Chapter 183: Chapter 182

Zane “Zane, you have to wake up!”

Distantly, | heard Lanie’s voice, and then | felt her shaking me My eyes fluttered open, and she was standing over me, her eyes wide with fear “He’s gone!” she cried. “He took them!”

I sat up off the floor like my body was spring loaded.

“He took who?” | asked, but | already knew the answer.

Xander sat up on the couch and looked over at us, blinking the sleep out of his eyes.

Lanie glanced from him back to me, her bottom lip quivering.

“The twins,” she whispered.

Xander and | bolted up at the same time and ran over to where the babies were sleeping. When we ripped back the curtain, only Stella was asleep in her bassinet “He can’t have left,” | said. “Did you check outside?”

“No, but...” Lanie started to say, but | waved her off and ran out the front door, Xander trailing behind me “MASON" Xander yelled as we split off and ran the length of the enchantment line. But even in the dark, we could tell that he was gone.

Aroar broke free from Xander’s chest, and he threw himself to the ground, his back rising and falling with heaving breaths | walked over to him and kneeled, placing my hand on his back “He f ucking took them,” Xander said, his voice heavy with fury and sadness. “And | have no idea where they went “| do” We both whipped around, and Lanie was standing on the porch holding Stella, her gaze distant and unfocused. “I know where he took them.”

Iran to her. “Where?” | asked desperately. “We need to get them back.”

Xander sprinted to the edge of the enchantment line, and | could feel Hunter rising within him, about to break free His whole body was vibrating, ready to shift and run after Mason, and | could feel Blade starting to stir inside me, too But then Lange shook her head tears falling fast down her cheeks “No, no, you can’t go She reached for my arms and clung to them desperately 1 told him not to leave me Her voice was high and shaky and terrified.

My stomach lurched, and a lightning bolt of pain ripped through my chest. Blade was pacing fitfully. pulled in one direction by the need to hunt down Mason and get our babies back and in another to stay with Lanie and keep her safe.

Xander was doubled over, too, no doubt fighting the same internal battle.

“Please,” Lanie whispered again. “Please...”

“This is bu Il s hit,” Xander snapped as he stalked back inside.

Lanie breathed out a long, relieved sigh. Of course, we wouldn’t leave her there alone. But there was no way we were letting Mason run away with our babies, either, “We have to call Braden back here,” | said. “If we can’t leave, then we need someone else to track Mason down.”

Lanie swallowed hard and nodded.

But it was the middle of the night, and phones were useless out here. How the hell could we call him? | felt s tupid for not asking that question sooner. | was a f ucking Beta: | helped give orders, | didn’t wait around for them.

Lanie clung to my arm harder. | squeezed her hand. She looked like she wanted to speak, but was having trouble finding the words.

“I'm sorry we kept this from Mason.” | broke the silence instead. “And I’m sorry | dragged you into it. |

didn’t want to.”

“| know,” she said to me through our mind link. “I can’t lose you too, Zane.”

My insides warmed at her words “You won't,” | assured her.

She reached for the front of my shirt and grabbed a fistful of the fabric, tugging me closer to her. Our lips were inches away, her scent filling my nostrils, almost making me forget where | was and what had happened...

But then there was a crash and a roar inside the cabin and we sprung apart. It sounded like Xander was tearing the place apart.

“F uck, I'll be right back,” | said.

Lanie Zane shut the door behind him, and then I was alone with Stella, | could hear their stomping feet and raised voices, but | didn’t care what they were saying as long as they were here with me.

unswaddled Stella and set her blanket down on the porch, laying her gently on top of it. | would only be gone for a mornent.

Xander and Zane would never let me do this, so | had to act fast.

| ran down the stairs and the the edge of the enchantment line, pausing for one second before | crossed it. The forest was pitch-

black and silent, and blood pumped loudly in my ears.

| took my hair down, letting it spill down my back and blow in the wind. | let myself feel the full extent of my fear, my frustration, and my sadness, hoping the scent of it was strong enough to draw him in.

“Braden!” | called out. “Braden, | need you!”

My voice echoed through the trees and then silence settled over me again. Goosebumps erupted over my body.

And then there was a rustle in the trees nearby. My heart leapt into my throat.

But before | could move, a hand clapped over my mouth, and | was tackled to the ground.