Zyair

There wasn’t much information there, but two things caught my eye and shattered my composure. Could Alpha be behind my daughter’s kidnapping?

With such strong Alpha’s ties, who would dare take someone under his care but him? Or it could have been his enemy, who kidnapped Zara, thinking she was his mate, as the media recently reported, and that she was also living in his house.

If Alpha wanted to harm my daughter, he had plenty of time to do it. He wouldn’t be so stupid as to kidnap her and then blame himself. Because the police and media usually suspect the guy first.

My head was swirling with questions, and I knew I’d find most of the answers in Alpha. It was time to meet him and find out what he had to say about how he failed to protect my daughter.

But the threat kept ringing in my head. Why can’t we just get rid of these shadows of the past, and how much more of them do we have to endure?

***

Alpha Kane

I had to follow the police to the station, file a formal report about Zara’s kidnapping, and give a statement.

As per standard procedure, they took my fingerprints and a video from my phone, after which they returned it. The process of tracing the number began immediately.

I was asked to go home but remain where I was. If the kidnapper provided any more video, the police were to be notified.

The apartment became a no-go zone, so I left Kaysir there in case her family arrived; he was to bring them to me. I returned home just after dawn.

When I entered, my mother was pacing the living room, clearly agitated, and Asbela stood to the side, trying to calm her down.

"Kane, where have you been? Where is Zara?" my mother peppered me with questions, never taking her eyes off me.

Wearily, I crawled closer to her, put my arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close. Closing my eyes, I tried to find some semblance of peace, but I was overwhelmed by anxiety and uncertainty about the future.

"Kane, talk to me." Mom gently stroked my back, but her voice trembled.

"Someone kidnapped Zara, Mom... Someone stole her."

These words nearly choked me. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the moisture pooled in them wouldn’t leak out. Asbela gasped, but Mom silently pulled away from me and wrapped her arms tightly around my shoulders.

Determination flashed across her face as she looked me straight in the eye.

"How?"

My gaze shifted to Asbela, who was on the verge of a breakdown, so I waved her off, shaking my head, wanting to be alone with Mom.

Once we had the privacy we needed, I began telling her the whole truth. How I’d forced Zara to sign the contract to avoid being questioned about the marriage, and also to avoid meeting my asshole cousin Cassidy.

How I’d toyed with her emotions and ultimately broken her heart, yet continued to maintain this relationship. My mother’s face twisted and froze, but she didn’t interrupt my story.

I also told her that I had feelings for her, but she hated me for breaking her heart and thought I was probably stalking her. I told her everything about Zara’s pregnancy.

These were our secrets, and I wasn’t going to reveal them until Zara wanted me to. She listened quietly and calmly before beginning.

"First, I want to hit you, Kane, for becoming such a cold person, unable to recognize feelings. I never wanted you to be like that. But I will refrain, because I am also to blame. I pushed you toward Cassidy without understanding what you wanted." She took a deep breath, and I saw her struggling to hold back tears.

"Secondly, you are Toledo. This snake around your neck symbolizes principles. The time has come to embrace the role you were born to play. Strength will help you reclaim it; these resources will be useful in finding it."

I fully agreed, realizing that this moment was vital for me. I no longer feared this situation. This was mine, and it was up to me how to use this strength.

Before I could respond, a commotion erupted outside. Our attention was diverted when Kaysir ran inside and announced to me, "Miss Luna’s family is here."

My mother and I immediately rose from our seats and left. A feeling of nervousness had somehow overcome me.

This was not at all how I had imagined meeting her family. We stepped out, and right before us stood a man, a legend who had single-handedly changed the balance of power.

He wore classic black trousers and a formal blue shirt. His gray hair was slicked back, and he faced me, his eyes a replica of Zara’s.

I saw the resemblance; she had inherited her father’s features. Next to him stood a young man, Ryan, who seemed to have inherited his father’s hair and height, but his features were different. They weren’t as rugged, or perhaps they were still developing.

They were accompanied by Sophia and Govinda.

"Mr. Kincaid!" I nodded gratefully and extended my hand for a handshake.

His piercing gaze bored into me, his gaze uneasy, as if he could peer into my soul, before he pulled his hand back for a moment.

"My daughter, I need to know what happened. How did you lose her?" he asked with the calm of a perfectionist. Even in such a difficult situation, his emotions were so controlled.

"Mr. Kincaid, let’s sit down and talk." Mom smiled, but it was a strained smile, and greeted them.

Ryan approached first.

"Hello! The police wouldn’t let us into the apartment; it was sealed, and they weren’t providing much information. But we’d like to know anything that might help us find her," he asked rationally, while Zayer remained skeptical, staring at me, just like the girl.

"Let’s sit down and talk, and I’ll explain everything." I invited them in again, and the boy escorted his father to a seat.

Once everyone was settled, I told them... I told them that someone was following Zara. The tension in the air was almost palpable, and I was choked by the sound, her family’s anxiety growing.