Chapter 192: The Kidnapping And Bella’s Bargain

Three days ago...

Before Soren had barged into the cave and dragged everyone away.

It had been a quiet night in the cave. A very quiet one. It had been like that ever since Neve and the others left.

Only Ryker, Sif, Sorin, Doris’s young siblings, and Kael were home. They had just finished a simple dinner prepared by Sorin and had settled down to rest for the night.

Ryker, however, couldn’t bring himself to sleep. He had a busy day tomorrow.

He sat near the entrance of the kitchen area, carefully whittling wooden branches into sturdy hunting spears using one of Neve’s sharp iron knives. He wanted to make sure he brought back enough game to feed everyone while Neve was away in the outcast territory. Neve had placed the safety of the cave in his hands, and Ryker was determined not to let him down. He wanted to take care of everything exactly the way Neve would have.

Pausing mid-carve, Ryker let his gaze drift downward to the glowing blue bond mark resting against his skin. Every time his eyes caught that mark, his heart gave a small, warm ache.

’I wonder if he’s eating properly over there... I wonder when he’ll come back to us. I miss you, Neve,’ Ryker thought, a faint smile touching his lips.

Before he could put the knife back to the wood, the soft rustle of footsteps sounded behind him.

Expecting to see one of Doris’s siblings coming to grab a drink of water or anyone else coming to request something, Ryker started to turn around casually. But before he could even face the doorway, a heavy, blunt force cracked viciously against the back of his head.

Pain exploded behind his eyes. The iron knife and wooden spear slipped from his numb fingers, clattering loudly against the stone floor before his knees buckled and he crashed into the dark.

His vision blacked out completely.

"Pick him up," a heavy, thick voice grunted through the haze. "Gather the rest of them and haul them to the chief’s cave."

It was Soren’s guards.

.

.

When Ryker finally dragged his eyes open, his head was throbbing violently, and his wrists were bound tight behind his back.

Doris’s younger siblings were already sobbing loudly, their terrified cries echoing off the damp walls of Soren’s cave. Kael was tied up nearby, trying his best to calm them down in soft, soothing tones, but the children were too panicked to listen. They were terrified, confused, and trapped in an empty cave.

Ryker gritted his teeth, ignoring the loud crying as warm blood trickled down his forehead from the blow he had taken. He yanked hard against the thick ropes binding his wrists, but the knots had been pulled brutally tight, the rough fibers cutting deep into his skin.

"Curses!" Ryker growled, kicking his tied boots against the stone floor in frustration. "Who brought us here?!"

"Look around. It’s Soren’s cave," Sorin answered from across the room, his voice heavy with grim resignation.

Ryker’s brow furrowed into a deep, furious scowl. "I can’t believe I let myself get ambushed like a child. I’m supposed to be a chief... I should have heard him coming."

Heavy, uneven footsteps echoed down the stone corridor outside.

Soren staggered into the room, a wooden cup of sour wine clutched loosely in his large hand. The foul, pungent stench of alcohol clung to him, his eyes bloodshot and his movements swaying dangerously. He was completely drunk.

"Oh! They are finally here!" He cheered, lifting his hands and the cups. "I’ve almost died of boredom waiting for you all."

"Release us immediately!" Ryker snapped, straining against his bindings the moment the leopard chief stumbled into view. "Soren! Let every single one of us go!"

Soren merely smirked, staggering right up to Ryker. He squatted down unsteadily until he was at eye level with the tied-up tiger chief.

"Release you?" Soren chuckled, taking a slow sip from his cup before letting out a loud, sour belch right in Ryker’s face. Ryker gagged at the smell, leaning back as far as his ropes allowed. "Why in the world would I do that? You’re my leverage. I’m going to use all of you to get my brother and his precious little mate right where I want them. Oh, wait... he’s your mate too, isn’t he?"

Soren paused, a nasty, cruel grin spreading across his face.

