Happy Valentine's Day! I'd forgotten that I wanted to put Avery's POV in the end of last chapter, and a review reminded me (who shall remain anonymous because for the life of me, I can't remember who it was. You know who you are!)

On a sad note, I completely failed at my NaNoWriMo. I've been crazy busy this month, and it'll be busier next month, but I will update in the next three weeks (I promise. Bring the pitchforks and torches if I don't. Mutiny me. Hold a gun to my head. You get the point.)

I know this chapter is shorter than my normal ones, but I just wanted to give you a little bit of a sneak peek. When I rewrite, this will be a part of chapter 13.

I want to thank my wonderful beta, G. This chapter wouldn't have been out without your help:)

Once again, thank you for every single review. I love you all, and I hope you had a great Val-Day:D

Chapter 13.5

Avery's POV

Pounding consumed me. It reverberated everywhere, filling every nook and cranny. My heart beat quickly, blood coursed through my head, the lonely sound of my feet slapping on pavement, drops of sweat splashing onto the ground. I focused entirely on my feet, trying to block out the other sounds and feelings. It was the only moment that I was able to forget about Jay and the anger that threatened to turn me into the murderous monster that lurked for payback.

I don't know how long I'd been running. It took forever to work up a sweat, and perspiration caused my cotton t-shirt to stick to my skin, soaked with the beads, so I would guess that I had been run nearly four hours straight. Even my muscles ached from the workout, but that wasn't saying much considering the way I had been going for the past few weeks. My muscles were taunt with overuse and exhaustion would have pulled me to sleep every night if my brain would just stop thinking and the damn hatred would just go away.

I closed my eyes, wishing for peace. Jay's face flashed through my head, a small smile curled upon her mouth, kind eyes laughing at something I said, or did. From the pit of my stomach, a hole gnawed away at the edges. Longing to touch her, wanting to hear her voice, needing to see her beautiful hazel eyes blinking up at me. Pain and guilt seared through my heart like a bullet as her eyes turned to orbs full of fright.

From the hole in my stomach stemmed a rage unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. How anyone could hurt such an innocent and vulnerable girl was beyond me. Factor in that it was my mate, and I was beyond angry. My savage side threatened to rip my hide apart, snarling and snapping at me all day. It wanted revenge, and I wasn't so keen on stopping it if Jay would just tell me who it was.

I could feel the hair on my arms grow, little stings prickling my arms. My canines elongated, poking my gums uncomfortably. My eyes snapped open, and I looked into my reflection. My arms swung as I ran, the treadmill under my feet making not a peep. The gym my parents built in the basement was rarely used. We exercised enough on full moons, we didn't need really need the extravagant room covered with mirrors and high-tech equipment.

From across the room, the telephone rang. I ignored the shrill alarm, knowing that someone from upstairs would answer it. I could hear from a few floors up as Lyric picked up the receiver to answer the call.

I honed back in on the sound of my feet hitting the rubber treadmill mat as it rolled by. It was just me and my steady run. There was no beautiful girl covered in bruises, crying out to me for comfort. There was no intense need to see said girl. And there was no problem which I needed to face at the moment, just making sure my feet kept up the steady pace I'd set hours earlier.

Loud stomping pissed me off. The hair had just receded, and now it was back. Adrenaline pulsed in my veins; I was just looking for a fight, even through my exhaustion. Rage consumed me entirely. The steps were coming down the stairs, towards me, and I counted it as my lucky day.

Lyric burst through the door, her eyes frantic. My sister froze when she saw me, as if I was ready to pounce.

Well, I was ready, but I wouldn't hurt her too bad.

"What?" I glared, deflated. I was hoping for someone else I could seriously hurt without feeling guilty about it later.

"Avery, you—you have to come," Lyric swallowed, her eyes frightened.

She reached out and grabbed my hand, slick with sweat. She pulled me up the stairs, and I let her, too tired to care or put up a fight.

"Where are you taking me?" I sighed as she led me to her jeep.

"The police station," Lyric answered grimly, letting out a shaky breath.

I frowned.

"Something," Lyric started, but stopped to clear her throat. "Something happened, Avery." She whispered.

Her hands shook as she tried to put the keys in the ignition. Lyric dropped the keys, cursing. She glanced at me, but looked away.

"What happened?" I growled, not used to seeing my older sister look so scared.

"I'll tell you when, ah, we get, um, closer," Lyric answered, her mind seemed to be on other things. And her eyes wouldn't meet mine.

"You can tell me know," I suggested nicely.

Lyric finally shoved the key in successfully.

"No," she said with a final shake of her head, "not now."

Lyric broke the speed limit getting to the police station. Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were white. The snow hadn't stopped in God knows how long, and it came down heavier than before. Thick snowflakes hit the windshield and 70 miles per hour, and Lyric's windshield wipers went crazy trying to keep the window clean.

"Jesus, Lyric, slow down," I muttered as she turned too fast and slid a few feet.

"Can't, Avery." She mumbled, not even looking at me.

When we got closer, Lyric tosses me her phone. "Call mom and dad, and Octavio."

Octavio is our pack leader, our alpha. If we called him, there was a pack emergency that would require his presence, aka something is extremely wrong.

"Why?"

"Tell them they need to meet us at the police station."

I look down at her phone, then back at her. "What the fuck is going on, Lyric?"

"I'll tell you when we get there."

"No, tell me now." I ordered, raising my eyebrows.

