Page 20 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

"Is she your mate?" Cassius asked, his voice softer now.

Articus hesitated. "I... maybe. I don't know."

It wasn't impossible. The instant connection he felt, the way her scent called to him... But it didn't make sense. How could his mate be a rogue? How could fate be so cruel as to pair him with someone from a world so different from his own?

Cassius nodded, as if Articus’ confusion confirmed something for him. "It would explain a lot. The way you two sparked off each other, your reaction..."

Articus leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. His head was spinning, too many thoughts and emotions vying for attention. Concern for Wren, anger at the kidnappers, confusion about his own feelings...

"There," Cassius said suddenly, jolting Art from his thoughts. "I see the van."

Articus sat up straight, scanning the street ahead. Sure enough, there was the van, a few cars ahead of them.

"What's the plan?" Articus asked, tension thrumming through his body.

Cassius kept his eyes on the van as he responded. "We follow them. See where they take her. Then we figure out how to get her out."

It wasn't much of a plan, but it was all they had. Articus nodded, settling in for what promised to be a long night.

As they drove through the darkened streets, Articus couldn't help but think about Wren. Was she conscious? Was she scared? Angry? Did she think anyone was coming for her?

Articus clenched his fists, a low growl escaping him. They were coming, Wren. Just hold on.

The van led them through a maze of streets, each one darker and more run-down than the last. Finally, it turned into what looked like an abandoned warehouse district.

"This isn't good," Cassius muttered, slowing down to maintain their distance.

Articus nodded, his eyes fixed on the van. The buildings around them loomed large and ominous, their broken windows like empty eye sockets staring down at them.

The van finally came to a stop outside one of the warehouses. Two men jumped out of the front, heading for the back doors.

Surprisingly, there were more than a few trucks and vans parked outside the warehouse, with massive floodlights illuminating the courtyard.

Cassius frowned as he killed the lights of his car and parked beyond the reach of the bright lights. "It's a fucking circus," he muttered. "I'm telling you now, Art, I don't like this."

"What do we do?" Articus asked, his body tensed to spring into action.

Cassius put a hand on his arm. "We wait. We need to see where they take her, get a layout of the place."

Articus growled low in his throat but forced himself to stay put. As strong as he was, he knew not all problems were solved by strength.

There’s too much we don’t know.

They had no idea how many men they had, the weapons or if any of the snatchers’ partners had also followed them. Going in half-cocked would only get them—and possibly Wren—killed.

They watched as the men pulled Wren from the van. Articus spotted her light brown hair and cussed. She seemed unconscious, with her hair covering her face. Until she started struggling and tussling. She does this for a while and then stops.

The second man has covered her nose with a black cloth. Its content had knocked her out. They were treating her like an animal. Articus boiled in anger. Again, he fought the urge to handle the situation head-on.

They dragged her into the warehouse, the heavy metal door slamming shut behind them. The sound echoed in the empty street, final and ominous.

"Now what?" Articus asked, his voice tight with suppressed rage.

Cassius was already pulling out his phone. "Now, I call for backup."

Articus blinked at him, surprised. "Backup?"

Cassius nodded, not looking up from his phone. "You didn't think I was planning on us taking on a whole operation by ourselves, did you? I'm not that crazy."

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