Page 48 of The Alpha's Forced Pregnant Mate

I didn’t want to wait. They could be torturing her right now, or worse. No, I needed to act now. I wasn’t going to sit here and do nothing. I tiptoed back into the room, grabbing my bag and quickly changing into my own clothes. My jeans had dried, thankfully, but they still smelled like wet dirt. I shoved my feet into my boots, grabbing my keys off of the counter before heading to the front door.

My hand was on the doorknob when I hesitated, looking back at the stairs. Should I at least leave a note?

It took more time than I would have liked to find an envelope to write on and a pen, but I scrawled out the situation and placed it right by the front door so he could easily find it. Hopefully, if Julian followed me, I would have Laura safe already. If not…

I shook my head, not wanting to think about it. There was no way I was going to let anything happen to her. I wouldn’t even let myself think about the possibility of her being hurt or worse.

I walked out the door and started the car, pulling up the directions to the coordinates that the text had sent me. The voice on the GPS warned me that the road was closed, but I ignored it as I headed toward the forest.

The roads were dark and quiet, which only served to make me more nervous. I’d been in many situations like this before, but something about this felt…off. I couldn’t quite place what it was, but there was a feeling of dread building in my stomach as the minutes passed.

I pulled off onto a side road and finally reached a long, cracked driveway. In the distance, I could see an enormous house, pale like a specter in the night and choked with kudzu. It hadn’t been occupied in ages.

I checked my phone to see if there were any new texts, but there wasn’t. I sighed, leaning my head back against the headrest for a moment before opening the door and stepping out.

I walked to the back of the car and opened the trunk, taking stock of my weapons and grabbing more than I would probably need.

It was better to be prepared for anything.

I closed the trunk and then made my way up the drive. The house loomed ahead, its windows like dark eyes watching me. I felt a shiver go down my spine as I approached the front door.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I pushed it open, revealing a dark, dusty entryway.

I looked around, my heart pounding. I didn’t see anyone, or smell anything besides dust and old wood. “Hello?” I called out, my voice echoing in the empty space. “Laura?”

There was no answer. I stepped further into the room, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. Near the back of the house was an open door, leading into the backyard. The picture of Laura had shown her outside, so maybe that was the direction they wanted me to go. I gripped the handles of my blades and wished Julian was with me before moving forward.

I crept down the hallway and into the back door, looking around cautiously. My eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness, and I could make out a large grassy area behind the house, surrounded by trees. There was a trail leading away from the house, into the woods, and I followed it carefully.

I walked for what felt like an eternity, the trail twisting and turning through the trees. My nerves were on edge, and every little sound made me jump. I had no idea where they were leading me, but I knew I needed to be prepared for anything. I just hoped that I would find Laura soon, and get us both out of there.

Finally, I spotted a light ahead, and my heart sped up. Was that them? I quickened my pace until I reached the clearing where they had Laura tied to the tree.

My friend was slumped against the trunk, unconscious or dead, I couldn’t tell.

“Laura!” I shouted, racing toward her.

Laura’s eyes fluttered open, and when her vision adjusted and she saw me, she started to shake her head frantically, telling me no over and over again. I ignored her, but just before I reached the tree, I felt something strike the side of my neck, hot and painful like the sting of a giant bee.

I reached up to touch the spot, coming away with a small dart in my hand. What the fuck? I turned to look around me, but there was no one there.

It felt like my mind was swimming in mud as I tried to piece together what was happening. I’d come to rescue Laura, but this was obviously a trap. And now I was going to pass out. I swayed on my feet, falling first to one knee, and then fully to the ground.

I’d made a terrible mistake and now Laura and I both were going to die.

I should have woken Julian. I should have kissed him one last time.

I should have told him about our baby. He deserved to know.

As unconsciousness took me, I managed to lay one shaking hand on my belly just before the darkness swept everything away.

Chapter 18 - Julian

No sound woke me up. Instead, it was the jolt of panic I felt rushing down my newly strengthened mate bond that jolted me out of sleep. I sat up so fast that the blanket went flying, and adrenaline was already dumping into my veins before I even knew what was happening.

I reached over to the other side of the bed where Whitney should have been lying, finding it empty and cold. She was gone, and it had been at least an hour since she’d left.

Where was she? Was she safe? Why had I fallen asleep and let her leave without me?

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