CHAPTER 115: 114: POINT

Kiel

I could feel it the moment it happened—something was off. My gut twisted, that familiar knot that told me nothing good was about to come. I hated it. I hated the way the air felt heavy with Thorne’s anger, hated that he had let things get this far. And most of all, I hated that Josie had been caught in the middle of it.

I walked over to him, my boots crunching against the gravel, and my voice cut through the silence sharp and low.

"Calm down, Thorne."

His eyes snapped to me, burning with a rage that didn’t seem to have an off switch. He looked like a wolf caged too long, snapping at whoever was close enough. I turned to my Beta, who had been hovering with that nervous look, waiting for instructions.

"Find out where Michelle and her father went," I ordered flatly. "Report back the moment you get anything. Don’t waste time."

The Beta nodded, bowed slightly, and ran off. At least someone knew how to follow an order without barking back.

"Both of you—come with me," I said to my brothers, jerking my chin toward the river. I wasn’t in the mood for discussion.

Thorne glared at me. "What the hell are we doing by the river? I’ve got more important things to handle."

"Sit down," I snapped, my voice rougher than I intended. "And listen. For once in your damn life, Thorne, sit and listen."

The edge in my voice made both of them tense. Varen narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed, and Thorne folded his arms like some spoiled child. I could feel their dislike of my tone rolling off them, but I didn’t give a damn. I wasn’t here to win their approval. I was here to stop this mess before it burned everything down.

"You two have been doing a lot of nonsense lately," I started, pacing in front of them. My voice was sharp, each word cutting because I meant it to. "And if you think I’m going to keep watching while Josie gets crushed in the middle of it, you’re both out of your minds."

Varen frowned. "Kiel—"

"No. Shut it," I cut him off. My temper was on the edge of breaking. "You don’t get to interrupt me right now. Neither of you do."

I turned on Thorne, my wolf growling just beneath the surface. "Since you can’t rein in your damn temper, the only thing that’s certain is that Josie’s going to keep getting hurt. And I’m telling you now, that’s not something I’ll stand by and watch."

Thorne scoffed, leaning back on his hands like he didn’t care. "You’re exaggerating."

"Exaggerating?" I barked a humorless laugh. "You think hitting Michelle in front of Josie wasn’t reckless enough? You think tearing her down every time she opens her mouth doesn’t leave scars? She’s not your punching bag, Thorne. I don’t give a damn what excuse you want to use—"

Thorne’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "What the hell are you trying to do, Kiel? Defend her? Because she’s carrying your baby?"

The words hit like a blade, sharp and meant to cut. My chest burned, but I forced myself to stand my ground, my voice sharp as a whip.

"You think that’ll rile me up? It won’t. You want to throw cheap shots, fine. But this isn’t about me, and you damn well know it." I leaned closer, my voice dropping low and dangerous. "Say the truth, Thorne. Right now. Before things escalate."

His throat worked as he swallowed, anger flickering into something else—hesitation. He looked away, and that silence said more than his rage ever could.

"Brothers," Varen said, softer this time, stepping between us. His hands lifted slightly like he could physically push the tension down. "This isn’t helping. We’re supposed to be on the same side. If we keep tearing into each other, we’re no better than the enemies outside waiting for us to slip. We need to be together. All three of us. That’s the only way this works."

His words pressed against the walls of my anger, dulling it just enough that I drew in a slow breath. For a moment, just a moment, it worked.

Thorne’s fists clenched, his shoulders shaking with restraint, and then finally—finally—he muttered, "Fine. Michelle... she pushed too far. She lied. She set things in motion to make Josie look bad. I lost it."

I stared at him, stunned for a beat. "You’re telling me Michelle went out of her way to do this? To twist everything against Josie?"

He didn’t meet my eyes, but his silence was enough of an answer. I shook my head, disbelief sour in my mouth. "Unbelievable. That woman... and you let yourself be played right into her hands."

Thorne bristled. "Don’t start—"

"No, I will start," I cut him off, my voice iron. "You’ve been transferring all your aggression on Josie when she’s the one person who doesn’t deserve it. Did you see her face when she left? Did you? She looked shattered. And that’s on you."

His eyes flared with defensiveness. "It’s not my fault! I can’t control—"

"You can’t control your emotions?" I snarled, stepping forward. My wolf surged, itching to break free. "Then don’t you dare take it out on her. She’s not your damn outlet. She’s been holding you together, Thorne, when everyone else would’ve let you burn. And what do you give her? Pain."

He shook his head violently, voice rising. "She makes it look like I can’t be loyal! She keeps interfering. If she hadn’t gotten involved back then, Michelle wouldn’t have left—"

"Enough!" My roar ripped through the trees, my wolf’s voice lacing mine. "Josie diverted the elders’ attention, Thorne! Do you get that? They were already on their way to strip you of your title. You’d be nothing right now if not for her."

His face twisted in anger, his teeth bared. "I’d never let that happen."

I rolled my eyes, disgusted. "Yeah? Keep telling yourself that." I turned away, the urge to keep arguing draining out of me. What was the point? He’d keep lying to himself until the truth strangled him.

And then, just as the silence settled, all three of our Betas mind-linked us at once.

Kiel—Josie’s gone. Kidnapped. There’s suspicious activity in the pack right now. We need you here—now.

The words slammed into me like a fist to the gut. For a heartbeat, I couldn’t breathe. My vision blurred red, and my wolf roared inside me, clawing to be let out.

A growl ripped from my chest, deep and savage, shaking the air around us.

"They took her," I snarled, my voice a promise of violence. My bones snapped, my muscles tearing as my wolf ripped free. I didn’t hold back this time. I couldn’t.

The world narrowed to one single truth—Josie had been taken.

And whoever dared to touch her would pay with blood.