Chapter 26

(Santiago’s POV)

I met Layla at her prenatal checkup appointment. The doctor confirms the baby is developing properly and is healthy for this stage of gestation.

Layla sighs with relief. “That is good news! Oh, Santiago, I feel like I’m carrying a boy…a healthy, strong heir…your healthy, strong heir.”

I wish I had some way to communicate with Isabella. I wish we could mind-link. I shouldn’t have let her go walking alone.

A nagging feeling tugs at me…Something’s happened or is wrong.

“We need to go check on her,” my wolf urges.

“Santiago, haven’t you been paying attention at all?” Layla asks.

I jump as her speaking pulls me out of my thoughts. “I’m glad the baby is well.”

The doctor tells us she is free to go and schedules an appointment to see her again in four weeks.

As we leave the clinic, Layla grabs my hand. “What did you think about hearing our baby’s strong heartbeat today?”

“It’s great,” I tell her, pulling my hand out of her grasp.

She grabs my arm and stops. “Santiago, we’re having a baby. Look, I realize I’ve made mistakes, but this…” she takes my hand and places it low on her slightly protruding belly, “is our family.”

I lock my eyes on hers and narrow mine as I speak to her. “I understand, Layla. But that doesn’t mean you and I must be anything to each other.”

“Baby, please don’t look at me with such hate. I can make things right. I can show you if you’ll let me my devotion to you. And then we can reconcile for our son. We can be a family.”

“No, Layla. There will be no reconciliation. Now, please, I need to get you back to the pack house. I have somewhere else I need to be.”

“With her! With Isabella! That’s who you want?” She shrieks her words while tears pour down her face.”

“Where I go and who I spend my time with is none of your concern.”

I drive her to the pack house and walk her inside to get settled. Then I intend to go find Bella.

Levi rushes into the sitting room. “Alpha, Ariana called. She is worried. She said she and Alpha Isabella had plans to meet, but Isabella never showed up!”

“Oh, the whore is probably fine. Santiago, she’s probably cheating on you.”

“Shut up, Layla!” Levi yells.

I cut my eyes at him, surprised by his outburst.

His eyes widened as if he might have been just as surprised. He bows his head to me in submission. “Alpha, I apologize. It seems out of character for her not to show up. And Ariana is genuinely concerned, sir.”

My heart plummets to my stomach as a sense of dread and anguish surges through my core.

“We need to find her!” My wolf says, howling in my mind.

“I agree,” I tell him.

“Levi, gather the best twelve within the Gamma warrior ranks. We need to get into the forest. If Jesse has her, he’s sure to have some type of holding building near his pack territory. We need to head toward Crimson Claw pack territory immediately.”

“What makes you think Jesse has her, he’s done with that two-timing bitch,” Layla spits out.

We ignore her and head out.

My wolf seethes within my mind. I can sense his fangs bared, frothing at the mouth. He growls. “Jesse has her, I can feel it. Her wolf is distressed!”

(Isabella’s POV)

My brain feels fuzzy and longs for sleep. Jesse won’t allow me to rest. When I doze off, he throws water in my face. I accidentally snort water through my nose, gag, and cough.

Between my own sweat and this son of a bitch’s makeshift waterboarding, my hair and clothes are soaked straight through.

“Wakey wakey, Alpha, Princess…the healing gem, where is it?”

“For the last time, I don’t know anything about that!”

“Fine, if your pack was to house something so precious, where would I find it?”

My brows furrow as I think about it. “The old mines, beneath our territory grounds. Anything of high value like that would be stored in a vault hidden there.”

“Mmm, good girl,” Jesse murmurs. “Now, tell me what safety measures you have in place there to protect these items of such value, and detail how I can get past them.”

My eyes flutter closed. It looks like the inside of a rainbow or a kaleidoscope. Colors swirl and dance all around me.

My pulse is so slow, it barely feels like blood is pumping through my body. I gasp for air as my head drops backward. It feels too heavy to pick back up.

“Santiago!” I hear myself screaming his name.

Jesse grabs my face and pulls me to face him. He squeezes so tight, I feel the blood pool beneath my skin, forming the bruise in the shape of Jesse’s fingers.

“How dare you scream his name! He isn’t coming for you, Isabella. Now, for the last time, how do I get around your safety measures?”

“On the outskirts of the forest, the entrance is within the mountain wall. Walk ten paces straight ahead and come to a stop. There will be a hole, covered by grass and moss. If you fall here, a broken leg is inevitable, and you won't be able to climb out.”

Jesse cocks his head in contemplation. Your family built this structure?”

“No, it’s several generations old. A train once ran through that extended into the human world, before the Elder Council voted to close it off.”

“How is it closed off, did they use magic? A witch?” Jesee asks, gagging on the last word like it tastes bad.

“Of course they didn’t use a witch. But I don’t know how it is sealed off.”

“Santiago is on his way, Bella.” My wolf whispers. “I sense his wolf. Hold on just a little while longer and they will be here,” she says.

My eyes begin to flutter. Every time they close, I see either the rainbow or complete darkness. I breathe in through my nose, trying desperately to stay awake and not vomit.

Jesse slaps me. “Go on, Isabella.”

“It’s a deep underground mine. The tunnel is carved out of the granite rock of the mountain. Follow the rusty mine cart tracks and the wooden beams and metal mesh ceiling. The metal mesh and wooden beams are meant to prevent cave-ins, but they are old, and portions can still fall in places.”

“Why didn’t I know of this place while we were married!” He screams in my face.

My ears are ringing already. The high-pitched yell pierces through me. Tears sting as they stream down my face. All I can do is whimper.

“I don’t know,” I tell him.

“Continue,” he growls.

I jump at his words. “There are a few scattered lanterns that shine some light for you to see. Be careful. The floor is uneven, and there are places with standing water. There’s a mine cart near the foreground. On the other side, to the right, is the vault. You can’t miss it. It's ground to ceiling and circular. The door is thick, riveted steel and set into the rock face. There is a large central wheel and multiple visible locking bolts.”

“How the hell do I open the vault, Isabella!”

Before I can answer Jesse’s question, the door is kicked in from the outside.

“Get the fuck away from my mate!” Santiago growls.