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.”

I finally manage to catch my breath and she smiles

your baby back. So this man,” she says, turning back to Rionna.

no doubt in my mind it’s him.

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

my phone ringing. Pulling it out of my bag,

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 you limb from limb.” I pant, Devina growling violently in agreement. “Now, you are going to tell me exactly what

voice irritating me. “Don’t play

to come find you, but I still don’t know exactly where you are. I just flew into California because I found your plane tickets and a

is working with witches to find you and Kota. That’s what

to tell you! Christian is using

ask, growing angry with myself for not listening to the

O

Oi, mon cheri, Micah and Nikki,” Micah shouts into the receiver in response.

kid who’s been watching Jordan

you?”

2 hours north of San Francisco,”

going to Patrick’s pack,”Celina mutters. “Tell them to meet

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

ttt

down the window, my fears slowly suffocating me as we get closer to the pack house. Beside me, Rionna avoids my gaze,

shoulder. At first, she remains very still

so scared.” I whimper, the thought of Christian or Jack hurting my

  1. me.

and I fear they may not have

wants hugs and

 Devina murmurs confidently. I‘ll set the world on fire if I have to.

at the pack house, a car already parked in the driveaway.

and Micah and a kid that looks familiar, but

he is.

after she introduces herself as

nervously when he sees me but I

smile.

“Nat-”

eyes widen in shock when he takes a

Surprise b***hDevina snickers.

did this happen?”

neck. “You’re marked?”

Christian, not my personal life!”I snap,

life again.

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

I am not angry with them. It

wolf is

us all into the River Moon pack house and we settle

situation.

is handed to him by an omega. “Is Christian going

would Christian want our son if not to kill him? Surely

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

his voice. “Vanessa is infertile.” I stare back at him in shock.

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