Wolf under an oak tree.

What! The stone that has caused all these problems to the entire werewolf community! Well, I definitely want to see what is so damn special about it. “Do you have it right now?” I asked him excitedly, but mom and dad weren't so excited, which was bizarre.

“Jace, we thought your grandma had hidden the stone outside the pack, but the irony of the situation was that the stone was hidden in her room all this while.” mom said, and she placed a small velvet ring box in front of me, and I quickly opened it to see a beautiful ring inside. There was a red spinel stone kept in the center, which had an intricate design of a wolf within, and surrounding the stone was a design of a werewolf.

“I went to my mother’s room today, and Elana’s and Iris’s scent was very strong there, and I followed their scent to the secret chamber that is behind the closet. Elana was telling the truth, she did try to take Iris to a safe place when the pack was under attack.” dad paused for a while till all the information sinks in before he continued. “But they took the wrong turn and found grandma’s secret room, and I think they must have opened her locker too because Iris’s scent was prominent in there.”

“So, Elana was telling the truth. But dad, how did you know that this is the stone that grandma was trying to safeguard?”

“Because she has shown this to me before and told me what it can do, but there is a catch. Only a person who has the same aura as her will be able to unlock its powers, and it doesn't need to be your mate.” this tarnished all the previous theories that we had about the stone, so why was Midnight after this, if he wouldn't be able to unlock its power?

“And, the first time I met Iris, I felt the same aura that Luna Rachel had and what is more interesting is that, this is not the original ring either.” mom explained.

“Wait! what are you trying to hint here?” my wolf and I are getting angry by the minute, are they trying to accuse Iris of stealing something that valuable.

“We are not trying to accuse your mate, Jace. We are trying to say that she is the person who can unlock the powers, and if this information gets out to the wrong hand, she will be in grave danger. And I think Iris must have already figured that out. Because she has the original ring with her.” dad said, and a feeling of fright overcame me.

I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed her number, which I got from Walter because apparently, Jennifer had changed her number on my phone, and that is the reason none of my calls went through.

The phone kept ringing for a very long time, but she didn't pick it up. I tried calling again, but still, there was no answer. My anxiety level was rising right now. And I quickly dialed her mother’s number. The phone rang for some time before she picked it up.

“Hello, Jace, good morning.”

“Good morning, Mrs.Hendrix, I just called to see if Iris left the house yet. She said that she was coming to meet me for breakfast today.” I didn't want to alarm her mother yet, so I had to lie.

“Actually, it is kind of strange since Iris never wakes up before me, but looks like she is very eager to meet her boyfriend since she wasn't in her room when I checked there. And thank God you called me Jace, I was starting to get worried.” Mrs.Hendrix said, and my heart beat quickened.

“Oh, that’s alright, Mrs.Hendrix. I will tell Iris to give you a call later.” I said, and after exchanging our greeting, I disconnected the phone and threw it against the wall.

“Jace, what happened?” dad asked me, while I continued throwing all the things that were on my desk.

“Someone has kidnapped Iris, dad. I think someone knew something.” I growled, and I threw the lamp toward the door, and the glass broke into a million pieces and scattered all over the floor, right then, my door opened, and in walked Walter with Mike and Elana.

“Jace, Zander is missing, and the patrols said that they saw him leave the pack last night, and the patrol near Iris’s house also saw him last night. And when we searched his room, we found this,” Walter said, bringing a paper to me which was half burnt but it was still enough to grasp what was written on it.

Iris, the ring. Bring her to tonight.

That was enough information for me to know who has kidnapped her, and who was the mole within my pack, and I couldn't even believe that my own fucking head warrior would betray me.

“Alpha, what are we going to do now?” Walter asked me, and I was pacing the floor. The fear for Iris’s safety was rising, and on top of that, I have to deal with this Alan too.

“Let's first finish off this Alan problem. Walter, make sure everything happens according to our plan, and I will think of something else to rescue Iris.” I instructed.

“Alright, Alpha,” Walter said and bowed his head before leaving the room. While my parents followed behind him, mom patted my shoulder and whispered that nothing would happen to Iris before she left with my dad.

“Alpha if you don't mind, can I say something? I directed my eyes at Elana, who was awkwardly standing near the doorway, and even though I didn't want to hear her talk right now, I nodded my head to go on because, at this point, even the smallest information is going to be vital.

“Iris told me once how Alan was very quick on his feet, and he is exceptionally strong for a human, so after hearing all that, I have a feeling, maybe he is not a human. Maybe he is a werewolf too.” Elana suggested.