Chapter 307 Chains and Threats
Author
Alpha Dominic came to with his head feeling like it had been through a blender. Twice.
Something rough and scratchy covered his eyes—burlap, maybe. The fabric smelled like motor oil and mildew.
When he tried to move, metal dug into his wrists. The chains rattled against what felt like a concrete floor.
The wolfsbane was still screwing with his system, keeping his wolf locked in a cage somewhere deep in his head. He felt cut off, isolated. Like being deaf and blind at the same time.
Footsteps. Heavy boots on concrete. A door creaking open. The hinges screamed like they hadn’t been oiled in decades.
Cold air rushed in, carrying the scent of pine trees and something else—old cigarettes and cheap cologne.
"Wakey wakey, Your Majesty." The voice came through some shitty voice modulator that made the guy sound like he was talking through a fan.
Alpha Dominic didn’t move. "Jack."
The silence stretched like a held breath.
Even through the voice distortion, Alpha Dominic could hear the sharp intake of breath.
"That aftershave’s a dead giveaway. Hard to forget a scent that aggressive."
Dead silence.
"And those work boots with the squeaky left sole. You really should get that fixed. Makes you easier to track than a herd of elephants."
Then: "What the fuck did you just say?"
Bingo. Jack was always a hot head, even when they were kids. No impulse control.
"Come on, Jack . You think I wouldn’t recognize Elara’s uncle? Even with that discount Walmart voice changer?"
"Shut up." Jack’s voice cracked slightly. "Just... shut the hell up."
Alpha Dominic almost smiled. Almost. "So what’s the play here? Ransom? "
"I said shut up!"
"Ten million." Alpha Dominic ’s voice stayed calm. "That’s my opening offer. No questions asked, no strings attached. Take the money and disappear. Mexico’s nice this time of year."
He could practically hear Jack’s brain working. Could sense the greed warring with paranoia.
"Bullshit. You call some corporate asshole, they’ll trace it back to me in five minutes."
"Then what do you want?"
"Your bitch wife brings it. In person. Cash."
The temperature in the room dropped twenty degrees.
"Jack." Alpha Dominic’s voice went deadly quiet. "You just made a really big mistake."
"Yeah? What are you gonna do about it, tough guy? You’re chained to the fucking floor."
"You bring Elara into this, you’re not walking away with money. You’re not walking away at all. I’ll hunt you down and feed you your own liver. And that’s if I’m feeling merciful."
Jack kicked him in the ribs. Hard. "Big words from a guy who can’t even shift!"
He pulled out his phone, hands shaking, and filmed thirty seconds of Alpha Dominic bleeding on the concrete.
"Smile for the camera, Your Majesty."
Then he ran like the coward he’d always been.
--
Elara stumbled back into Wolfe Manor just as Yardley’s headlights swept across the circular drive.
The entire family had gathered in the main hall like they were holding a wake.
Alpha Hunter stood near the stone fireplace, shoulders rigid as steel.
Elizabeth perched on the edge of the leather sectional, wringing her hands.
Nobody had even pretended to sleep.
"Talk to me, Yardley." Alpha Hunter’s voice cut straight to the point. "What do we know?"
Elara moved closer, exhaustion making her movements clumsy. "Please tell me you found something."
Yardley scrubbed his face with both hands. "The son of a bitch was thorough. He got into the wedding reception, drugged Charlie, and locked him in a bathroom stall. Put on Charlie’s uniform and cap, then sat behind the wheel like he belonged there."
"Waited until Dominic got in the car, then drove straight to the industrial district near the port. Switched to a second vehicle in a parking garage. From there..." He spread his hands. "Ghost. Disappeared into a surveillance dead zone."
"We’re pulling footage from every traffic cam, every business security system in a ten-mile radius. But we’re talking about thousands of hours of video. My guys have been mainlining energy drinks for six hours straight, and we’re not even halfway through. It’s gonna take time we don’t have."
The room went dead quiet.
The antique grandfather clock in the corner ticked like a time bomb, each second hammering home how long Alpha Dominic had been gone.