preston."

"Do you think Brandon plans to just run away with Danny?" Terry asks.

"No," Alexa answers. "He must have a different agenda; both he and Madison must have done it, having already something planned. Madison clearly came back here for some reason and, along the way, convinced Brandon to help her when we didn't pay any attention."

I snarl; I've also thought she was a stupid blond; it turns out I have underestimated her as much as I did Brandon.

"So if they are hiding somewhere, we just have to start looking for them?" Terry says, but Chen shakes his head.

"We have one big problem. Because of all recent attacks, the number of trackers and warriors we can dispatch is too low to check such a big portion of land quickly, and I fear that we don't have that much time."

I squeeze my fists, knowing it's true; time is our greatest enemy now. Fuck, think Julius, I was watching Madison since she came here, and yet I've never seen her speaking with anybody except Trist and Fiona. And, of course, Fiona was a messenger between Madison and Brandon.

But why would Madison return? What could be so important that she made such a decision after so many years? And that's when I finally understand. Red Venom, we were sure that ten years ago, when Luke was killed, she was deceived, and the rogues she was collaborating with had taken all the cargo and poisoned my brother. But what if they didn't take everything off it? Was it why she decided to come back?

The waterfall, that's the place Luke was killed, right at the edge of the territory. I haven't been there for years.

"Chen, I think we should check the waterfall. Maybe there will be any trace there?" I say slowly, and I can see that my friends understand why I've suggested it, so he nods.

"So, for now, we know that Brandon played us all, and he prepared all this distraction not only because of Danny," Terry says. "But do you think he will kill him?"

"No, as long as Brandon has his wolf, feral or not, there is no way for him to kill Danny," Alexa says. "I think he did it because of revenge. He planned to leave the pack, but being the self-centered bastard, he couldn't accept letting Danny go. But I'm also sure about one thing; he also wants your blood Julius and mine; he won't leave until he gets it."

"I have a suggestion," Terry says. "Both Madison and Brandon were all the time under surveillance for the last month; we must make sure that we know every person they spoke to, every place they went, everybody they saw. Maybe that's how we can figure out where they are now."

I nod; our allies will ensure Brandon won't sneak away, so we must find him as quickly as possible. The door opens again, and Trist and Ivory come in.

"Dad," he screams, " Ivory must tell you something!"

All of us look at her, listening:

"Pearl and I came here from the south. It was very close to the human cities, and in one of them, there was a brick factory; I remember it well because of the smell; it's an industrial city with many abandoned warehouses and buildings. Pearl and I were sleeping there for some time." she says.

"And?" Terry asks.

"When mum first approached me, I remember she smelled very characteristic. It was a stench of industrial waste and bricks, and she once asked me to send a letter, and I remember the code. So I checked it the same area where this brick factory is located."

Terry takes a sharp breath and says:

"Last time I've spoken with Nick, he said that his transport department had lost a big truck, and then suddenly it was back in the factory parking. He said that some employees borrow the equipment like this without asking but usually get it back clean, but this truck was also very dirty with brick dust. There was also a situation with blood sent to the main office."

"We rent some land to the Mine, and we are recently in the process of renegotiation of the contracts," Chen says." And Brandon as an Alpha candidate had access to all financial documents and contacts."

"But we must be sure," Alexa makes a comment." I've already mindlinked the trackers, and they are heading to the waterfall. I will call the Mine Office and check if they got any strange unofficial requests on our behalf, and we must speak first with Brandon's friends. But if we are right, they are in this city, but since it is a human city, we won't be able to look for them or attack them openly.

"Because humans can't know about werewolves no matter what," Terry finishes in a dead tone.