The lines of destiny

t the edge of this dense forest, their senses on alert. Their children had been kidnapped, and every second counted to find th

n said, his voice low and deep. "The kidnappers left clea

e far away. If we act quickly, we can catc

urnal animals, everything reached them with increased clarity. They advanced in silence, their steps light and sure on

her nostrils flaring. "This way," she whi

r bodies tense, ready to pounce at the slightest warning. The footprints were gettin

nter, a dying fire faintly illuminated the kidnappers' abando

s brushing against the remains of a half-eaten meal. "But t

on the ground. "Look at this," he said, pointing to a

to her. "We must continue. The

appers. The sounds of the night intensified, and a palpable tension accompan

licity froze, her heart pounding. "He was one of my ch

himself forward. Felicity followed closely behind

ng their next move. Three men with scarred faces and stern expressions stood around a rough-hewn table, talking

Maximilian stopped her with a wave of his hand. "Wait," he whispered. "We

r maternal instinct to charge forward. "Okay,

he situation. "We have to separate them. Lure o

a diversion," she said, taking a deep breath. "Pr

ithout being immediately captured. Then she started making noise, banging against a tr

of them ordered, pointing

s. Felicity made another noise, drawing them a little further away. When they were far enough away, Maximil

shining with determination. "There's

used on his preparations, did not hear them arrive. Maximilian slipped behin

ady on top of him, pinning him to the ground. "Where

e. "You don't understand," he gasped. "It

lian barked, his eye

red, terrified. "The Alpha wants th

ood run cold. "Which

"He says they are special, that they have power

for his excessive ambitions and his cruelty. If he had his si

safety," Maximilian wh

ildren, still in shock, clung to them, reassured by their presence. F

ftly. "We are here now. We w

The forest was still dark and menacing, but they knew the

id, staring at the horizon. "Prepare de

determined. "We will," s

children were all that mattered, and they would do anything to protect them. The