Rise Of A Shattered Luna (Natalie) by Kave Derry novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23 The Alpha Comes

Baron’s POV

Phantom’s call came through on the encrypted line. It was sharp and urgent.

85%

+10 Free Coins

“They’ve taken Natalie,” she said. Her voice clipped and tight. “I tried to stop them, but they knocked me out. She’s gone.”

I didn’t ask how many or who took her. I didn’t even ask what she did wrong.

Every second mattered.

“Where exactly was she taken?” I kept my voice low, steady. My wolf, Raze, coiled beneath ribs, growling low. “Get her and take her far away from here.”

my

“North Wing,” Phantom said. “They moved her fast; the security feeds went down halfway through.”

North Wing?

“They’re heading toward the hill behind the hospital,” she continued. “I came to after. I tracked her scent as far as I could before it disappeared.”

She stopped.

“I’m sorry, Alpha. I should’ve-

“You did enough,” I cut in.

I ended the call as I moved straight.

Weapons checked, blade in place, jacket zipped, car waiting, and car engine ready. I sent out two short commands to my subordinates as I crossed the lot.

I didn’t need a map; I already knew the route by instinct.

There was only one objective: get her. Bring her back. Alive.

Smoke rose in the distance, thick and ugly. The warehouse behind the hill was already burning.

Raze growled beneath my ribs. “She told you before. Take her away. You waited too long.”

“I know,” I muttered.

12:56 Wed, May 6

Chapter 23 The Alpha Comes

I pushed the accelerator harder.

85%0

+10 Free Coins

The warehouse came into view fast; the fire had already taken hold. Heat rolled outward in waves, distorting the air.

By the time I reached the perimeter, the warehouse loomed, half–swallowed by smoke. The doors were smashed, windows blackened.

Roof sagging under fire. Heat rolled out in waves, licking my skin through the jacket. Not ideal–but expected.

I crouched behind a fallen crate, scanning.

My eyes caught movement outside. Jensen stood with his guards, Sharon in his arms.

His guards had hands on weapons, eyes sharp. Focused on the flames, trying to put off the fire as it was causing a ruckus in the pack. They hadn’t noticed me yet… not that they could.

I paused, trying to keep my heart steady. I didn’t need confrontation… not now. I observed and learned their positions. The gaps between them, the angles. A shadow where I could slip inside.

Step one: avoid notice. Step two: save her. Step three: leave before anyone realized I’d been here.

I moved quietly and calculatedly. Feet on ash and debris. Smoke stung my eyes and burned my lungs, but I ignored it. Heat pressed in, but my focus was singular: Natalie.

Inside, the fire had grown.

The roof was falling off, the crates and everything were in shambles.

Then I saw her.

Natalie… just seated there staring into space as though she couldn’t feel the heat.

Raze coiled tighter beneath my ribs. “Why isn’t she moving?”

Her posture was off, eyes dull and her scent was off.

I closed the distance in three careful steps, trying to keep my hands steady. Brushed hair back from her face and slid it under her shoulders.

“I told you, Natalie,” I said, making my voice rumble low through the crackle of flames. “I don’t let my women go that easily.”

I lifted her slightly, testing her weight.

12:56 Wed, May 6 M

Chapter 23 The Alpha Comes

The fire roared behind me, snapping, forcing me to drop her.

¥:85%

+10 Free Coins

I scanned quickly as the beams above groaned and ashes fell in showers; smoke burned my eyes. My wolf, Raze, coiled beneath me, tense and ready to strike.

“I’m here… you’ll be fine,” I said, picking her up again.

Natalie’s POV

I couldn’t move, my limbs felt dead. Chest tight, breath shallow. Smoke clawed my throat and burned my lungs as my vision blurred.

I’ve been in and out of consciousness; Sharon and her goons tied me up here behind the

crates.

I was paralyzed and trapped in my own body.

Phantom had been here; she tried to stop them. She had failed, and I was alone.

I heard the doors open with a violent crash.

Someone had entered.

My heart slammed hard enough to hurt.

Jensen.

Relief hit first; he came for me.

“Sharon!”

No no….

I tried to move, but nothing. My limbs were dead weight. The drug and the wither chill held tight, cruel, and precise. I could breathe, I could see. That was all.

“Jensen, I’m here too.” I tried to say.

Nothing came out.

Panic climbed fast; I needed him to see me. I needed anything.

I dragged every shred of strength inward, every spark I had left. My head and my chest hurt. The fire roared closer.

12:56 Wed, May 6 MO

Ch. 03 The Alpha Comes

Focus.

One chance.

I gathered it all and slammed my heel sideways

The crate shifted.

A dull thud echoed through the smoke.

I did it again; pain exploded up my leg, and my vision blurred again.

Another thud.

He paused.

I saw it… the hesitation. He still

a didn’t see me.

“Yes,” I thought despi

Here. I’m here.

His voice cut through the smoke.

“What was that?”

Hope surged so fast it hurt.

Then Sharon spoke.

Soft, weak, and perfectly timed.

“It hurts… the smoke…

please…”

His attention snapped back to her.

“No,” I screamed inside my head, don’t turn away.

He didn’t look toward the crates.

Didn’t step closer.

Didn’t see me.

*****etting you out now,” he said.

And then he moved.

85%

+10 Free Coins

12:56 Wed, May 6

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify