Kidnapped

**LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S / KELLY THOMPSON'S POV**

Mr. Braxton's earlier enthusiasm crumbled, leaving him looking anxious and lost in thought. He attempted to maintain his composure, but there was clearly something troubling him, making him visibly agitated.

I could hear his heart racing, the sound echoing in the office. His chest started to swell uncontrollably, and he pressed down on his large pecs with both hands, trying desperately to return to normal, but it wasn’t working.

"Are you okay, Mr. Braxton?" I asked, my voice tinged with worry, but it was clear his mind was miles away as his body underwent this strange transformation.

I watched in shock as his ears elongated, his striking brown eyes reddened like blood, and his body odor turned sharp, reminiscent of a wild animal.

It struck me then—there was no doubt about it, Mr. Braxton was a werewolf on the verge of transforming into a massive beast, and I could never allow that to happen in a school filled with people who'd never confronted such a creature outside of fiction.

Anticipating the possible trauma this could unleash among my students and colleagues, I instinctively splashed him with a glass of cold water sitting on my desk, praying it would halt his impending change. To my surprise, it worked. The shock of the cold liquid made Mr. Braxton yelp like a wounded animal.

Almost immediately, he regained his senses, and the altered parts of his body reverted back to their human form. However, once he fully collected himself, it was evident he was far from happy.

"What kind of behavior is this, Miss Springstone? Is this how you treat your guests?" he exclaimed, anger etched across his face.

"I’m really sorry, Mr. Braxton," I responded quickly, grabbing a towel from my bag and moving toward him to dry off the water from his suit.

"It's fine, Miss Springstone, really. I can handle it," he snapped, swatting my hand away.

I could understand his frustration considering what just happened, but it stung a little. His reaction felt a bit out of line, so I quietly returned to my seat while he dabbed at his elegant silk suit with my towel.

Once he seemed calmer and had finished drying off, he turned his attention back to me. Putting on a forced smile as if nothing had occurred—and likely believing that I had no inkling of what had just transpired—he shifted gears. He spoke to me firmly about my refusal of his offer.

"Miss Springstone, I have to say I’m impressed by your dedication to your school. Not everyone would turn down such an incredible opportunity. With the tough times we face today, who would have the guts to refuse one, let alone two gold bars from one of the most powerful kings to exist, for a job that's not even all that demanding? Just a thing or two to do, and poof, two bars in your bank account. But will you reconsider your decision, for my king’s sake?" he asked in a steady voice, seriousness etched in his expression.

As a messenger, Mr. Braxton clearly had a way with words. His tone was smooth and persuasive, and his captivating eyes drew me in. With his revised approach, I felt tempted to agree.

I’m still uncertain if it was the influence of the moon goddess or simply my inner strength, but somehow, I found the courage to firmly yet kindly reject Mr. Braxton’s alluring offer.

"Mr. Braxton, you're a genuinely nice man. I wish we had met under different circumstances. Unfortunately, right now isn’t the best time for me—I've decided to step away from a particular environment in my life. Please, don’t pressure me for more details! Just accept it as it is. You can leave now; I have a lot of work to get to," I said, my voice steady.

Mr. Braxton looked stunned but managed to keep his cool this time. However, he ignored my request to leave and persisted, determined to win me over.

"Miss Springstone, you may not fully understand how urgent this situation is. The king’s only son, the heir to the throne, is extremely ill and needs special treatment. We've searched in our pack...uh, I mean community," he corrected himself quickly, fearing I might catch on, "for a doctor who could help him. After years of desperation, a friend of the king introduced us to you and your remarkable medical expertise. We’ve seen your research on rare diseases, and we're thoroughly impressed," he pressed on.

But instead of my heart melting at his words, I felt it harden. My annoyance with him grew; someone I had once seen as a gentleman was starting to get on my last nerve. So, I chose to use a language I knew would get through to him—money aside.

"Mr. Braxton, get the hell out of my office! And do me a favor—shove your gold bars where the sun doesn’t shine!" I responded bluntly, raising my middle finger for emphasis.

He looked utterly taken aback, his confident demeanor crumbling. Without another word, he awkwardly stood and left my office, his exit lacking any semblance of a goodbye.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I returned to my paperwork, hoping to move on.

After finishing up, I was ready to head back to my cozy downtown Liverpool apartment, where I lived alone but comfortably, enjoying a stunning view of the city.

But it seemed fate had other plans. Out of nowhere, kidnappers ambushed me on my way home, whisking me away in a black, tinted-window car to a destination I couldn’t imagine. Blindfolded for the entirety of the ride, one of the thugs warned me to keep quiet if I wanted to stay alive.

I never got a good look at their faces, but I could tell they were enormous and intimidating.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the vehicle came to a halt. Two of my captors seized my arms, guiding me out into what I could only assume were bushes, as I felt grass and branches brushing against me.

Then came the roars—loud and primal, like I was surrounded by feral beasts, not your everyday animals. Through the air, I caught a scent that was all too familiar: it was the same strong smell I had detected with Mr. Braxton. Moments later, someone yanked off my blindfold, and I gasped in disbelief as I found myself back at what used to be my old home. Yes, I was back in the South pack.

"Miss Springstone, welcome to the kingdom of Alpha King Jason Bentley," Mr. Braxton said, smirking at me in a half-wolf form.