"Avery, I can't." Lyric cried her voice breaking as she stared at the road with agony.

"Damn it, Lyric!" I yelled, my panicking sister making me worried.

"Call them and tell them to meet us here. It's an emergency." Lyric urged.

I called all of them, telling them that something was wrong and Lyric wanted them to meet us at the police station.

"Make sure they know it's an emergency," Lyric reminded me with each phone call.

Lyric finally slowed down as she pulled into the station parking lot. I could see police cars milling around, officers heading out to each car with a destination in mind. I frowned as I counted and recounted all the cars. Herrick had a total of seven police cars, and there was at least double that amount.

"Lyric, now is the perfect time to clue me in as to what is going on."

Lyric parked, and her hands started shaking again, badly. She couldn't even get the keys out.

"Get out of the car, first." She muttered, somehow unbuckling and opening her door.

A cop walked by my door. He wasn't from around here. I grew up around most of the men that were on the police force, and the others I knew from pack activities. The strange officer had his walkie in one hand and he sped talking through it.

"Kidnapped, this afternoon, father doesn't know when." He spouted off. "I need all units on this one. We don't even have any evidence. The damn snow covered up all the tracks. I'm going to need someone to send out an Amber Alert."

I looked over at Lyric, who had also heard the officer. Shock settled on my face.

"Some shithead was dumb enough to kidnap someone from our pack?"

Lyric nodded hesitantly, biting her lip. She teared up.

"Who was taken?" I demanded as we reached the front door.

Lyric opened it for me and ushered me in, neither answering nor looking at me. I shivered, tensing. A close friend, a child? Why would the police call us before Octavio?

"Lyric, who was taken?"

My sister just looked into the warm office, sniffling. She pointed a thin finger to two people farther in.

"Mr. Lane, please calm down," a familiar voice soothed.

My eyes zeroed in on Rhett, Jay's father, who was freaking out, talking to Austin, a friend. Rhett was pacing the small run of space between the desks, clenching a fistful of his hair, tears streaming down his agony-twisted features. I looked back at Lyric speechless, eyes wide, hands squeezed into fists. She was crying, tears streaming down her face.

No.

It couldn't be true.

She wasn't gone. I would have known. I would have felt my mate being taken away. My heart would have been ripped out. My wolf would have fought against her attackers. I should have known, but I didn't know.

In that awful moment, I felt my skin breaking off into pieces. I felt like humpty-dumpty. I'd jumped off a bridge and couldn't be pieced back together again. An unnatural howl of mourning could be heard, but I wasn't sure if it was coming from me, my wolf, or someone or something else. All I knew was that the sound couldn't have been more sentencing.

Human constraints were lifted as I changed. I didn't fight him as I usually did, holding him back to stay sane, to keep control of myself. I knew that we were both only thinking of one thing, so I took a step back and let him do all the work.

Adrenaline pumped my legs. I couldn't have gotten there so quickly if it hadn't. Jay's house was covered in snow. The front door was closed, and he rammed our shoulder into it once. The wood split and a dog howled. He snarled back, our lips curling over the long canines.

Her door was open. We bounded in there, sniffing. Aromas of honey and pineapple wafted up our nose. We followed the trail, smelling everything we could. Her scent was all over the house, and it wasn't as strong as her bedroom.

Right by the door was where it was the next strongest. After that, snow covered any track or evidence. There was nothing.

My beautiful love was gone, and there was no sign of getting her back anytime soon.

WI

"Avery."

I snarled, curling up farther. The snow was cold, but at least I felt something. The numbness settled in a few hours ago, after howling myself hoarse. My savage side was pacing, waiting to be let out again. He wanted her, and wouldn't let me back until he found her.

"Get up, Avery."

I followed Alpha's orders. I shoved off the ground, looking into the golden eyes of my leader.

"How are you?"

I snarled. He knew who I was, and we didn't like each other. Alpha was the same as me, which caused for the immediate dislike between my infant self and the older male.

"Going crazy," I answered perfunctory, fixating on tree behind Octavio.

"Good."

Octavio spun around on his heel, and I stared curiously after him. Too tired to be stubborn, I followed. Octavio sat in his car, waiting for me.

"Your parents thought I might find you here." Alpha started after I shut the car door behind me. "If you want to find your mate, this is not the way to do it."

He doesn't know anything. We need to go now.

Where would we go? There aren't any leads, I thought bitterly.

"You're probably thinking about leaving. Hell, I bet you want to leave." Octavio ran a hand through his graying hair. "It would be better for Jayda if you stayed."

"How? It's not like she's here to reap the benefits."

"We've got better noses, faster reflexes, and a greater amount of people willing to fight. Remember, whoever took Jayda didn't just take your mate; they also took a part of our pack."

When I didn't reply, Octavio sighed.

"We're fighting the same war, Avery. Help me help you."

Octavio started the car. I wasn't worried as to where he was going. I could get home from anywhere. Thankfully, he drove towards my house. The ride was silent, tension thickly permeating the air. Alpha pulled up my driveway. I opened my door, letting snow fall on the dashboard. I got out, and paused.

"She prefers to be called Jay." I slammed the door.

Thanks for reading:)

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Anonymous reviews:

Lullay: I'm really sorry you feel that way! I hope that this chapter makes it better:) Thanks for the support; I know my mom is trying hard for my sake, but I feel guilty about it sometimes.

Ree14.0: Okay, so I lied about the one month until next update. Here it is. Hope you like and thanks for the review:D