BlackWolf Preserved

by Sydney Addae

  “Hey,” he said when he couldn’t take the silence much longer.

  “Lucian?” she whispered and extended her fingertips. He moved closer so she could touch him.

  “I’m here,” he whispered.

  “Duke?”

  “I’m here, too.” Duke moved to stand next to Lucian.

  Raven frowned. “Tasha?” She closed her eyes. “No. Tasha isn’t here, right?”

  “Right,” Lucian said, after glancing up at Duke.

  “Where have you been?” Duke asked softly.

  “Huh?” She looked at him.

  “You’ve been gone for almost a week. You didn’t call or write or send postcards.” Duke teased.

  She frowned as she stared at him. “Really? A week?”

  “Not a full week, almost,” Lucian corrected, not wanting her to get upset.

  Returning to her pillow, she shook her head slowly. “I don’t know.”

  “Who was on the plane with you? The one who brought you home?” Lucian asked.

  “She was really pretty, you’d like her.”

  Doubtful. “What was her name? Do you remember?” Lucian asked.

  “No. I don’t know. She was really nice. She brought me home; said I’d be safe here.”

  Lucian looked at Duke. “Make sure there’s security around this place 24-7.”

  Duke nodded.

  “I’d like to thank her for bringing you home safe, so if you remember anything, anything at all, let me know.” He cupped her cheek, leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Thank the Goddess you’re safe. I was so worried.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered and yawned. “Don’t know why I’m so sleepy. Seems that’s all I do.”

  “You slept while you were away?” he asked.

  She frowned again. “I don’t know.”

  As much as he wanted answers he didn’t want to press. “What happened to your necklace?”

  “I don’t know. I had one on didn’t I?” She looked at him for confirmation.

  “Maybe.” He glanced at Duke.

  “We were in an airplane. I remember that,” she said. “It was a long flight; I must’ve fallen asleep.”

  “Did you eat on the flight?” Duke asked.

  “No. In the hotel, before we took the flight,” she said and yawned again.

  “What hotel?” Duke asked.

  “Huh?” She frowned up at him.

  “Do you remember what hotel you were in?”

  She held his gaze a few moments and shook her head. “No. Sorry. It was nice. Clean. Regular.”

  That didn’t help.

  “What about the human security guards, do you know who hired them?”

  “Working on it,” Duke said.

  Lucian wanted them to work faster. Whoever kidnapped his sister and held her for a week would pay with their lives.

  “Very pretty. Nice eyes. A strange shade of brown, like amber or gold. You would like her,” Raven said.

  “I doubt it,” Lucian said. There was no way he would ever be attracted to anyone involved with kidnapping his sister.

  Raven laughed.

  The knot in his chest loosened as he looked at her.

  She pointed at him. “You like her.”

  He looked at Duke. “I don’t know her, do I?” He knew a few light brown-eyed full-bloods but they were mated.

  “I don’t know.” Raven yawned again. “Things are fuzzy right now but getting better. Sorry...” she yawned again. “Sorry, I’m so sleepy.”

  “That’s alright. Get some rest. We’ll talk later. I’ve got food coming.”

  “Mmm good. I’m tired of pandebono. I want baleadas.”

  “I’ll make sure that’s what you have waiting when you wake,” Lucian said. He looked at Duke. Pandebono is a Colombian bread. I think that’s where she’s been. The letter from Argentina was to throw us off.”

  “It worked. To think she’s been two hours away all this time.” Duke shook his head.

  “On another continent. I don’t know any Colombian Packs... not yet. But I’ll start asking questions.” Lucian looked down at her sleeping peacefully and his heart melted. “I’m glad she’s home.”

  “Me too. I’ve got information on who rented the jet that flew out. Queen Miriam.” Duke looked at Lucian. “Wonder if it’s a real queen or one of those musicians. She hired the security team too. Got more information on what happened between her, the one who brought Raven home, and our security. They told her to come with them. She made a call to this Queen, told her what was going on and asked what should she do? Wasn’t much longer she refused to go with our security, raised her voice a bit, and drew human attention. Then the other security guards showed up, stayed with her until her flight left. No one was allowed in the waiting area or on the tarmac. All human crew flew the plane.”

