Friday, 9:45 pm
Drayden sat inside the dark brown van and watched as chaos erupted at the Newsome home. He could see the entire backyard from his vantage point. His high-powered binoculars brought the action even closer. He saw it all — the betrayal, the kidnapping and all the hostilities that normally simmered below the surface as the players in this game worked at being polite. Not tonight. All the anger and accusations were coming out.
Disgusted by the lack of cooperation between Donil and Henry, he was tempted to go and bash their heads together. Maybe then some sense would prevail. Perhaps Isabella was right about not informing the two Alphas. He would have to trust her wisdom more.
Something heavy landed with a thud on the van's roof and shook him from his thoughts. He grabbed his gun, easily thumbing off the safety. He stared up, watching for movement. The metal of the van creaked with the weight on the roof.
Once more, the van rocked before settling. When nothing else happened, he opened the door, gun aimed and stepped out. A twig snapped to his left and he froze.
Drayden spat out a curse and lowered the gun. "You know, Stefan, if you want to get shot so badly, that can be arranged."
Stefan's tail wagged and he yawned in insult. He padded over to the van's tire, hiked up his back leg and peed on the rim.
Drayden snarled and aimed again at the white wolf. "Look, Old Man, you don't disrespect me! I came to warn you, but maybe I should let you stumble around instead."
Stefan growled and shifted back to human form. "I may be older than you, Cub, but not so old that I can't take you and win. Obviously, you have something to say, so go ahead and get it off your chest."
Drayden rolled his eyes, popped his knuckles and made Stefan wait. He knew the wolf was anxious to go after Laylah. "Now I remember," he laughed and continued. "Zina's time is numbered. The Council has dispatched the General and the nine Captains. Even now, they are closing in on Zina and her army. I was told not to inform your brother and Alpha Donil."
"Why?"
"I'm not sure. I don't always understand Isabella's thinking. I only follow orders. It's a lot safer that way. But since we are friends, I thought I'd give you a heads up."
Stefan smirked. "Friends? Perhaps. I thought I had lost all those thirteen years ago. Here." He handed Drayden a business card. "My e-number is on it. When you get ready to strike, let me know. Hopefully, I'll have Laylah out before then, but if not, it will give me enough warning to avoid the main fighting."
"Understood. Happy hunting, Old Man." He watched Stefan shift to wolf and run into the forest. He truly hoped Stefan would save his niece. Maybe it would force him to rise above his bitterness. After all, if Stefan could bring Zina down, Isabella did promise to grant one request.
Amused by his thoughts and the growing chaos, Drayden climbed into the van and drove away. He put Stefan's card in his pocket before calling Isabella for an update on the Council army's progress.
~***~
Britta sat on the front porch crying and stewing. Everything was one big mess. Her father was furious with her for helping Laylah come to the party. And now, thanks to some rogue Weres, her best friend had been kidnapped.
Laylah's father was still in the house and raising a fuss. She really hated that man. She'd never met Laylah's dad before tonight and now wished she never had. It was almost 11:30 pm. and still no word on Laylah or her abductors.
"I'm not going to get any sleep. I wish he would leave. No one wants him here," she muttered, casting a sideways glance at the office window. Henry was in there ranting at her father about his "incompetent parenting" in regards to the evening's gathering. Once Mr. Le Croix had started his yelling, her father had sent her outside.
The door behind her opened and she heard her mother's voice. "Britta, your father wants you to join him in the office."
She grimaced. "Yes, Mama." Her mother's concern would eat at her conscience, but she would not take back any of tonight. Laylah deserved some kind of life away from Mr. Le Croix, the dictator. She rose and looked at her mother. "Any news?"
"None. I'm sorry, mi hija. I will let you know as soon as I hear something."
"It's all right, Madre. I wanted to check. I'll go see Father now." She didn't give her mother time to say more. Instead, she hurried inside and went to her father. She knocked once and waited.
"Enter."
Steeling herself, Britta walked in slowly to give herself a chance to glance about. She wanted to see where everyone was in the room. Her father sat at his desk and appeared resigned. That was not a good sign.
"Britta, Mr. Le Croix and I have talked and he has agreed to not file a criminal complaint against you."
"What! What charges?" She glared at Laylah's dad, who sat and pretended to be interested in a painting on the wall.
Her father sighed. "Aiding and abetting. As well as accessory to a crime."
"That's absurd! He's pissed that I got his daughter to have some fun. You're a real prick, you know that, Mr. Le Croix?" She bristled with rage and gave him a venomous stare.
"Britta! That's enough out of you, young lady! You will not contact Laylah without the express permission of her father. No more hanging out or parties either."
"But, Padre!"
"That is all. This matter is closed. Go to your room."
Too stunned to mount any sort of defense, Britta settled for a disappointed expression and stomped past her father and out into the hallway, slamming the door behind her. Furious with this unexpected turn of events, she walked toward her room and called Donil.
He answered on the first ring. "Britta, we haven't found her yet. I'm sorry."
"I know. If you had found her, you would have told me. That's not why I'm calling." Quickly, she explained what had happened with her father and Henry Le Croix. She stood there thinking as his string of curses filled the line.
After he had calmed, she asked grimly, "So what now? I didn't mean for any of this to go down. We all played right into his hands."
"Don't beat yourself up too much about it. Look, I have to go, Britta. The rest of my family has gathered. We will find Laylah."
She heard his confidence and smiled. He was one man who always kept his word, no matter the cost to himself. "I know. Happy hunting."
He chuckled. "You keep surprising me with your Were knowledge, Britta. Go rest. I'll call when I have her."
"Thanks, Donil." Reluctantly, Britta disconnected. She startled when she saw that she was standing outside her bedroom door.
She didn't even remember climbing the stairs. She didn't understand why Weres would take Laylah. Maybe it was something to do with her jerk of a father. He seemed like the type to have tons of enemies. Poor Laylah!
She resolved in that moment to continue being friends with Laylah, no matter what Mr. Le Croix wanted. "But for now, I'll go lie down and keep my e-comm active." With a sigh, she went in her room and headed for bed.