He assisted in applying the brace, struggling to manage his own breathing while finding it exceedingly difficult to touch her bare skin, which felt unbearably warm. He noticed Luca observing him, likely aware of his elevated heart rate and his efforts to regulate his own respiration.
“Consider an alternative thought,” he was telepathically connected.
“Trust me, I am making an effort,” Ryder murmured in response, lowering her leg as soon as he was able; the woman felt intoxicating, prompting him to take several deep, calming breaths. It was observed that the moment the brace was applied, his pain completely dissipated. She expressed her intention to confront Stella and her desire to physically assault Miguel, indicating her strong disapproval of him.
She was determined not to relinquish it, already entering the car and had thrown the keys to Luca. It appeared to be a singular focus.
Brianna’s Perspective
Ultimately, they both received the message and entered the vehicle. As it progressed, they pursued Stella while Brianna reclined in the backseat. She could not intervene until their arrival, so she attempted to remain composed and allowed Layla to administer the best possible care.
She felt Logan’s small hand in hers, opened her eyes, gazed at him, and smiled gently, reassuring herself that everything would be fine and they would retrieve Stella. She was captured by two individuals, and although Stella remained human, she was bound to a werewolf; only death could sever a bonded pair. Nolan would persist in his pursuit, and Brianna was aware of this.
Nolan would rendezvous with them at the airport, or Stella would alert the authorities upon arrival. She would not return home with Miguel under any circumstances. Her father ought to have retrieved her personally. How would they facilitate her passage through customs in the absence of her passport? They were unable to.
She closed her eyes and asserted, “Do not proceed to the airport; they are not present. Stella’s passport will accompany her luggage at the hotel.”
“Do you believe she will transport them there?”It was Ryder.
Brianna contemplated this briefly before affirmatively nodding. “Indeed, she will seek an opportunity to escape and proceed to your quarters, along with your associates.” Considering my presence and Nolan’s?”
“Satisfactory.” Luca proceeded to the hotel; it is a sound evaluation, and addressing both locations constitutes a prudent strategy.” She noticed his gaze upon her.
“What?””
“There is nothing; it is a sound strategy.”
“It is simply logical; one cannot purchase an international plane ticket without providing passport numbers.” I ought to have considered it immediately.
“You were injured, Brianna, experiencing considerable pain and likely distracted.” He observed Logan with his gaze. “We shall retrieve Stella.” Nolan and I will persist in our search until we recover her. “I assure you of this.” She gazed at Logan, who appeared quite distressed. She wished to pull him into her lap but was unable to do so while the vehicle was in motion. Instead, she smiled reassuringly and gently squeezed his small hand. At this juncture, her options were limited to providing him with reassurance.
“Is the discomfort severe?”He enquired softly.
“Not to a significant extent currently, only during that period, and Layla is already facilitating my recovery.”
“Experiences a tingling sensation when Rowan treats my cuts and abrasions.”
“It resembles, somewhat like.. “Pins and needles,” Brianna remarked with a smile, “but devoid of that excruciating pain upon movement.”
“I detest the moment when I sit on my feet for an extended period and subsequently must rise.” Logan shuddered.
She smiled, “No one does; it is quite bothersome for everyone.”
They arrived at the hotel, and Brianna recognised that neither Ryder nor Luca would likely be familiar with Miguel’s appearance. Upon posing this question as Luca exited the vehicle, she received a definitive ‘No’ from both, as Miguel was merely human and of no significance to them or Nolan, or at least he ought to have been.
Luca opened Logan’s door, unbuckled the boy, and lifted him from his seat, removing him from the car. It astonished her significantly, particularly that Logan permitted it. It appears he was beginning to trust them, having witnessed their assistance in aiding her. She was also aware that he was amicably interacting with Nolan.
Although it appeared that Nolan was obstructing Logan from playing her game on the phone at the store, she had observed the boy smile several times. Furthermore, Nolan had, seemingly while she was asleep, commended the boy for defeating Enzo and informed him that a rematch would occur, as he had been unfairly defeated. Logan informed him that he was engaged and that the challenge had been accepted.
Nolan informed him that he would not confront Brianna directly. That elicited a smile from her. Not even Ryder could surpass her; he contemplated how long he remained irritated by that fact.
Ryder stood with her car door ajar as she gradually extricated her leg from the vehicle, dismissing his gesture of assistance, unwilling to endure a recurrence of the incident that transpired at dinner the previous night when he had made contact with her.
She grimaced upon applying weight to her knee, yet it was tolerable. She noticed his frown in response to her discomfort, but what did he anticipate? It would not heal spontaneously.
She shifted the majority of her weight to the opposite foot while turning to survey her surroundings; she was indeed familiar with the appearance of that rental car. She growled, “Son of a bitch,” upon scanning the vicinity and spotting the number plate parked a few cars away across the street.
“That is the rental vehicle that transported Stella,” she indicated, advancing towards it despite the pain radiating through her knee.
“I shall go,” Ryder declared, placing a hand on her shoulder to restrain him. She gazed directly at him upon perceiving the harsh tone of his voice. At that moment, she recognised his dominant demeanour as he confidently walked away.
Someone had recently abducted his Gamma’s Mate, and although Stella was not yet an official member of his Pack, it was universally acknowledged that she was bonded to Nolan, making it merely a matter of time before all significant details were conveyed to her.
Luca informed Brianna, “Ryder will resolve this,” yet he did not pursue the man.
“I am confident he will.” Brianna affirmed, and she indeed possessed that knowledge. “Contact Nolan; Miguel and Stella are present nearby.”
