Page 54 of Fated to the Enemy Alpha

I wrenched up the floorboards in the corner of my bedroom where I’d hidden the lockbox. Grabbing my car keys, I ran downstairs and out to my SUV, ignoring Ella’s shout behind me.

Each moment pulsated with the weight of losing my entire family. I couldn’t afford to fail.

Half an hour later, I arrived at Magnus’s facility, situated in a deserted neighborhood along the riverfront. I stepped out of my SUV, my footsteps mingling with the muted sounds of the river lapping against the concrete bank.

I approached the inconspicuous concrete building, taking note of the heavy garage door partially open. The chill in the air seemed to seep into my bones, gnawing at my resolve.

Warily, I crouched near the door, peering inside, the low light causing shadows to stretch ominously. The scent was damp and musty. The air was thick with tension. My body was rigid, and my heart raced in a frantic rhythm. Each breath I took was a struggle, my lungs tightening with dread.

As I crouched at the garage door, I dipped my head inside, taking in the dimly lit space. I felt exposed and vulnerable, but I forced myself to announce myself. “Magnus, I’m here. I’ve got the box!”

Shadows loomed and danced around me, playing tricks on my mind. My pulse spiked, and anguish threaded through my veins as I thought of Betty and my mother somewhere in this dank building beyond, my loved ones held hostage by the monster who had dominated our lives for so long.

“Here comes my beautiful bride.” Magnus’s voice rang out mockingly as he stepped into view. His presence was suffocating, every bit the predator prowling toward his prey. “I’m glad you’ve finally decided to follow my commands.”

“Where are they?” I demanded, forcing composure into my words, trying to preserve the fragile mask of bravery I clung to. “Let them go. You have me here. I’ve brought what you wanted.” Out of the periphery of my vision, I noticed a few of Magnus’s men standing at the far edges of the room, too. I hadn’t expected Magnus to be alone, but he had a good handful of men with him.

Magnus tilted his head, a gleam in his eyes. “Yes, I have you and the lockbox, but you’re only one piece of the puzzle, my dear. It’s your mother who knows the code to get into it.

“She, too, has secrets to share, and you were going to be her incentive.” A twisted smile swept across his face. “I’d thought I’d have to threaten your life to make her tell me, but your daughter has been a lovely surprise.”

He gestured, and Carson, one of Magnus’s most trusted packmates, drew back the door behind him. Cold air rushed out, carrying the faint scent of sweat and fear. I could see my mother—pale, thinner, and more fragile than I’d ever seen her. Her honey-blonde hair was now a pale silver and rattier than the glossy locks I remembered. But, otherwise, her slim face and bright blue eyes were the same. My heart seized as I saw her bound hands slung over my daughter. Even tied up, she managed to hug Betty to her, attempting to shield her from harm.

“Betty! Mom!” I started forward.

But Magnus ordered, “Not so fast!” He lifted a finger. “Come forward Lina and lay the lockbox in the center of the floor,” he commanded.

Betty had looked up from where she was burrowed into my mom, and her bright blue eyes were wide and startled as she silently took me in. I could see the puffiness around her eyes and the wetness of her cheeks. She’d been crying. Protectiveness simmered through me, and the thought of Magnus or his men hurting her had rage pummeling me. My wolf wanted to rip into them, but I wrestled her back down.

I ventured forward, setting the box in the middle of the room. I stepped away, backing up toward the garage door again.

“Now, Miriam,” Magnus continued. “If you wish for your granddaughter to remain unharmed—you’ll tell me the password to the lockbox.”

Panic coursed through me as I locked eyes with my mother, who looked as though the weight of the world rested upon her shoulders.

But a flicker of anger stole across my mother’s pale face. She said, “It’ll take far more than destroying the evidence in there to remove my friend’s blood from your hands. But I think you know that. Charlotte’s still very much with you, isn’t she?” My mother taunted Magnus.

Charlotte.

Stephen’s mother, Charlotte Blackthorn. So that’s what the lockbox contained: evidence of Charlotte Blackthorn’s murder, the true alpha of the Blackthorn pack.

I thought of how my mom had looked shaken that day she met me in Central Park and the mysterious directions she’d given me to the lockbox, which was housed in our warehouse by the docks.

My heart raced as I realized the truth—this box held more than secrets; it contained the remains of Magnus’s past that would enable the Council of Blackthorn elders to condemn him. My heart clenched as I wished once more that Stephen was here. He deserved to know that evidence existed that could prove Magnus’s crime against his mother.

“Miriam, you should choose your words with greater care,” Magnus replied, his demeanor colder than before. “The password or your granddaughter will pay the price.” He nodded to Finn, one of Magnus’s most trusted men, who stood close to my mother and Betty. Tall and muscular, with sharp features, he advanced toward them.

“Mom…” I begged, my heart squeezing as I watched my mother wrestle with the choice Magnus demanded of her. I had put her in this situation, and guilt gnawed at my insides. But Betty mustn’t suffer at the hands of this odious man.

My mother’s expression was a mixture of resignation and love. “The password is 210704.”

My heart pounded. They were our lucky numbers: my birthday, which fell on Midsummer’s in June, and then the fourth of July. My birthday had always kicked off our summer celebration, which culminated with the fourth of July. My mom and I had always found the time to celebrate—going out on the Hudson River in our boat to watch the fireworks or taking a special trip away. Those wonderful memories now seemed to spill into the present, such a startling contrast to this dank facility that we now found ourselves trapped in.

Magnus went to the lockbox, while my mother stood up, attempting to use Magnus’s inattention to move toward me. But Finn held her back, and Carson stood guard at the door, ready to shut them back in if they tried anything.

A cold smile spread across Magnus’s face as he leaned down to the box, aligning the numbers on the combination dial as a satisfied click filled the space.

With deft hands, Magnus opened the box, retrieving a USB drive encased within. The innocuous bit of plastic looked so underwhelming and not the priceless treasure it was.

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