Jason’s POV
Lucian and I went straight to the scoundrels who had sold Eira to us. The day was going to start with the some bloodshed today.
That night, when we bought Eira, we had already broken them enough to make sure they hadn’t lied about that bitch being a pureblood. The bastards swore on their lives that she was indeed a high-ranking pureblood. How much we tortured, they didn’t change the claim.
The moment we stepped into the shabby drawing room of the cottage deep in the woods, terror painted their faces. The woman, a nurse, hovered by their side to help them stand. The two bastards barely able to stand, their human forms recovering slowly.
One of them finally got back to the senses. "A-Alpha...you are here...did that bitch do something to—"
"Shut your mouths unless you want me to pull out the rest of your teeth," Lucian cut in, settling onto the small couch like he owned the place. The other three froze, standing at attention like broken soldiers.
I looked around. Every creak under my steps sent shivers through them. Lucian stretched his leg over the small center table, knocking over a few items, and leaned back with the arrogance of a king.
I picked up a glass paperweight. For some reason, I always loved playing with them when dealing with worthless men—it made breaking their skulls feel almost... ceremonial.
"Hmm," I began, rolling the weight in my hand, "Tell us where you bought that bitch. People, places, everything that will help us to reach them. Or I will make sure you three reach your graves early."
All three men trembled violently.
The nurse knelt on the floor, voice shaking, "I-I’m just here to take care of the bitches they buy! I have nothing to do with the rest! Please, let me go. You can do whatever you want to the men, they are the real bastards—always buying poor girls, always selling them."
"Jenny," one of the men spat, "Shut your mouth!"
"Paul, Henry," she said, glaring, "I am not going to die for your lust for money. I have nothing to do with this."
I slammed the paperweight onto the floor. The sound echoed through the room, making them flinch. "Dare to speak another word unless you are asked... and you’ll regret it."
"Apologies, Alpha..." they stammered in unison, fear coating every word.
"Shoot," Lucian muttered, his patience thinning.
"I... we’ll tell you everything we know..." one of them stammered, quickly spilling every detail.
We got our leads on those traffickers. Once we get what we need, then we would make sure anyone who had even seen her—let alone touched her—would pay dearly, just like the prison head and the guards had.
"When she was with you," Lucian said, letting a fake, almost sweet smile curl on his lips, "what did you do with her? Had fun fucking her? Must have felt really good, huh?"
"We didn’t," the two men spat in unison. "We only performed blood tests. When we found out she was a pureblood, we didn’t dare touch her. We knew Alphas wouldn’t like it."
Lucian’s gaze snapped to the woman. She quickly added, "They’re telling the truth. She was with us only a day, and we were busy with tests."
"So you did touch her," Lucian’s voice was low, menacing, like a predator circling its prey.
"J-just to get her blood," one of the men trembled. "That’s it."
"And you?" I asked the other, stepping closer.
"Just to check her face and her...body...to see if she was fine to sell..."
Both of us turned to the woman, our gazes dark and heavy.
"I... I had to touch her to care for her... inject medicines..." she stammered.
The next moment, screams filled the shabby room. The two men were writhing on the floor, their arms dislocated at the shoulders. The woman’s hands were pinned to the wooden wall, knives piercing her palms straight through.
Once their cries lowered down, I told them. "You’re still alive because you might still be of some use. Don’t even think about running away."
The three only nodded in terror, suppressing their pained cries.
Lucian didn’t say a word as we walked out. Outside, the forest was quiet, almost mocking the screams fading behind us.
Our next stops would lead us closer to the truth—about her mate, her child, and every bastard who had dared touch her. And we would not stop until everything was erased.
----
Roman’s POV
The entire day passed in silence, and the night followed the same quiet rhythm. Kael never stepped out of his room, Eira remained curled up with her pets, and Rafe and I lingered around the house, keeping watch.
With Kael at home, no enemy would dare make a move like before, and for the first time in a long while, the house felt... almost peaceful.
Jason and Lucian returned late that night. The moment they stepped inside, Rafe and I caught the strong stench of blood clinging to them. They were sure returning after taking at least a few lives.
"Where have you been?" we both demanded instinctively, standing rigid.
Lucian’s expression was grave, he glanced toward the spot where Eira usually sat with Vixen, then he moved straight upstairs. She wasn’t there. She was in my room, tucked into my bed, sleeping with both her pets on her side.
Jason lingered in the hall, silent. His gaze also lingered on the same place.
Rafe nudged him. "Will you answer something, or are you going to follow Lucian again?"
"Did you get any leads on her son?" I asked quickly.
"Something... but not enough," Jason replied vaguely, eyes scanning the room. "Kael?"
I told him, Kael had locked himself away since morning. No food, no word, no presence—he hadn’t even opened the door when I’d tried to bring him dinner.
Jason didn’t press further; it wasn’t the first time Kael had done this. He simply moved upstairs, like Lucian before him.
Whenever these two had taken something in hands, it was impossible that they will fail. I felt certain we would soon uncover the truth about Eira’s mate, and find her son.
Once the house settled again, I returned to my room. Eira lay tucked in a blanket, clutching Vixen like a soft toy. Fluffy rested at the foot of the bed, his head cushioned on her blanket-covered feet.
I moved carefully, nudging Fluffy just enough to straighten my legs without disturbing the little family in front of me. I turned to watch them. Together, they felt complete—a family in miniature—and I, even after marking her, felt like an outsider in the same bed.
Given the events of these days, it seemed unlikely anything would change soon.