Chapter 13


    13. The House In The Countryside KIARA When the first rays of dawn began to appear , that instinct that


    I had been following through the night , suddenly vanished . My wolf fell silent and I suddenly felt all


    alone . I was exhausted from the running as well . Should I stop and take a small break ? Maybe it was


    better if I did , but I wont be for long , Kataleya was out there and I needed to find her . I wondered if


    Alejandro found out that I had left already … I’m sure he probably tried calling at some point …


    I shifted and dropped to my knees in exhaustion . I opened my bag , pulling out some sweatpants and a


    crop top , putting them on quickly before sitting back , feeling the pain in my legs and arms . Goddess …


    Kataleya . I hope she was ok , wherever she was … I would never be able to forgive myself if something


    happened to her . Please let her be safe ….


    I stared at the sky , my heart clenching with worry as I tried topose myself . The distant whimper of


    my wolf in my head told me she was still upset . We are going to find her , ok ? I told my wolf , although I


    knew I wouldn’t get an answer . I ripped open a gran bar and bit into it a s I took out my phone and


    switched it on . The shattered screen was still working , for now , I hoped it would make do for a while . I


    sighed seeing the thirty – seven miss calls . Oh fuck . Three from Alejandro … Twenty from Dad …


    Goddess , Dad , rx .. Four from Raven , two from Rayhan , three from Darien and five from Liam .


    I sighed , so the entire poption knew I had vanished … I looked at my messages , my heart thudding


    at the single message from Alejandro . ‘ I asked you for one thing . One fucking thing : To stay the fuck


    safe . Seriously Kia ? Just upping and leaving like that ? I had half a mind to ask Ri to fucking find you ,


    call me when you see this . ASAFP . ‘ I closed my eyes . He was pissed , as I expected him to be … I


    needed to call him … I skimmed through the other messages , Dad and Liam were stressing out like it


    was the end of the world . Dad was incredibly pissed off as well , also warning me that Alejandro was


    furious and he fucking should be .


    Was I sixteen or something ? These men were being ridiculous , I understood their point , but I was not


    an incapable woman who was going to sit at home whilst my daughter was out there . I’m sure I could


    help find her . The more of us looking the better . My own irritation and restlessness were ring up and


    before I could even do anything else , Dad’s iing call came again and I sighed , answering it . ” Hel-


    ” ” Kiara , why did you leave ? Why was your phone off all night ?! What if something happened ?! You


    and your mother do not fucking listen- ” ” DAD ! ” I cut him off .


    ” Calm down ! I’m fine , and I can’t really answer in wolf form , can 1 ? I think you and Alejandro forget


    that I am not a child anymore . I’m capable enough to help look for Kataleya and I’m sure the more


    people looking , the better . Please understand that . ” ” We know that , but we also know that even


    Alejandro wasn’t able to deter these wolves when he has taken down hundreds of wolves single –


    handedly in his teens ! These wolves are something else Kiara and nothing to be taken lightly ! ” Dad


    growled . I frowned , I knew that … ” Dad , I’m not stupid . ” ” Kiara , you were the one who found these


    notes , don’t you think Alejandro is worried that just like Dante is cursed , that something may happen to


    you ?


    ” Ok I didn’t think of that … but I was fine . ” Dad , she’s my daughter ! I am not going t o sleep on a bed


    not knowing how she is doing ! She must be terrified ; how do you expect me to just sit at home ? Please


    Dad , let’s not do this . ” I almost pleaded , unable to hide the pain in my voice . He sighed heavily in


    defeat . ” I understand , but we were on it , we are going to get our Kataleya back . Where are you ? ” ” I


    was following my instincts , you know how I’ve always been able to sense this stuff , what if I am able to


    find her ? I’m not that far out from your pack . Just south . I said quietly .


    ” That in itself makes me think we all may be on to something , we got news that there were some odd


    urrences near Oxford . If you’re heading south , stay that way . Maybe we are close . ”  My heart leapt


    at his word , any clue or sighting was hope . ” Understood . ” ” ” Kiara . Wait for Alejandro though . ” My


    heart was pounding with hope and when I cut the call , I quickly dialled Alejandro’s . His phone rang ,


    and after a few moments , he answered . ” Let me speak . ” I said before he could even answer . ”


    Please . ” ” Do I have a fucking choice ? You’ll just hang up and continue doing whatever the fuck you


    want if I don’t . ” I winced at the anger in his voice , it hurt having that rage directed at me , I couldn’t


    deny that .


    But we weren’t going to agree , and I didn’t want to argue , this was about our daughter , and I was going


    to help find her . ” So then just listen . ” I said stubbornly , resulting in a murderous growl ripping through


    the phone . I exhaled slowly , trying to stay calm . ” I am not far from Oxford , I’ll join you there , but if you


    even think about sending me home … I won’t listen Alejandro . ” I heard him sigh in irritation , and when


    h e spoke , frustration was clear in his tone . ” Fine . ” He replied through gritted teeth . ” I’m heading


    towards Oxford now . I’ll meet you there . ” I replied quietly .