  “What was her name again?” It sounded familiar.

  “Queen Miriam,” Duke said.

  The Queen of Lyrill. Had she been involved with the kidnapping all along? Had the Queen hidden Raven in South America and returned her? Why? Because Storm breached her security? No. That wasn’t reasonable. Had Raven been on her way from Lyrill by the time Storm arrived? Why take Raven? None of this made sense.

  “Do you know her?” Duke asked.

  Lucian hadn’t shared much with Duke since he learned of their Uncle’s activities. He needed to address Duke’s involvement but hadn’t wanted to deal with that in addition to everything else.

  “Not personally. I’ve heard her name.” Lucian stood and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Either he trusted his brother, or he didn’t. It wasn’t fair to either of them to have this layer of distrust between them.

  “Come with me.” Lucian walked out into the hall and leaned against the wall. Duke followed and met his gaze.

  He told Duke what Lloyd said.

  Duke’s eyes widened in surprise. “No. I don’t believe it.”

  “He wasn’t lying.”

  “But, we would’ve known. He would’ve sent me or Tasha to do it. Tasha would’ve told me if she did any of that.”

  Relieved by the ring of truth in his brother’s voice, Lucian disagreed. “Franz had Uncle Ricardo strung out, he allowed all kinds of things to happen, sent gang members to terrorize small Packs. That much is true. I don’t know if Tasha knew or was a part but remember this, she ordered Uncle Ricardo’s death, which was the reason for her own.”

  Duke opened his mouth and snapped it shut. “I had no idea all this went down. Is that why they took Raven? Was this some kind of twisted vendetta against a dead man?”

  “Some of the Packs moved away, it’s possible they don’t know Uncle’s dead. For others, it may not matter. What I don’t get is these random connections to Kirlethanium, Lyrill, Prokam. I don’t see the dots. None of us have anything to do with those crystals or that place.”

  “Plus, they returned Raven unharmed, so why take her? To prove they could? If this was someone who hated Uncle Ricardo why return her unharmed?” Duke asked.

  “No idea.” Lucian rubbed his chin. “Do we know how they flew in?”

  “Yes. Chartered flight out of a smaller airport not far from Bogota. Waiting for the name of the person who chartered the flight,” Duke said.

  “They would’ve stayed in a hotel nearby.” Lucian moved toward his office and turned on his computer. “Do we have anyone in that area to help get information?” He started the search.

  “No, that’s why we’re having delays. I’m using our security team to breach systems for information,” Duke said.

  Names of numerous hotels in the area of the small jetport filled the screen. Lucian stared at them and shook his head. Most met Raven’s description. He sat back in his chair, staring at the monitor. Could he justify crossing another Pack’s lands? If Raven were in custody he could, but now? How would he explain that to the Goddess? Rules were in place for a reason and this might be a gray area he needed to explore.

  His beast pushed for more answers. Hi
s head said tread carefully. Entering another Alpha’s territory without permission could be considered a declaration of war. All he wanted was answers.

  Liar.

  He wanted... he wanted to punish whoever took Raven for making him worry and for fearing the worst.

  “We’ve got a name. Zoe Hidalgo,” Duke said. “She’s full-blood. Not sure where she lives. The address she gave the charter company is in Lyrill.”

  “Do we have an image of her?” Lucian leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin. Another Lyrill connection. Had Zoe returned Raven on orders from the Queen? That was a possibility. Why had Miriam taken Raven in the first place? There had to be a reason.

  Duke whistled. “I’ll send this to your email. It’s from the security cam in the airport while she tried to purchase a return ticket.”

  Lucian clicked open his email. The picture downloaded. His beast went crazy as he stared at the tall, dark-haired female wearing sunglasses.

