Chapter 99

I couldn’t believe it. The day of the wedding was finally here. From what I could see upon my first arrival at the vineyard, everything looked perfect. Thanks to Diana, Lana, and Kristen, the place was decorated beautifully.

Even though James was busy getting ready in his own room, I could tell that he and I were both buzzing with anticipation. I was so grateful that I had Emily, Lana, and Kristen helping me get ready and adding the final touches to my apparel.

“Oh, Mia, this dress is beautiful,” Emily said.

Lana and Kristen nodded in agreement while working my hair into place.

“Thanks,” I said meekly.

Perhaps it was just last-minute jitters, or...maybe, there was another reason why I was so on edge. I kept trying to tell myself that everything was going to be fine, but I couldn’t shake the feeling.

“Mia, please, everything’s going to be perfect.”

“There’s no reason to worry.”

“It’s not about the wedding,” I told them. “I have this strange feeling in my stomach that something else is going on.”

The three shared a worried look between themselves.

“Who’s watching the babies?” I asked.

“Lily,” Kristen said.

I nodded my head. “Alright...Look, I’m fine. Why don’t you all go out and find your seats in the courtyard? I’ll be ready in a few moments.”

When I finished up the final touches, I got up from the vanity table and took a solid deep breath. I left the dressing room and decided to take a few seconds to pop in to see the twins before heading out to the ceremony. I found the room where the babies were currently resting in and quietly slipped inside.

My eyes widened in shock as I caught a startling sight of Lily knocked unconscious on the floor.

“Lily!” I rushed to her side to see if she was alright and tried to help her up. But she wasn’t coming around.

I frantically glanced around the room to try and find something I could use to help, but in the process of my search, I realized that both of my babies were missing. My heart dropped into my stomach.

“Oh my God!” I shrieked. “Scarlet! Theodore!”

A menacing chuckle came from across the room. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Edward stepped out of the shadows, looking weak and rough. The poison he’d taken, obviously wasn’t enough to kill him but was severely weakening him.

“Edward, give me my children,” I seethed. “I don’t think so. Did you think I was going to give up so easily?”

“Please, put the babies down. Whatever is going on, will be dealt with between the two of us. The babies have nothing to do with this.”

Ever so slowly, Edward handed over my children. I placed Scarlet back down in her bassinet as I heard a disturbing clicking sound behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see Edward holding a handgun, aimed firmly at me.

He smiled menacingly. “You’ve picked a great setting for the wedding. A vineyard located near a cliff, overlooking the ocean. How tragic would it be for everyone to find that James’ family took such a horrible fall? Let’s go.”

With the end of the gun pressed into my side, he forced me out the door with my son still curled in my hands. I kept my gaze straight ahead and prayed for James to see the trail of flower petals I was leaving behind from my bouquet.

[James’ POV]

James was immediately sought out by Chris and Daniel that there was a problem. The poor man was nervous enough as it was. James felt like he’d been waiting an eternity to be properly weeded to his mate.

“What?” he asked frantically. “What is it?”

Chris shook his head furiously. “We can’t find Mia and one of the twins is missing too.”

James shot to his feet and suppressed a vicious snarl. “What?!”

He tried to get ahold of his wolf. Now was not the time for his head to become filled with doubts and skepticism. “We have to find her,” he hissed. “Something could be wrong.”

“Hang on,” Chris said. He extended his arm out to point at something on the ground. “What’s that?”

“Look like a trail,” Daniel remarked.

“A trail of flower petals,” James muttered under his breath. The three men tried to follow the distinct path that led them out of the building and toward the cliffs. “Mia...”

He didn’t want to think the worst, but he needed help.

“James!” Lana and Kristen rushed to his side. “Have you seen Mia?”

“We think something’s happened,” Daniel noted.

The sisters shared a fearful look. “When we were helping Mia get ready before, she said she was feeling off. Something wasn't feeling right to her.”

Kristen shook her head. “She said ‘I have this strange feeling in my stomach that something else is going on’.”

“I may be of assistance,” Ben said from the side.

James had caved in with the invite being extended to Ben on Mia’s behalf. And a voice in the back of his mind he was glad he did.

“Can you find her?” Ben nodded his head. “You mentioned something about a trail of flower petals? What direction are they going in?”

They all watched Ben take out a large case of specially designed drones. “Mia had requested that we use them to capture some great pictures of the ceremony. I never thought I’d be using them for something like this. But, here goes nothing.”

He opened his laptop, fired up the drones, and sent them in the direction of the petals. The group watched the screen with heavy intent.

“Look,” Lana pointed. “I see something.”

Ben zoomed in for a better image to where they were all looking at a present video of Mia trudging up the cliff with her baby in her arms...And a very pissed-off-looking Edward stalking behind her.