It's been three weeks since I took over as temporary Beta and in that time I've only seen Conner and Liah at school mostly because my duties keep me in the pack house or on the grounds most of the time.

“I really miss hanging out with them and I really wanna know why Conner didn't tell us when now that I think about it, it's so fucking obvious” I thought as I rubbed my face while taking a break from all the paper work. All of a sudden Reign said “I'm sure there's a very good reason for them keeping silent. Think about everything Conner has been through and tell me you wouldn't have done the same in his position” before going quiet again.

“Well, it's nice to know you're still around Reign. You've been quiet longer than usual. I take it this bothers you too probably more than it bothers me” I thought but he never responded. He did, however, get me thinking about Conners' life up until now.

“I guess I can see where him not telling us after finding out we were leaving the next day but why does it feel like he's been avoiding us since I figured it out?” I thought as my phone buzzed on the desk. Picking it up, I saw it was a message from Conner

[Hey, I'm sorry to bother you. I know you're probably busy. I just wanna talk since we haven't had much time to do that recently. If you're free later, meet Liah and I by the lake around 7. Same place we were when your dad and Tony woke up. If you don't show, we'll know you're busy or mad at us, mainly me, and we'll leave you alone until you're ready to talk.] As I read his message, I just got more confused. So, I decided to type back [I am busy but I miss you guys. I'll try my best to be there but if I don't show it's only because I'm busy not mad. Okay, not mad enough to not talk to you just enough to wanna understand why. And don't you dare think of not talking to me just because I'm busy.]

Pressing the send key, I set an alarm for 6:30 and then got back to work. Several hours passed without a response when my alarm finally went off. Finishing the document I had been working on, I quickly stacked the completed ones in the corner bin and headed to my room. Just as I closed my bedroom door minutes later, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my neck as Reign howled then everything went black.

“Ahh” I yelled just as I heard Moon say “Madox and Reign are in real trouble.” Shocked I asked “Are you sure?”

“Yes Conner, I'm sure. That wasn't an ordinary hit. The only reason you're conscious to have this discussion is that Reign and I dampened the pain to protect you” Moon explained quickly.

“Crap, do you know where he is or what's going on?” I asked as my phone began to buzz. Picking it up, I opened the message from an unknown sender to see a picture of Madox tied to a chair unconscious. The message read [We have your friend or should I say your Mate. If you want him back, You'll have to come to the following address ALONE and do whatever we say.]

“Crap, shit, fuck, damn it” I yelled as Liah came back out of my bathroom.

“What baby? What's wrong?” she asked confused. Handing her my phone, I let the tears I had been trying to hold back at the site of my mate and best friend tied to a chair fall.

“Oh my god! We have to tell everyone. Or at least Kyle, Ty, and your parents” she said as my bedroom door opened to reveal those exact people.

“Oh, wow! I wasn't expecting that” she said looking shocked.

“I was. I knew Ty would feel my distress but I wasn't sure anyone else would” I said through my tears as I turned to face them as Kyle closed my door.

“We didn't. We felt your anger through the pack bond yes, but we also heard you yelling a minute ago” mom said looking worried as they sat on the sofa while I began to pace.

“Wanna fill us in son?” dad said gently and I signaled Liah to pass my phone around while I paced biting my thumb nail. As each member of my family studied the image and accompanying text, they looked confused minus Ty who looked pissed.

“I'm confused. I thought you didn't find your mate” mom said. Stopping to face them, I took a deep breath and explained “actually, I never said that. You all assumed I didn't but I never corrected you because Madox was leaving the next day to assume the duties of the Beta, his birth rite, and I didn't want to take that away from him or make him chose. So, I chose to keep quiet instead. Only three others knew for sure aside from me but Madox isn't stupid, far from it actually, and figured it out within a week of our birthday. We were supposed to meet by the lake tonight and I was gonna tell him for sure but as you can see something happened.” Taking a deep breath, I let that information sink in before dad asked “then why were you crying on your birthday?”

“Because I found out he had to leave before I knew we were mates and it hurt so much to force myself to let him go without telling him I've been in love with him pretty much since we met” I explained as more tears began to fall prompting Liah and Ty to sandwich me in a hug. After a short silence, Kyle asked “okay two questions. One: who all knew for sure? And two: any ideas who is behind this?”

“For sure: Conner, obviously, Ty, me, and Reign, Madox wolf. Madox himself figured it out by asking questions in a vague manner without mentioning names” Liah explained.

“Only two people I can think of would pull a stunt like this but I really hope I'm wrong because that would give an even more terrifying meaning to the 'and do whatever we say' part of the message” I said as more tears streamed down my face and I began to tremble in their hold.

“If that bastard is behind this, I'll kill him myself” Ty said through clenched teeth.

“I take it you think Argos is behind this? Then who would he be working with?” Dad asked confirming what we assumed.

“Madox main tormentor, Carl Delancy. He's been wanting more power and thought that Dox could give it to him when his brother became Beta. Now that he's temporary Beta, he's been getting more aggressive in his beatings. Dox doesn't know but I've felt every beating he's taken since he went back even if they weren't at full strength” I explained and as if to prove my point, I felt a hit to my stomach causing me to wince and bend forward against Liah and Ty's arms that were still wrapped around me.

“Crap, they're beating him now?” Liah asked worry lacing her voice.

“Yeah” I said trying to remember how to breath.

“Moon, is he awake?” I asked hoping he was since that would mean whatever they'd done to him healed already.

“Yes, but he's weak. They've drugged him to keep him docile but Reign and I are working on it” he said quickly.

“Okay, keep me updated on his condition. We might be able to use that to our advantage when I can get there” I said trying to stand back up.

“Okay, I have no choice but to go. However, they don't need to know I have back up close. That address is in neutral territory. So, we can set up an ambush upwind and as they expect I'll go in physically alone. However, I will be linked with Liah, Ty, and Kyle who will have command of three units placed at three different locations to block any form of retreat. Mom and dad, can you run triage for any of our people hurt during this?” I asked as I explained my plan.

“Yeah, we can do that sweetie” mom said putting his hand on dads who nodded before saying “the pack doctor and two nurses will be available to assist.”

“Alright, let's go save your mate little brother” Kyle said standing. Everyone nodded their agreement proving I wasn't alone in this. Twenty minutes later, we had everyone assembled and awaiting orders.

“He's your mate, so this is your show little brother” Kyle said then turned to the warriors present and said “I am you Alpha, but he is your commander. Everyone will follow Conner's orders as if they were mine” prompting everyone to yell “yes Alpha.” Gathering my generals, I sent Ty west around the lake with his team, Liah south with hers, and Kyle would be at my back heading east. My parents went south with Liah into the neutral zone and we had contacted Alpha Derek to send some men who weren't connected to Carl from the north to blockade them in. We also asked him not to tell Madox dad and brother as I didn't want to worry them since they weren't fully recovered yet but I did personally call his mother and told her everything. She was surprised, happy, and worried but I promised I'd get him back no matter what.

“Get both of you back safely. You're my son in law now too. So, I want both my boys back home in one piece. You hear me Conner?” she said making tears slide from my eyes once more.

“Yes ma'am, I hear you” I said then added “thank you for understanding and not being mad about all this.”

“You're welcome honey. Now go save our boy. I love you, be careful” she said hanging up before I could respond. Pulling the phone from my ear, I whispered “I love you too and I will” before shoving it into my duffle bag. Moving back around the house and taking a deep breath, I yelled “let's move” and everyone responded “yes sir” before shifting into their faster wolf forms.