  “Shit.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The longer Lucian stared at the monitor the more his beast tried to break free to get to that female. This was the person who returned Raven? From where? Lyrill by way of Bogota? That made no sense.

  What made no sense was his beast’s reaction to a picture. What would he do if she was nearby? Lucian refused to think about it.

  “Pretty. I’m sending you a few more pictures,” Duke said.

  Lucian couldn’t talk. Could barely think as he flipped through the photos. When he reached the ones with her leaving with the human security team, a low growl rippled up his throat.

  “What’s wrong? You see something?” Duke asked.

  Lucian closed the email, took a few breaths and met his brother’s curious gaze. “No.”

  “No, nothing’s wrong or no you didn’t see something that got your back up?” Duke asked.

  “No to both.” Lucian stood. He needed to run. To think. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. He had too much to do, Alphas to train, a continent to bring into the current century. “Going for a run.” He moved quickly out the house, nodded to security and headed for the woods. He ran for miles trying to quiet his beast who demanded they find her.

  Ten miles later, in the middle of the forest, Lucian stopped and looked around. Although he suspected what just happened, he wasn’t a hundred percent sure. At least that’s what he told himself.

  “Silas, I have a problem.”

  Moments later, Silas responded. “I know and I’m really sorry. I don’t know what else to say or do. We’ll continue searching until they return her.”

  “What?” Lucian said. “Return who? Raven? Search for who?”

  Silas didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “Isn’t the problem Raven?”

  “Do you know anything about who took her and why?” Lucian asked.

  “Nothing concrete. Just thoughts.”

  “What do you have?” Lucian pressed.

  “Just that it’s strange we can’t track Raven,” Silas said.

  “Is that because of the Queen of Lyrill?” Lucian asked.

  “Storm didn’t find Raven in Lyrill, remember?”

  “Because she was in Colombia, South America. She returned a few hours ago. Sorry, we’ve been so caught up with trying to get answers I forgot to tell you what was going on,” Lucian said.

  “Wait. Raven is home? She came home today?” Silas asked.

  “Yes. Several hours ago. She doesn’t remember anything. I examined her, physically she’s alright and has been sleeping since she returned home,” Lucian said, realizing he should have contacted Silas earlier since he expended a lot of resources into finding Raven.

  “That’s great news. Any idea who took her or why?” Silas asked.

  “That’s where it gets crazy,” Lucian explained what happened at the airport and the Queen’s involvement.

  “What does she have to do with anything? Who was the person who called her?”

  “Zoe Hidalgo.” Just saying her name made his beast jumpy.

  “Hidalgo? Don’t know anyone in that area by that name. Storm may. His former Pack and Alpha Romano are in South America. I can send Storm to get more information.”

  “No,” Lucian yelled before he could stop himself. The idea of any male near Zoe made him see red.

  “Is there something you need to tell me?” Silas asked a few moments later.

  “We... no, I’ve got a problem,” Lucian said.

  “Tell me about it,” Silas said.

  He explained seeing Zoe’s photos and his beast’s reaction. “I cannot send anyone after her. My beast would not allow it.”

  “I see,” Silas said.

  “We have no ties with any South American Packs, let alone in Colombia. My beast doesn’t care but I have to think of my duties and the Pack.”

  “True. It sounds as if she’s your mate,” Silas said. “If she is, your beast won’t rest until you have her. I don’t know or understand the connection to Miriam but none of that will matter to your beast.”

  “What if my mate kidnapped my sister? How could I live with her?” Lucian asked the question that ripped him apart.

  “I don’t have the answer to that. What I will say is the Goddess is aware of your mate and would never do anything to tear the Pack apart. Find a way to get your mate without starting a war.”

  “Sounds simple enough,” Lucian said with a snort. “Nothing has been simple since I accepted the Alpha position.”

  “Which means you’re fully prepared to take on this, the most important challenge.”

  Lucian sobered. “You’ve got a point.”

  “Alpha Romano lives in that region. I’ll ask if he knows of her or her Pack. Maybe he can find directions to help you zero in on her location,” Silas said.