"I wonder... if I slice that pretty little bond mark right off your skin, how much will it hurt him? Especially with those little cubs growing inside his belly. Bond marks are connected, aren’t they? If I destroy yours, maybe it’ll tear his soul apart too."

"You’re a monster!" Kael barked from his corner, his eyes flashing with absolute rage.

"At the very least, there was no reason to drag these children here," Sorin pleaded quietly, his voice trembling despite his efforts to stay calm. "Take them back to the cave. They’re just kids. They haven’t done anything to you. Please."

"Ah, right... Doris’s little siblings," Soren slurred, swaying slightly as he took another heavy gulp of wine. "Tell me, do those poor little things know that their dear older sister is..."

He paused, letting the silence stretch out for dramatic effect.

"Soren," Sorin warned sharply, his eyes wide as he shook his head. "Don’t. Don’t you dare utter those words.

But Soren was far too drunk and spiteful to care.

"Doris is dead!" Soren laughed cruelly, staggering backward. "The stupid girl died, and her sweet little brother and sister didn’t even get to say goodbye!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the children broke into gut-wrenching wails for a second time. The horror of learning about their sister’s death while trapped in a cold cave with a psychotic leopard chief completely overwhelmed them.

The noise grew so loud and piercing that even Soren winced, rubbing his aching temples in annoyance.

"You’ll stay locked right here until Neve comes crawling back," Soren muttered, his words slurring together as he turned toward the exit. "Not a single scrap of food or a drop of water for any of you. If he takes a year to return, you’ll eat in a year. Assuming you’re still breathing by then."

Chuckling at his own cruelty, he stumbled out into the hallway, leaving them trapped in the dark with the sound of weeping children.

The moment he left, Sorin shifted as close to the children as his ropes allowed, speaking in low, gentle murmurs to comfort them even as his own heart hammered with fear.

Ryker threw his entire weight against his bindings, his muscles straining until his skin tore, but the thick ropes refused to snap.

Kael closed his eyes, offering a silent prayer for Neve’s swift return. He refused to die in this dark hole... not before he had a chance to mark Neve, take care of him, and watch him raise their cubs. He had a promise to fulfill.

.

.

Now, days later...

Neve marched with lethal intent straight toward Soren’s cave, determined to rip the chief apart and bring his family back safely. He was going to get them no matter what.

But when they burst through the heavy cave entrance, there was no sign of Soren, Ryker, Sorin, or Kael. Only Doris’s siblings lay curled on the stone floor, completely unconscious.

Popi rushed forward instantly, dropping to her knees to check their pulses, relieved to find them breathing despite being weak and dehydrated.

"Where the hell is he?! Where is Soren?!" Neve roared, his furious voice bouncing violently off the stone walls.

"I know where he took them," a raspy voice chimed from the shadow of the entrance.

Everyone whipped around. For a brief second, Neve almost didn’t recognize the woman standing there.

She was filthy. Her clothes were torn into ragged strips, her hair was matted with dirt and dried leaves, and her skin was bruised and pale. She looked nothing like the proud, arrogant princess she used to be.

It was Bella.

The disgraced outcast of the tribe. The girl who had been rejected, humiliated, and left to rot.

"Bella?" Neve blinked, caught off guard. He stepped forward, his anger momentarily overridden by surprise. "Normally no one is even allowed to speak to you, but if you can tell me where Soren went, I’m listening. Where is he?"

Bella narrowed her eyes, folding her dirty arms tightly across her chest.

"There’s no way I can just give information to you. You’ll have to give me something in return first," she said coldly.

Neve stared at her in disbelief. Even brought down to the absolute bottom, filthy and broken, her stubborn, haughty pride hadn’t been erased. She wasn’t begging or cowering. She was standing tall, looking him dead in the eye, and demanding a trade.

"Fine," Neve said, suppressing the urge to snap her neck as he forced himself to stay patient. "Tell me. What do you want in return?"

Bella took a slow step forward, her hollow, dirty face devoid of any fear.

"It’s simple. I want..."