Chapter 1
"Arthur, please! Send someone to Black Forest—Noah's been taken by rogue shifters! They'll kill him!" I hit the marble floor hard, blood trickling from my forehead.
My mate, the most feared enforcer in this territory, couldn't be bothered. He was too busy looking for his lover's precious pet.
"Eve, you're sick—lying about our kid to get attention?" He gestured dismissively. "Throw her in the cells until she stops this bullshit."
He locked me up all night.
Next morning, he let me out, figuring I'd gotten the message.
He didn't know that thirty minutes ago, the gate guards brought a blood-soaked box.
Our son's head was inside.
Eve's POV
"Arthur! I need a tracking team! They got Noah at the old mines! East side!"
I burst into the hall, soaked and covered in mud, grabbing at Arthur's boots. My hands shook so hard my nails dug into the leather.
Arthur sat on the couch, carefully cradling Lilith's frightened ferret. When he saw my state, he frowned.
"Eve, have you lost your mind? Look at yourself."
"Listen! Noah was taken by three rogue shifters! I saw it happen!" I gripped his pant leg, refusing to let go. "They tore through the fence and carried him off! You have to send someone NOW!"
Arthur's expression hardened. "The mining site? What the hell were you thinking, taking Noah there?"
"We were just picking berries! Right by the fence! I thought it was safe!" My voice broke. "Please, he's only four—they'll tear him apart!"
"Enough." Arthur roughly shook off my hands, and I hit the floor hard. "If you're gonna lie, at least make it sound real. The east side has elite patrols—rogues couldn't possibly—"
"I'm NOT lying!" I scrambled to my feet, screaming. "They really took Noah! You HAVE to believe me!"
A soft voice drifted down from the stairs. "Arthur? What's happening?"
Lilith descended in a white silk nightgown, pale and fragile-looking. She saw my mud-covered appearance, and disgust flashed in her eyes before she covered it up.
This bitch. Arthur's childhood sweetheart who waltzed back into his life three years ago and tore our family apart without breaking a sweat.
"It's nothing, sweetheart." Arthur immediately stood to steady her. "Eve's just causing trouble again."
"Causing trouble?" I stared at him in disbelief. "My son's been kidnapped and you think I'm causing trouble?"
Lilith sighed softly. "Eve, are you upset because Arthur spent last night helping me look for Snowball?" She gestured to the ferret. "I know you're hurt, but you can't lie about Noah like this."
"I'm not lying!" I lunged toward her, but Arthur shoved me back.
"Look at yourself!" Arthur's voice filled with disgust. "You'd curse your own son just to get attention?"
"Curse him?" It felt like he'd ripped my heart out. "That's MY child! How could I curse him?"
"Then prove it." Arthur's laugh was cold. "If Noah really was taken, where is he now?"
"Deep in the Black Forest! I tracked the blood!" I explained frantically. "Please, if we wait any longer it'll be too late!"
Lilith stepped closer, gently stroking Arthur's arm. "Arthur, maybe you should send a few people to check? Just in case Eve's telling the truth?"
Her words sounded supportive, but the doubt in her tone only convinced Arthur more that I was lying.
"Not necessary." Arthur's voice turned ice-cold. "I won't waste manpower on lies."
"It's NOT a lie!" I snapped, lunging at Lilith. "It's YOU! You're behind this! You want to KILL my child!"
CRACK!
Arthur's hand struck my face, the sharp sound echoing through the hall.
"Eve! Are you out of your MIND?" His pupils shifted to dangerous golden slits. "Lilith speaks up for you and you attack her?"
I clutched my burning cheek as tears poured down. "Arthur... that's your son... your own flesh and blood..."
"Shut up." Arthur turned to the guards. "Lock her in the dungeons. Sub-level three. No water, no food. When she admits she lied, then she gets out."
"NO! You can't do this!" I fought desperately. "Noah's waiting for me! He must be so scared! Please!"
Two massive guards grabbed my arms and started dragging me away.
"Arthur!" I screamed back at him. "If Noah dies, I will NEVER forgive you! NEVER!"
"Get her out of here." Arthur didn't even turn around.
The guards hauled me down the stairs, through one heavy iron door after another. My voice echoed in the narrow corridors, growing weaker.
"Noah... Mommy's coming... wait for Mommy..."
Finally, they shoved me into a cell on sub-level three. The iron door slammed shut with a clang, cutting me off completely from the world above.
The place was pitch black except for a tiny opening that let in weak light. The air was damp and rotten, water seeped down the walls, and the floor was bone-cold.
I curled up in the corner, hugging my knees as I shivered.
"Noah... Mommy's so sorry... Mommy couldn't protect you..."
In the deathly silence, my mind kept replaying Noah being taken. His small body struggling in that rogue shifter's claws, crying for his mommy.
And I—his only hope—was trapped in this godforsaken place, unable to do anything at all.