    It huft so much , realised how angry he was at me , but I couldn’t voice what I was feeling inside . This


    pain of having her away from me was killing me . I just wish h e could understand how hard it was being


    a mother and unable to do anything for our daughter and not even knowing how she was . Was she fed ?


    Was she safe ? ” How far are you ? ” He asked me , his voice as cold and emotionless as it was when he


    spoke to others . ” Not too far . I should be there in a few hours .


    ” Hmm . The silence between us was so tense and painful , it wasn’t like us . But right now , w e had


    different mindsets , and there’s nothing that I could say would change his anger or make him realise how


    I felt . ” I’ll see you soon . ” I whispered softly . I hung up . My heart was aching as I stared down at my


    shattered phone screen , sighing heavily . I better get up and head out , Alejandro was waiting for me .


    Recing everything in my bag , I shifted and began running once again , not caring for the pain in my


    body as I ran . Determination fuelled me as I made my way through the forest and towards .


    Oxford . Kataleya , I’ming for you , my angel . An hour had passed since I had been travelling , and


    then suddenly that instinct that had filled me returned once again . I tensed . Could something be here ? I


    looked around , scanning the area . On one side , there were hills and bushes , along with many trees


    scattered to one side . We were i n the countryside . To the right were some fields of farms . My wolf was


    restless after being silent for so long , telling me to go forward , and I did , my heart thrumming with panic


    and anticipation . Was Kataleya close ? After a good fifteen minutes , I became confused .


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    There was nothing out of the ordinary here . I slowly continued on my way , my eyes darting around , my


    senses o n alert . I sniffed the air , my ears perking , trying to pick up on anything that was out of the


    ordinary .


    Was there perhaps a cavern or something ? Slowly observing the ground , I tried to pick up any footprints


    , any track marks that would give me a clue to what was around here . It was after a good fifteen minutes


    when I saw the paw prints on the ground . Faint , but they were there . My heart beating erratically , was I


    onto something ? I padded along slowly . Taking note of every inch , every millimetre of the ground . My


    heart began thumping fast as I realised that they were bing more and more frequent , clear signs


    that wolves had definitely been here .


    The size o f the paw prints belonged to no ordinary wolf , but werewolves with big paws and ws . From


    what I knew , there was no pack around here , and it was clear these paw prints had tried to be covered


    up ; if I hadn’t been observing carefully , I would have missed them . After another twenty minutes there


    was still nothing , but my intuition was bing stronger .


    I paused wondering if should call Alejandro , but what if I was something ? What if it was just a false


    rm and I called him away from . somewhere closer to Kataleya ? I’ll keep searching for a bit longer


    and take it from there , a I was about to lose hope as I was taken out of the forest and towards open


    countryside , feeling unsure if I should continue or not , about to turn away , when I saw it . It was nothing


    out of the ordinary , just one of several simr ces I had just passed , but something about it gave me


    the chills . It was arge country home with grey walls , it was huge .


    Many trees surrounded the actual building beyond the gates , ck iron gates with sharp spears and


    barbed wire at the top that was clearly made to keep trespassers out . The entire property was


    surrounded by these metal fences . I couldn’t sense anything or anyone around . However , my wolf kept


    telling me to go forward , urging me to and so I listened .


    Could this actually be where she was being kept ? Just the thought that I may be close made my heart


    leap in excitement . I looked beyond the gates and in the distance , past the bushes and treés , I could


    see the huge house , or should I say manor . There was n o life or light in the windows , not an animal


    nor person in the surrounding gardens . But still , I felt like I should go check it out . How do I get in ? Do


    I just see if there’s any broken part in it and just sneak in ?


    Sounded like a n . Let’s do this ! Something at the back of my mind told m e that I should stop , shift ,


    and let Alejandro know where I was first . But the stronger part of me that was telling me to keep on


    going forward , something that told me that my daughter was here , and I couldn’t ignore that voice . Still


    … for Kataleya , just in case she was there , I should tell Alejandro . I quickly shifted , taking the phone


    out and sent a quick message .


    ‘ I’m at this location , I feel as if there’s something here , I thought I’ll let you know before I check it out . I


    don’t know if I’m even on to something , but I have this feeling that she’s here . ‘ I text before sharing my


    location . Putting the phone on silent I slipped it back into my bag and shifted into my wolf once more . I


    broke into a run , rushing around the premises , keeping alert just in case there was anyone out here ,


    because if they were even here , there would be some security . My eyes darted around , searching for a


    way in , but there wasn’t any .


    I frowned , and then I knew what I was going to do . Jump the wall … I looked up at the huge iron fences


    . They were at least twenty feet high . If I got caught on one , it wouldn’t be pretty … Then Kia , you just


    got to make sure you aren’t impaled on it . I began to back away , putting space between me and the


    deadly wall that promised to kill me . With my bag in my mouth , I took a deep breath of determination


    and broke into a run , running towards the huge metal wall of spears , before I leapt into the air , my


    purple aura zing around me , as I ,unched myself over the wall .


    Fuck ! I reigned my aura in , my heart thumping knowing anyone could have sensed my ability . I felt the


    spears graze the underside of my belly , making me growl internally . Agonising pain tore through me ,


    and I bit back a whimper , it was more than what a normal cut should have been . The agony was far


    more than a normal wound , for a second I couldn’t breathe and I grunted , there had to be some sort of


    poison on those spears .


