Unwanted

Near Dallas, Texas

Logan’s P.O.V.

We’re at the Dark Tails pack, where Seth had told us their unmated females were taken. We found them and others from nearby packs. They were told they were going to be sold as breeders. We soon realized that many in the pack didn’t agree with what their alpha and beta were doing, so we let them carry out the punishment and decide on a new alpha. They also said they would help the women get back to their homes.

Just as we’re preparing to leave, I get a text. It’s from Eric, and all it says is Come back to the palace now. When I try to call him, his phone goes straight to voicemail. I try my parents, and they don’t answer either. There is no answer when I call my sisters and brother. What’s going on? I try every one I can think of in the palace, but no one answers.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but we need to go to the palace now. No one is answering, and I received a text from the head of security that I needed to return. Let’s go to the airport. Are all of you okay with going, too? I don’t like this and would prefer not to go alone.” I look around at the others, who all nod. Kiana pulls out her phone, and I see her tears as she calls one number after another like I’d done.

“What about Joel and Teegan?” Emily asks as we run to the bus. The royal guards continue trying to reach people at the palace but have no luck.

“With Teegan in heat, let’s leave them alone. Hopefully, this is nothing.” I don’t believe it, nor does anyone else, but I refuse to involve Joel and Teegan. Her heat can’t be turned off, so there’s really no other option.

We get on the bus, and the guard drives us to the airport, about forty minutes away. Our plane is there waiting for us when we pull up. I tell one of the guards to stay in Texas with Joel and Teegan so he can bring them once her heat is over. As soon as we all board the plane, it takes off. Emily squeezes my hand as we fly. I try to stay positive, but it’s hard when I know in my heart that whatever we find when we get there isn’t going to be good.

When we land three hours later, it takes another hour to drive to the palace. As soon as we arrive at the gates, I can tell something is wrong. The guards see it, too. The men who are at the gate aren’t our men. I get off the bus with two of the guards.

“I’m Prince Logan. Who are you, and what are you doing here?” I demand. The two men smirk and shake their heads.

“You’re not the prince anymore. The rightful king has taken over. You can now join the rest of your family.” One of the men pulls out a gun, but before he can do anything, he and the other man fall to the ground, yelling in pain. The guards quickly restrain them, and I look toward the bus and see Petra looking out. If only we all had her power. The guards throw the two men onto the back of the bus and open the gates.

When we reach the palace, we see more men who aren’t our guards. Petra quickly takes care of them before they have time to act, and they’re thrown on the bus with the others. She does something to put them all to sleep.

“Let’s all stay together. I don’t like this. It’s never this quiet around here.” I tell the others. Besides Kiana and Emily, none of the others have ever been to the palace, so they don’t know what to expect or who to trust. When I walk inside, I sigh with relief when the head butler, Steve, greets me with a smile.

“I received a text from Eric to come right away. Who are the men that were at the gates and doors?” I ask him. He’s been with us since we took him in as a rogue teenager about fifteen years ago. He didn’t want to leave, so my dad made him the head butler.

“The text wasn’t from Eric; it was from me. Eric was a little tied up.” Steve turns around, and I look in the same direction. Just past the entry, a man is hanging from the second-floor railing. When I look closer, I see it’s Eric, and he’s dead.

“What the fuck did you do? Where is my family?” I yell at Steve while grabbing him by the collar. He looks at the others who are with me and looks annoyed.

“Where are Joel and Teegan? They should have been with you. Not all this riffraff.” He says, taking in the others.

“Where are my parents and my brother and sisters?” Steve smirks and I tighten my hold on his collar, making his face turn red.

“Follow me. I’ll take you to them.” I put him down, and two of the guards move to stand behind him. I try to mindlink my family, but there’s no response. Kiana is holding onto Damon with tears streaming down her face. I look at Petra. I’m a prince, so I can mindlink all werewolves, and we’re going to need her.

If you notice anyone suspicious, please take them out immediately. I’m sorry to put this on you, but I think you’re the only one who can do it.” She glances at me and nods before mindlinking me back.

“I’ll take care of them. As soon as he shows us where your family is, I’ll take care of him too.” I feel a little better knowing we have Petra on our side.

I feel sick when I see Steve taking us through the back towards the dungeons. I see men falling down as we pass them, but Steve is oblivious. Petra isn’t glowing, so he has no idea she’s doing anything right behind him.

At the dungeon doors, there are two more men who I don’t know. They fall to the ground immediately, and Steve looks at them in confusion before he joins them. I turn to Petra.

“Whatever he was leading us to, it isn’t good. I could feel his excitement at opening that door. We need to proceed with caution.” She says. I look at Kiana and can see the fear in her eyes at what we’re going to find. The guards get in front of us, and when I nod, one of them opens the door. At first, I don’t see anything, but once my eyes focus, I fall to my knees as I vomit. I hear the others screaming behind me. My sisters Leslie and Alisia, their mates, and my brother Michael and his mate are all dead. I don’t know where their bodies are, but their heads are hanging from the dungeon ceiling. I don’t know whether to be relieved or scared when I don’t see my parents.