The Fox's Heart

Chapter 15 - Talon's POV (Part 2)

***Warning: Child Abduction***

Just as the triplets began to exchange frustrated glances, Alpha Gavin’s phone rang, cutting through the tense silence. He glanced at the screen and answered, his brows furrowing as he listened.

“What do you mean, they’re missing?” His voice was sharp, each word clipped with concern. He paused, his face growing grimmer by the second. “Check every inch of the building. I’ll be there immediately.” He ended the call, a new urgency replacing the earlier anger in his gaze.

“What’s wrong?” Talon asked, alarmed by the sudden shift in his father’s demeanor.

Gavin turned to them, his voice tight. “Dimitri and his friend Rome aren’t at school. No one can seem to find them.”

A ripple of shock spread through the room as Gavin’s words sank in. Without hesitation, he motioned for them to follow him. Crystal’s face had lost its earlier smugness, replaced by a look of pure horror.

The urgency was palpable as they rushed out of the house and drove to the elementary school. The principal was already waiting for them, so she quickly led them inside to the surveillance room.

“We pulled up the surveillance footage as soon as we realized Dimitri and Rome were missing,” the principal said, her voice tense as she gestured toward the screen.

The grainy footage began playing, showing Dimitri and Rome lingering behind everyone as they walked into school that morning, chatting and laughing, blissfully unaware of what was coming. A moment later, two unfamiliar men entered the frame, their movements calculated and predatory. The men lunged before anyone could react, each man grabbing one of the boys, covering their mouths to silence any cries for help. Then they disappeared out of sight, taking Dimitri and Rome with them.

Alpha Gavin’s fists clenched as he watched, his face growing darker with each passing second. Talon felt a sickening weight settle in his stomach, a mix of dread and anger surging through him as he watched his little brother’s figure vanish from the screen.

“Who are they?” Calin asked, his voice shaky with a mixture of fear and fury.

Their father shook his head helplessly. “I don’t recognize them. I’ve never seen these men before. They do not belong to our pack.”

Crystal’s face had drained of color and her legs gave out. Ryder, who stood beside her, quickly caught her. “Why would anyone take them?” Ryder muttered, almost to himself.

Gavin’s face was stony, the determination and anger in his eyes unshakable. “I don’t know who’s behind this,” he said, his voice low and deadly. “But whoever they are, they’re going to regret laying a hand on my son.”

Talon felt his own anger rise, fueled by a fierce protective instinct. Whoever had taken Dimitri and Rome had just made a powerful enemy. He, Falon, and Calin exchanged a glance, their earlier anger toward each other forgotten as a new, more urgent purpose united them.

Alpha Gavin, the triplets, and Ryder strode purposefully from the elementary school toward the barracks. Each of them wore a tense expression as they processed the grim reality of Dimitri and Rome’s kidnapping.

As they walked, Alpha Gavin spoke first, his voice low but commanding. “Who could have done this? Who would have the nerve to take my son and the son of our pack doctor?” His tone carried a dangerous edge, the fury barely restrained beneath the surface.

Talon exchanged a look with Falon and Calin. “Did you see how they went after them in the footage?” he asked. “It wasn’t random. They moved straight for the boys.”

“It was deliberate,” Ryder added, his voice subdued for once, as if the weight of the situation had finally gotten to him. “They knew who they wanted to take. No hesitation.”

Calin shook his head, brow furrowing in concentration. “But why take Rome too? He’s not the alpha’s son. Dimitri was their target, I’m sure of it.”

Alpha Gavin’s face darkened as he processed this idea. “Dimitri’s young. He wouldn’t have any enemies, not directly. But if someone wanted to hurt the pack—or me—they could use him to do it.” His fists clenched at his sides, and the triplets could feel the anger radiating off him in waves.

Talon’s mind raced as he tried to make sense of it. “Both boys are the same age, same height. They both have brown hair and brown eyes—they probably couldn’t tell which one was Dimitri and decided to take both, just to be safe.”

Falon nodded in agreement. “But how did they know enough to target him? Someone must have told them about Dimitri—given them details. They knew he’d be there, that he wouldn’t have guards watching over him at school.”

Ryder looked at Alpha Gavin, his face twisted with concern. “If someone in our pack is feeding information to outsiders…” He trailed off, not daring to finish the thought.

Gavin’s eyes flashed with renewed anger. “If there’s a traitor, they’ll regret the day they thought they could betray this pack. But right now, the priority is finding Dimitri and Rome.” His voice was cold steel, sending a shiver down Talon’s spine.

The group reached the barracks, where the werewolf warriors were engaged in training drills, unaware of the unfolding crisis. Alpha Gavin took a deep breath, gathering his resolve before stepping forward, his voice cutting through the morning air. “Everyone, assemble immediately!” he barked, and the soldiers dropped their weapons and lined up in a matter of seconds, sensing the urgency in their alpha’s tone.

The werewolf warriors stood at attention, eyes fixed on Alpha Gavin, awaiting orders. Gavin scanned the crowd, his gaze firm and unyielding. “Listen closely. This morning, my son Dimitri and Rome Mead, son of our pack doctor, were taken from the elementary school. We have reason to believe this was a targeted kidnapping. They took them from school grounds—right from under our noses.”

A ripple of shock and anger spread through the crowd, murmurs passing between the warriors. Gavin held up his hand to silence them. “We do not know how they were able to sneak in but whoever is behind this has made a grave mistake. We will not rest until both boys are back here, safe. You are to begin searching immediately. Mobilize teams, scour every inch of the territory, and double the patrols along our borders.”

Talon, Falon, and Calin stood alongside their father, determination etched into their faces. They, too, were ready to do whatever it took to bring their younger brother and his friend home. Talon stepped forward, catching the warriors’ attention. “We need everyone to keep an eye out for any unfamiliar scents or signs of a struggle. They were last seen with two men—strangers who don’t belong here. Remember their faces from the surveillance footage, and if you see anything or anyone suspicious, report it immediately.”

The soldiers nodded, their jaws set with resolve. Ryder, standing slightly behind the triplets, added, “We’re not just looking for the boys. We’re looking for anyone who may have helped these kidnappers. Someone from our pack might be involved, and we’re not ruling anything out.”

Alpha Gavin turned to one of his Gamma Marcus, Tyrese and Talia’s father. “Coordinate with the other packs,” he instructed, his tone commanding and resolute. “We don’t know if this is an isolated attack or part of a larger threat, but I’m not taking any chances. I want every pack within a hundred miles aware of this incident. Dimitri and Rome need to be back here, safe, by nightfall.”

As Lieutenant Marcus began issuing orders, Alpha Gavin turned to the triplets and Ryder, his expression softer but no less intense. “The four of you are to join separate search teams. Cover as much ground as possible. And stay alert—whoever’s responsible for this may not be far.”

Talon’s gaze hardened, a steely determination lighting his eyes. “We’ll find them, Dad. I swear we will.” His brothers echoed the promise, their minds already focused on the task ahead.