Stuck with the enemy

Chapter 26: Time is Against Us

Jacob, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. "And Tommy?" He glanced over his shoulder at Tommy's bedroom door.

I had forgotten all about him. I walked into Tommy's room, finding him sleeping soundly, unaware of the chaos we were dealing with. "He'll be fine," I said, trying to push down the guilt. "He has no idea what's going on."

We rushed toward Derek's mansion, the drive tense and filled with silence. Each of us was thinking, planning what we would say to Derek. I knew, deep down, that this wouldn't be easy. Derek wasn't just going to help us. He wasn't that kind of guy. I had to prepare for resistance, for lies, for anything.

When we reached the intersection near Derek's house, I spotted something on the road. My heart stopped for a moment. "Wait," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "That's Deniz's phone." I could feel the weight of those words as soon as I said them. "She was here."

Alya's voice was sharp as she added, "Of course. She wanted the stalker to hear her when she said that she was going to tell everything to Derek, to lure him out so she could catch him. He was heading toward Derek's house to set a trap..."

"But she stopped him here, and they fought," I continued, realization sinking in.

Jacob stiffened, his face hardening. "Deniz is tough. She didn't give up that easily. She must have put up a good fight." His voice was full of pride, but there was also fear underneath. We all knew how dangerous the situation was now.

Alya's voice broke the silence again, more urgent this time. "Look!" She pointed to the ground, and we all saw what she meant. "These tracks... they come from the forest. It rained last night. There are two different sets of footprints, none of them Deniz's. He had backup."

My stomach twisted as I looked at the muddy tracks. "This is bad. Really bad." My voice was shaking now. "We don't have time. We need to talk to Derek now. My sister is in those dirtbags' hands."

We picked up Deniz's phone and headed toward the mansion. The atmosphere around us felt thick with tension, every step heavy with the weight of uncertainty and urgency.

After a few minutes, we arrived. There it was—the house of the enemy. A massive mansion, guarded by Alpha Derek's patrol soldiers. It looked like a fortress under maximum security.

As we approached the gate, the guard eyed us, clearly suspicious. His stance shifted, hands steady near his weapon. Jacob stood tense beside me, and Alya's gaze darted between us and the guard, bracing herself.

"What's your business here?" the guard demanded, his voice rough and suspicious.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "I'm Aras, from the Crescent Pack. I need to speak with Alpha Derek. It's urgent."

The guard's gaze shifted over to Jacob and Alya, narrowing slightly. "And them? They part of this...'urgent' visit?"

"Yes, they're with me. It's about my sister. We don't have time to waste," I said, keeping my voice firm but controlled.

He gave me a hard look, not moving a muscle. "Your sister, huh?" he echoed, as if weighing every word I said. "And you think that gives you a right to an audience with the Alpha?"

"Yes," I replied, meeting his stare directly. "If he values his pack's safety, he'll want to hear this."

The guard held my gaze, then, slowly, took out his phone. "Wait here," he ordered before stepping a few paces back to make a call, never fully taking his eyes off us. After a brief conversation, he hung up, his expression unchanged.

"Fine. Head in, but don't stray from the path. Take the main walkway straight to the front door," he said, swinging open the heavy gate with a sense of reluctance.

Jacob and Alya exchanged a glance, both tense but ready to follow. We stepped through, but the guard's warning voice stopped us.

"And remember," he said, looking right at me, "you're here on the Alpha's permission. Don't make us regret letting you through."

I gave a curt nod, resisting the urge to snap back. "Understood."

We reached the front door, my heart pounding with a mix of frustration and dread.

I knocked, and a smiling servant greeted us. "Please, come inside," she said, her voice polite and formal, stepping aside to let us in.

I nodded in thanks, though my heart hammered against my ribs. If I hadn't been desperate, I would never have set foot in this house—let alone come to ask for help from Derek himself. Jacob's gaze darted around, tense and cautious, while Alya stayed close, her eyes alert, scanning every corner as if looking for something.

The entryway was grand, with polished floors and a sweeping staircase. Paintings lined the walls, all meticulous and pristine, giving off the unmistakable air of wealth and power. But it felt cold, almost lifeless—an unfitting place for an Alpha, a fortress that commanded respect and, even more, fear.

"This way, please," the woman directed us through a series of long hallways, each as quiet as the last, until we reached a sitting room. She gestured for us to wait and disappeared down another hall to announce our arrival.

Jacob exhaled, breaking the heavy silence. "Feels more like a prison than a home," he muttered under his breath.

"Keep it down," I warned, though I couldn't deny I felt the same. Everything about this place reminded me that we were on enemy ground. Yet, I knew that if there was any chance of finding Deniz, I had to put pride aside—for her sake.

The woman returned, her expression calm and composed. "Alpha Derek is expecting you in his office," she said, gesturing for us to follow.

My stomach tightened as we continued down the hall, each step echoing on the polished floor. I exchanged a quick glance with Jacob and Alya. Jacob's jaw was set, his eyes scanning every door and shadow. Alya clutched Deniz's phone, her fingers clenched around it, her worry mirrored in her every step.

The woman led us through another series of halls, until finally, we stopped outside a large, dark wooden door. She gave a polite nod and gestured toward it.

"Alpha Derek is waiting just inside."

I swallowed, feeling the weight of the moment sink in. I glanced at Jacob and Alya one last time, bracing myself. For Deniz, I reminded myself.