Chapter 48

Lauren

I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I gripped Abigail’s hand tighter, both of us running through the airport crowd, scanning the rows of bustling people, hoping to find Owen.

This feeling was familiar, yet it never felt more wrong. Not after what almost happened to Abigail.

My heart was pounding so loudly in my chest I could barely hear the shouts of people passing by, their voices muffled by the storm in my head.

“Owen!” I shouted again, my voice desperate, pleading. “Owen, where are you?”

Abigail’s face was pale, her wide eyes darting around in panic. “He has to be here, Lauren. He has to be. He said he would be!”

We had already checked the terminals, the security lines, the exits. There was no sign of him. I could feel the weight of each passing second, each moment that stretched out like an eternity.

What if he really was taken… what if they already injected…

No. I don’t even know who they was. No, the thought was too much.

Then, my breath hitched as I saw something out of the corner of my eye. A figure slumped against the wall near the entrance.

I froze, my body going rigid with shock and relief. The small form, the dark hair. The words nearly leaped from my chest.

"Owen!" I screamed, breaking into a sprint, my heart crashing in my chest as I rushed toward him, pulling Abigail with me.

“Owen!” She yelled, stumbling next to me. “You big dope! You scared us! This wasn’t the plan!”

He looked up at the sound of our voices, his face pale, his eyes unfocused. He tried to push himself up but faltered, his knees buckling beneath him.

“Woah! Hey!” Abigails voice crumbled, “Owen! Are you okay!?”

My stomach lurched as I saw the blood smeared across his jeans and the scrapes on his hands.

“Owen!” I reached him just as he collapsed back to the ground, my hands grabbing his shoulders, trying to steady him. “What happened? Are you okay?”

My eyes searched frantically for any injection marks, anything that confirmed my worst fears.

He gave me a small, shaky smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m fine,” he said, his voice unsteady. “Just a little scrape. I…uh, tripped.”

"Tripped?" Abigail and I repeated, our voices rising in disbelief. “You’re bleeding, Owen.” I hissed, “This isn’t just a scrape. What the happened? Did someone hurt you!?”

He looked at me, his face drawn with exhaustion, I think more so with the situation then anything. “Woah, seriously, I’m fine, really. Just a stupid fall down some stupid stairs. I’ll be okay.”

Abigail huffed, her tiny hands rubbing her face, “Seriously, some stairs! Ugh, you’re such a cluts you gave me a heart attack!”

Owen’s face soured with a smug smirk. “Sorry, not all of us are lame enough to get kidnapped.”

Abigail huffed, her hands moving to her hips, though a smile crossed her lips. “Um, excuse you! At least I—”

“Enough, you two!” I snapped, my panic bleeding through. “This isn’t the time. Owen, you scared your father, me, everyone all over again. This isn’t a game! You’re hurt. You’re not okay.”

Owen shrank back, and Abigail gave him a teasing smirk, but I was quick to turn on her. “And you,” I said sharply, watching her posture falter. “You led him here! You’re both at fault. You’re too young to be running off like this, playing games with your lives. There are real dangers out there—real people who could hurt you if you don’t know where you are! Do you understand?!”

They both nodded slowly, their timid gazes meeting mine hesitantly. I took a heavy breath, feeling the weight of my words settle over me, before I dropped to my knees and pulled them both into a tight hug.

“You two…” I breathed into their shoulders, squeezing them close. “You’ve got to stop giving us heart attacks.”

“I’m sorry, mommy,” Abigail murmured in my ear.

“Yeah… I’m sorry.” Owen’s pressed into my other.

I squeezed them one more time before pulling away. “We need to get you to a doctor now, Owen.”

He glanced down at his scrapped knees and hands before nodding as Abigail took his hand.

“Come on,” she pulled with a smile.

We took off, Owen’s weight was heavier than it should’ve been, his steps sluggish and uncoordinated as we half-carried him to the car. He must have been hurting more then he let on.

I could feel the bile rising in my throat as I glanced at him, buckling him into the seat.

We managed to get him into the backseat of the car, and I floored the gas pedal, my hands shaking on the wheel as I drove toward the nearest hospital.

I could barely focus on the road as my mind raced with thoughts. We would missed our flight. Sucked right back into what I’ve been trying to escape my whole life.

My hand pressed to my head, rubbing far too hard.

“Well… not much I can do now,” I muttered, glancing at him in the rearview mirror. “We’re almost there. Just hold on,” I said a little louder for them to hear.

Owen gave me a weak nod, his eyes fluttering closed as if the effort of staying awake was too much. I knew he was okay, but still, just seeing him tired was raising a panic I didn’t want to feel in my chest.

We rushed Owen and Abigail inside the hospital. The nurse immediately called for a stretcher, and within moments, Owen was whisked away. Abigail and I followed, my hands shaking as I fumbled with my phone. I hadn’t told anyone I had found him.

Sitting beside Owen’s bed, I watched the doctors work, the beeping of machines and rustling of nurses filling the room. Owen was awake, pale, eyes fluttering.

“It’s just a scraped knee,” he muttered, trying to sound strong. “I’m fine.”

“Save your strength,” I said, voice tight. “You’re the alpha’s son. You don’t get to downplay this.”

He looked at me, his face softening as he saw the tears in my eyes. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I didn’t want you to leave.”

I squeezed his hand, throat thick. “Owen,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “I’m here.”

Abigail stood quietly at the foot of the bed, her eyes red. She caught my gaze and gave me a small, shaky smile. I pulled her close, kissing her forehead. They were just kids. I had to remind myself of that.

The doctor came in, a kind woman with gentle eyes. “He’s going to be fine. Some bruising and a minor concussion. We’ll keep him here for observation.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Relief washed over me, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Why had Owen been so determined to find us? Was it what Abigail said?

The doctor left, and I sank into the chair beside Owen’s bed. Abigail sat beside me, quiet. My mind raced with questions. I had been so focused on leaving the pack, on escaping everything, but I hadn’t considered the impact on them—on him.

“Mommy,” Abigail said softly, breaking the silence. “Can we please… stay?”

I looked at her, her eyes full of understanding. “I don’t know what to do anymore, Abigail. I thought leaving was the answer, but now… I’m not sure. Sometimes… adults don’t have all the answers. We just do what we think is right.”

She took my hand. “And sometimes kids know instead. We need to stay, Mom. Please.”

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe I wasn’t as lost as I thought. Maybe peace wasn’t in leaving—it was here, with them. They had a voice.

I sat for a while longer, holding both their hands as Owen slept. I wanted to believe everything would be okay, that we could heal.

Hours passed, and as Abigail and Owen dozed, I found myself reviewing Owen’s charts at the small desk. My brows furrowed as I noticed something off.

Something wasn’t right. The numbers didn’t sit right.

I leaned in, tracing the words on the paper.

It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t.

“No,” I whispered, my breath catching. “That’s… that’s not possible.”

I stumbled back, my hands trembling, staring at the chart. My heart raced. The room seemed to spin, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.