    Inded on the other side on my feet , hissing slightly as I dropped my bag . Fuck this hurt . I nced


    around quickly , hoping that nobody saw me before I quickly shifted back . I took out an oversize hoodie


    and the second pair of sweatpants that I had , examining my stomach , before I pulled them on . The


    cuts were quite bad , but I couldn’t smell any poison or anything . Fuck . What was this ? I quickly


    rummaged in my bag and took out one of the antidote vials .


    I wasn’t sure if the spikes had contained silver or wolfsbane , but I was not going to risk it . Goddess . I


    downed the vial quickly and put the empty bottle back in my bag before picking it up . Walking towards


    the country house silently . I made sure to stick to the sides , keeping hidden by the bushes and trees


    that lined the property . There was still no oneing for me … maybe I had been wrong , otherwise , I


    should have been attacked by now . My wolf was calm once again too . Too calm … I couldn’t even


    sense her emotions . How strange . I took my phone out , wondering if Alejandro had seen my message .


    ” That’s risky Kia , wait for us . I’ll be there i n fifteen . ‘


    1 frowned but nodded , he wasn’t wrong , I needed to be careful . ‘ Okay . I’m on the property though , I’ll


    hide . ‘ I texted back . By the looks of it , the property was lived in . I could see that clearly from the way


    the house was well kept and clear marks of footprints covered the ground . I kept to the shadows , trying


    to find the best ce toy low when I felt that same ominous aura behind me that I had felt when


    Delsanra had performed that spell on Dante .


    My heart thumped in my chest , and I spun around quickly , tossing my phone into the bushes . But


    before I could even see or take in anything else , something grabbed my throat . Pain seared through me


    as if I was being burned to death . A shriek left my lips at the pain that hammered at my entire body .


    Pure agony was ripping through me . It was an excruciating pain that made my head and my body


    scream for reprieve . What … I can handle pain usually … This …


    Whatever was holding onto me was like poison and death itself . I felt my energy being drained from me


    as I struggled to free myself with everything I had , but it was futile . My attacker was unseen as it


    mmed me against a tree , but it was there , and I could feel its darkness and power . I couldn’t breathe


    . I couldn’t ….. I wed at the invisible hands that squeezed my neck . I could see the blood that was


    dripping down my neck , and smell it in the air .


    Goddess … Kataleya . Fuck no . I couldn’t let this happen . I had to be strong for her . Summoning


    everything I had , with a burst of energy , my eyes zed purple . I was not weak ! I was not going to


    sumb to this . With strength that I did not even know I still had , I pushed whatever was holding me


    away from me , my aura swirling around me like a shield . ” Do not mess with me . ” I growled


    venomously . The dark entity that I couldn’t see pressed against my barriers , and I heard it hiss as i t


    moved away . So , whatever it was , it couldn’t go against my barrier … Good , because I was not here to


    lose .


    Not when m y daughter was close . Just when I thought that I might win this round , loud growls erupted


    in the air , and I spun around , just as six zing urban reddish – brown wolves lunged at me , with their


    eyes glowing like burning embers . I couldn’t even move out of the way . The impact knocked me to the


    ground , two of them biting into me viciously . I kicked them off , my anger ring up . ” I demand to


    speak to the Crimson King ! ” I growled ferociously .


    Themand in m y voice emanated throughout the area , and I saw the hesitation in the wolves as


    they exchanged looks . So , I was correct . This was the home of the Crimson King . Which meant


    Kataleya was here . She was here and I was going to find her . Mama’sing baby girl , just hold out


    till we got you . The wolves watched me carefully as I got t o my feet , my aura still swirling around m e .


    As much as I wanted to rip them all to pieces for everything they had done , I knew I wouldn’t win , the


    bites in my thigh and hip were painful but nothing was as bad as the aftereffect of the unseen entity . I


    didn’t move , hoping they understood I was waiting for their reply . I had a feeling they were conversing


    with one another from the way they were looking at each other , until one of them shifted into a man with


    pale skin and ming red hair .


    His eyes held such a coldness , that they didn’t seem … human . ” So , the Queen hase to get her


    pup , all alone . ” His voice was as bitter and cold as the rest of him , filled with disgust and hatred


    towards me . He had an ent … Spanish ? Well , the feeling was mutual . ” Yes , I’m here for my pup


    and I will not leave without her . As for anyone who has hurt her , I will unleash hell . Now show me to


    your king , who seems to want something from us . Let’s see what this debt is regarding .


    ” One of the other men who had shifted now had my bag and even though I tried t o reach out through


    the link , either Alejandro was too far out , or something was blocking me frommunicating with him ,


    because all I could feel was the block . I just prayed he got my location notification and that my phone


    didn’t breakpletely . It was obvious whatever that thing earlier was didn’t care about the phone …


    Was it the Djinn ? I shuddered inwardly at the very thought . I had to y this safe , even it meant stalling


    for time , we just needed to get Kataleya out . I just needed my baby girl safe …