Chapter 181

Caroline’s POV
After all the hugs and everyone telling us how relieved they were, Draven led me to his room.
I put Liam on the bed. He was sleeping deeply. I covered him with a blanket. That’s when I saw it. A mark on his right ankle,I didn’t understand what it was.
“Draven, what’s this mark on Liam’s ankle?” Maybe he knew more. He had been following everything.
Draven looked at our son and gently touched the mark with his fingers, as if he could make it go away. He sighed, then grabbed another blanket and covered Liam. After kissing his forehead, he pulled me to the sofa and made me sit on his lap.
“Liam was found in terrible conditions. Jace told me that he has no other injuries, so they didn’t physically abuse him. But they had him chained to a table leg.”A tear rolled down Draven’s face.
“Are you telling me those monsters chained up my pup?” Fury took over. I started crying. “He’s just a child! How could they?”
“Wolves who betray their pack can be evil beyond imagination, Caroline. When someone abandons pack values, there’s no limit to their cruelty. These wolves put their own desires above everything. Above pack bonds. Above decency.” Draven ran his hands along my back. He watched our son sleep safely.
“I don’t understand this. How can they harm a pup? He’s almost still a baby. He only knows love and kindness.” I couldn’t stop crying. I buried my face in Draven’s neck. His scent of cedarwood and musk comforted me.
“I don’t know how they’re capable of this either. Jace found him chained to that table. Dirty. Hungry. Thirsty. Those two crazy women didn’t even take him to the bathroom. No diaper. Nothing. Jace said he was crying constantly.” Pain crossed Draven’s face.
“You said two? Who else was with Ella?”
“Linda. And Marcus was helping them.”
“Marcus? My ex-boyfriend?” I stared at him. “You’re saying my ex is involved in this?” This text is hosted at.net
Draven nodded.
“Moon Goddess! Why? What does he gain from this? I can’t believe it. Someone I’ve known my entire life. He used to come to my house. How could he do this to me?”
“I’m not surprised. He cheated on you with your cousin and rejected you.” Draven was right. But rejection was different from committing crimes against pack members.
“They haven’t been interrogated yet.I only spoke briefly with Jace. I just wanted to know if our son was okay. So I don’t have much information yet.”
“Right. But now that he’s safe, I want to know everything.” I was angry. Disappointed. Worried about my son and how this could affect him. “We need to take him to the pack doctor. Make sure he’s okay.”
“Liam was taken to the hospital in Maplewood. They examined him. The doctors said physically he’s just dehydrated. And he has that horrible mark.” Draven’s hand moved to my belly where our second pup was growing. “But I want Dr. Molina to check him out. I’ve scheduled an appointment for tomorrow.”
“That’s a great idea.” I agreed. “But why here?”
“Because I can’t leave the pack house yet. There’s a lot happening with the pack.” He looked at me seriously. “When you’re rested, I’ll tell you everything. But I don’t want my mate and pups away from me.”
“I don’t want to be away from you either. But tell me what’s going on right now.”
Draven sighed.”Carrie, my parents’ car was sabotaged. By Howard.” His voice was tight with pain.
“We’re revealing the audit results now. All the wolves we’ve discovered involved in Howard’s embezzlement scheme are being interrogated in the interrogation rooms. Alpha Arthur is leading this with Eleanor’s father’s help.”
“Howard sabotaged the car?” I was horrified.
“Yes. My parents were murdered!” Draven let out a pained growl. “Mr. Morgan gave me a box yesterday.It had the missing evidence about the accident. Lots of other information too. Howard’s confession video was in there.”
“Wait, is Liz involved in this?” I asked.
“No.Liz is staying quietly in Switzerland with her mother and brother. Relax!” Draven’s voice softened.”But her mother took yoga classes. Howard’s mate attended the same class.They became close friends.One day, Howard’s mate asked Liz’s mother to keep a box for her. She said if anything happened to her, she should give the box to me.”
“And why did he give you the box now?”
“Because Dr. Molina told him about the kidnappings. He mentioned it to his mate. She got scared and told him about the box. Asked him to bring it to me.” Draven shook his head. “This woman had all the answers in her hands this whole time. She had no idea.”
“Moon Goddess! This is all absurd.” I was shocked. Outraged by everything I was discovering.
“Carrie, what about you? Are you really okay? Did they hurt you or our pup?”
“I’m fine.They kept me locked in a room.Some kind of unfinished house in the middle of nowhere.” I started remembering what I’d been through. “They were taking orders from Howard. From what I heard, the order was not to touch me unless Howard commanded it. I was his guarantee for escape.”
I paused, gathering my thoughts. “They didn’t know Liam was your son. They took him just to get to me too.”
“What else happened?”
“At one point, Dennis came to the room. He intended to rape me.” Draven’s eyes flashed dangerously.
“When he grabbed me, Daniel came in. He pulled Dennis off me and held him against the wall. Told him not to touch me before Howard authorized it.”
I took a breath.”I took advantage of that moment. Ran out and locked them both in the room. Then I ran outside and didn’t stop running until I ran into an enforcer. That’s how they found me.”
“Did that bastard try to assault my mate?” Draven snarled, a low growl rumbling in his chest.
“Draven, be careful not to wake Liam up,” I soothed him.
“I’ll tear that man apart!” Draven clenched his fist, and I could feel his entire body tense.
We heard a knock at the door. Draven lifted me off his lap and placed me on the sofa. He walked to the door and opened it, letting Ruby in, who quickly made her way to me.
“Thank the Moon Goddess you’re okay, honey. I just heard you’d arrived,” she said while hugging me. “Alpha, we need you in the interrogation room. I can’t stay with you right now, sweetie, I’m helping Alpha Arthur. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry, Ruby. Thank you for what you’re doing, it’s really important. Go.”
At that moment, several people entered the room—my parents, Eleanor’s mother, Carlos and Mabel, and Nate’s mother. All of them were anxious to see Liam and me.
“Draven, you found them! Thank you!” my father said emotionally, giving Draven a hug.
“They’re my life, Dad,” Draven replied with a smile. “My angel, I’ll let you spend time with family, but I want you to get proper rest.”
“I will,” I reassured him, knowing he was already worried enough.
As they left the room, he called out, “Let’s go, Ruby.”