  “Here’s something else I learned the other day.” He shared what Lloyd told him about his Uncle’s actions. “I don’t see how any of these dots connect with Miriam or the crystals. But his activities are something to consider.”

  “Ricardo was troubled on many fronts, in the end, he tried to do the right thing. It may have been too late, but at least he tried,” Silas said. “The offer of recompense is good. Not only has your litter-mate returned, you saw your mate. Congratulations all around,” Silas said.

  Lucian’s beast urged him to find Zoe and get answers. “Should I contact Miriam? Ask her questions?”

  Silas sighed. “Perhaps not at this time. You must admit you’ve got a lot going on. Dealing with whoever took Raven is on a whole new level now. Full-bloods cannot walk away from their mates, you’ll need to find a way to live peaceably with Zoe and her clan.”

  Lucian hadn’t thought that far ahead. “You mean if someone she knows, like a relative or someone, took Raven, I won’t be able to kill them?”

  “Probably not.”

  “Well, that sucks.”

  Silas agreed. “I’ve sent Romano a message. I’ll know something soon. How’s your beast?”

  “Miserable. I’m in the woods, 10 miles from home to keep from attacking my brother for whistling at her pictures.” Lucian lay on the ground, content to be away from everyone until he got this thing under control.

  “It’ll get better after you mate. But not a whole lot. There are very few men I allow around Jasmine and we’ve been mates over 25 years. Life for you has changed, not only you but her as well.”

  That surprised him. “Why her? She’s never seen me. I doubt she knows anything about me.”

  “Not specifics. But she senses something. There’s a trigger that lets us know our mates are near. When I say near, I mean the mating heat is near.”

  “Really? Is this something other full-bloods will pick up on? Will they try to talk to her or something like that?” Lucian’s beast growled low in his belly at the idea.

  “It’s not the same as being in heat. Her beast is interested in one person, so you don’t have to be concerned that she’ll be at
tracted to someone else. It doesn’t work like that,” Silas said.

  “Thanks, this is new to me. No one I know, other than my parents, had mates.”

  “No problem. All six of my pups, Hawke, Angus, Jacques, and several others are mated. I’ve seen various behaviors with them all,” Silas said. “Romano says there’s an Alpha on Hidalgo Pack land near Bogota. The Alpha’s only been there 14 years with an average-sized Pack of around 125. He moved from Central America. Romano doesn’t know personal details. As far as he knows the Alpha has no mate and no pups.”

  “Can he get the name of the Alpha? I’ll ask Lloyd if he was one of the Alphas who moved away.”

  “He’s checking,” Silas said a few moments later. “Sacha Hidalgo. Alpha Sacha Hidalgo.”

  “Thanks. I’ll go check on that now. It’s better than heading home,” Lucian said.

  “What about Raven?” Silas asked. “She’s going to want to know what’s going on.”

  Hours ago, his total focus had been on his sister, now the urge to find his mate dominated him. Torn, Lucian said. “I won’t be able to concentrate until I know if this man, the relative of my mate, was mistreated by my Uncle.”

  “I understand. If he was, that may unravel a part of the mystery why Raven was taken,” Silas said. “If Romano learns anything else, I’ll let you know.”

  Lucian stood and took off running.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  LATER THAT NIGHT AFTER dinner, Jasmine and Silas were in their suite talking. “I’m glad Raven’s home safe,” Jasmine said leaning close to Silas.

  “Me too’” he murmured and kissed her.

  When they broke apart, she snuggled closer. “What did Thomas say?”

  “About?”

  “When you told him that Raven had been found?”

  Silas cursed. “Thomas?”

  A few moments later, Thomas responded. “Sir?”

  “Raven is home. She was returned earlier today. Oh, and Lucian is mated.”

  “That’s great news. Did the Olympians have anything to do with Raven’s disappearance?”

  “Not that we know of,” Silas said recalling all the man-hours spent searching for her.