76. Friend 

***Natalia** 

Rionna’s face pales when she turns to face me, a young woman standing at her side attempting to comfort her.

Something is very wrong hereDevina whispers. “Where is Kota?” I ask, dread settling in the pit of my stomach. “Where is my baby?” 

“T-I,” Rionna stammers, tears clinging to her eyes as she looks around the play center frantically. “I was just reading a magazine…” she whimpers. “And then-”

I follow her gaze, not seeing Kota anywhere in the playcenter.

Where is my baby?” I repeat, handing my things to Celina and storming through the play center.“ Kota? Kota, ¿dónde estás? Dakota!”

Rionna follows close behind me, tears streaming down her face as I search for my pup. My lungs feel as though they are collapsing, everbreath I take labored and almost too painful to take. I hold my breath as I search the area, refusing to breathe until I know my baby is safe. A lump forms in my throat, trapping in the scream I want to release so desperately that it scratches and claws at my soul.

After a thorough search, I turn to Rionna, hoping this is all just a sick joke she’s playing.

“Where is he, Ri?” I ask her calmly, growing irritated when she opens her mouth but says nothing. Grabbing her by the shoulders, I shake her violently. “Where is my baby?!”

“l-I’m so sorry!” she cries, collapsing on her knees and begging for forgiveness. “I was just reading my

magazine when this-this man came up to me and-”

Aman?!”I snap. “What man?!”

“I don’t know.” Rionna shakes her head. “He was tall… blue eyes,” she says, gesturing to her eyes.“ H-his hair, it was light but not blonde.”

A chill crawls up my spine as she describes the man she had spoke to. “H-He asked me which kid was mine and then I woke up all alone,“ Rionna explains. “I started

them for comfort. “I don’t… I don’t know what happened! I don’t know! I looked away for just a moment,

it was just a moment-”

She weeps uncontrollably, Agnes doing her best to soothe her. Meanwhile, something inside me is breaking, shattering into a million pieces as I try to take a breath and find myself unable to inhale even an ounce of air. My chest tightens and it hurts. It hurts to breathe.

All the sounds of the world. Rionna’s sobs, the laughter of the children playing in the background, the

questions Celina asks the other adults in the room… suddenly go quiet, and all i hear is the sound of my own beating heart.

Ba dump… Ba dump… Ba dump..

Dakota… It means friend and for many weeks after I left Silver Crest, Kota was my only friend. After he was born, Kota became my only source of happiness and my daily reminder to keep moving forward. I could not just collapse because I had a little someone depending on me to be strong and brave. I had to work, I had to forget, I had to build my walls nice and tall so no one would ever hurt us again.

But now, as the world around me continues moving forward, my world… my small beautiful little world is gone.

All the pent up frustration I’ve held in for so long has finally reached its limit. It starts with the tears rolling down my cheeks and a burning in my throat. My face flushes with anguish and Celina tries to calm me down.

“Breathe, Talia, breathe!” she says cupping my cheeks. “I-I can’t!” I gasp, unable to fill my lungs with air. “I can’t breathe!” “Shhh, shhh.” she soothes, smoothing back my hair, I suddenly feel an electric jolt ripple through my body, a calming sensation spreading down my

spine.

“Breathe,” Celina murmurs, taking in a deep breath with me and letting it out slowly. “That’s it,” she whispers as we breathe in and out. “Atta girl. Breathe in and out. In and out.”

look when I finally manage to catch

So this man,” she says, turning back to

mind it’s him. He’s

know where to find him,” Rionna adds. “That’s all I remember.” “Well,

phone ringing. Pulling it out of my bag, I check the caller ID before answering, my blood boiling with

“Did you help him do this to me because I swear to you with every fiber in my body, if that bastard hurts my baby, if that bastard harms a hair on Kota’s head, I will hunt you down! I will skin you alive and tear

sound of his voice irritating

not! I swear!” he argues. “I swear I didn’t know. Yes, Christian sent me to come find you, but I still don’t know exactly where you are. I just

with witches to find

you! Christian is using magic! He’s coming

is ‘we?” I ask, growing angry with myself for not listening to

O

shouts into the receiver in response.

kid who’s been watching Jordan like a

you?” I

some City about 2 hours north of San Francisco,” Jordan replies. “We

pack,”Celina mutters. “Tell

to River Moon,” I instruct them. “Meet us there in

ttt

suffocating me as we get closer to the pack house. Beside me, Rionna avoids my gaze, the guilt

I curl up beside her, Rionna looked shocked as I rest my head on her shoulder. At first, she remains very still but as tears begin to trickle down my cheeks, she wraps me up in her embrace and holds

scared.” I whimper, the thought of

  1. me.

patient and I fear they may not have the patience for

hugs and kisses when he’s

 set the world on

house, a car already parked

Nikki and Micah and a kid that looks familiar,

he is.

Celina after she introduces

masked by her medallion. Jordan smiles nervously

smile.

“Nat-”

shock when he takes a good look

Surprise b***hDevina snickers.

have a wolf…” he gasps. “When did this when did this happen?” His eyes fall on

neck. “You’re marked?”

to discuss Christian, not my personal life!”I snap, unwilling to let

life again.

solemnly, defeat washing over him, but he does not argue with me. I turn to Nikki and

It is in their nature to

wolf is a

invites us all into the River Moon pack house and we settle in

situation.

as a glass of water is handed to him by an omega. “Is Christian going to kill my son?” I ask, getting

of mine. Why else would Christian want our son if not to kill him? Surely

with Silver Crest,”I snap. “Kota doesn’t know about his sperm donor nor does he need anything from him. He doesn’t belong at Silver Crest. He already has a home. He has a family. He has a father. So for f***s sake, give me back my pup and leave

eyes me carefully, leaning forward and softening his voice. “Vanessa

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