Chapter Twenty-Four â Taken
I barely have time to close the door before someone grabs me.
I let out a small scream, fear pulsing in my veins and writhing in my stomach as I feel sharp claws at my waist.
A couple of seconds later, Ryder's front door is slamming open and he's running full speed towards me.
"Emma!"
He tries to lunge for me, but the hand moves to my hair, tugging my head to the left with a sharp pull. "Take one more step, Ryder, and I'll sink my teeth into her neck."
The man's voice is deep, smooth and almost has a laziness to it. As if he were talking about the weather, and not about ripping my throat out.
"Abel?" Ryder's shaking with fury, eyes flashing, claws out, fangs bared. "You're behind this?!" His voice is almost unintelligible, a loud, snarling growl.
"Surprise," the man mutters blankly. "Miss me?"
Ryder looks dangerously close to shifting. His bones twisting in and out of place, like his wolf is trying to shift but he's forcing it not to.
His parents rush outside before he can respond. "Abel?! What are you doing?!"
"Aww would you look at that? The whole gang's back together. And all it took was a little kidnapping."
"KIDNAPPING?!" I can see the turmoil on Ryder's face. His emotions switching between rage and fear, like his body can't decide which one he's feeling more."What do you want, Abel? I'll give you anything, just let her go."
"Well that contradicts things. It's her that I want," he says simply.
UM. . .WHAT?!
"NO. That's out of the question. You know I can't be without her, I swear to god I'll fucking kill you if you try to take her away from me."
"Really?" The man pauses, like he's pretending to think about it. "Do you think you could kill me faster than I could kill her?" He turns to look at Ryder's parents. "And what about you guys? Would you like to try? Sure, the three of you can take me down no problem, but that's not the issue is it?" He laughs. "I'm the fastest one here. I'd be bathing in her blood before you could say, "Cupcake.""
A dreadful feeling settles in my gut. How does he know that Ryder calls me Cupcake? I try to remember if Ryder called me that when we were in the woods, but I'm too rattled to think straight.
Ryder closes his eyes for a second, confirming what I already know is true. If he could've saved me, he would've done it by now. They were too far away, and by the sounds of it, this guy was like the Flash of werewolves. "You won't, Abel. I know you. You're not capable of this."
When Ryder takes a small step forward, sharp teeth are at my neck faster than I can blink, and I feel a small sting as his teeth start piercing my neck."NO- okay, okay." Ryder backs away. "What do you want me to do, goddamnit!"
It's only a nick, like I was stuck with a needle, but my heart gallops in fear as a small amount of blood leaks out. Ryder acted quickly; any longer and his fangs would've been buried in my neck.
"You're going to throw me your keys and you're gonna let me drive away with her."
Maybe I should attack him. This guy is expecting them to fight back, but me? A little human girl? Unlikely. It would take him by surprise.
Just as I think that, Ryder catches my eyes and gives me a subtle shake of his head, eyes pleading at me not to do something stupid.
Well then. Did he just read my mind? I'm remembering what he said about reading body language. Does that apply to humans too?
"Why are you doing this?!" Alena finally speaks up. I've noticed how quiet her and Ezra have been until now, and something about it strikes me as odd.
"You know why." For the first time, Abel's voice softens, and he sounds serious.
"But doing this won't solve anything." It was Ezra speaking now.
Abel just ignores him and turns his attention back on Ryder. "You're running out of time Ryder," he croons, "if I have to wait any longer, I might just kill her. Either way I win."
Ryder's growl is ferocious, but I see the pain all over his face as he pulls out his keys. "If you fucking hurt her, I swear to god-"
"Yeah, yeah. You'll kill me, I know."
Ryder throws the keys at Abel, managing to hit him square in the face.
He could've caught it, but he didn't.
He scoffs and grabs my arm with a surprising gentleness, taking the few steps that bring us right next to the car. "Real mature, Ryder."
Ryder turns his eyes to me, pain and sorrow taking over his face. "Emma? I'll find you, okay? He won't hurt you. I'm so sorry, Angel. This is all my fault, I shouldn't have broug-"
"Shh, Ryder. It's okay. I know you'll find me, but this isn't your fault."
He nods, but I can tell he doesn't agree.
There's a pause.
". . .Abel?"
"Yes."
"I'll never forgive you for this."
I couldn't see his face, but it sounded like he was smiling when he replied, "I'm counting on it."
He opens the door and guides me in, pulling rope out of his pocket a second before he grabs my hands and ties me to the seat. Like me, he keeps his gaze on Ryder the whole time, not turning his back to him for a second. When he's done, he climbs over me to sit in the driver's seat.
I take one last look at Ryder, chest heavy when I see the agony on his face. Our eyes meet just as Abel starts to drive off, and the last thing I hear is a heartbreaking series of howls as he shifts into his wolf.
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Comment and vote, please. I need love after that depressing chapter.
I dedicate this to @Live_Dream_Read. I dedicated her last chapter, but I don't know if it worked, lol. Anyways she nominated me in fiction awards. So thank you, girl.
P.S. I'M JOINING THE WATTY'S THIS YEAR!! ⥠:D