Chapter 43

Chloes' POV

It happens while I'm brushing my teeth. There's a rush of air and my chest tightens. Gasping, I grip the sink and look in the mirror. Suddenly, I let out a breath of air as though I've been holding it for years. My eyes are suddenly an unnatural bright blue and a pair of silver eyes stare into them. I remember what Chicago said.

"Her eyes were silver though they faded after a while."

"Beca," I whisper, suddenly able to feel her, hear every breath she takes. It's like everything about us is suddenly working in harmony. Her eyes fade away from the mirror, making my heart ache. It couldn't be her. She's dead, isn't she? Only one way to find out.

Beca, can you hear me? Are you there? I hold my breath, hoping for an answer, but not expecting one back.

Chloe? Baby, I'm so sorry. I was kidnapped and was drugged so I haven't been able to talk to you. Beca cries in my head and I let out a sob of relief.

You're alive! This whole time I thought you were dead. They told me you were in a car accident.

That must've been horrible, Beca sighs. The scientist who took me, he set the whole thing up. Chloe, there's so much I want to tell you. Your father-

-Worked for the doctor that took you? I know.

How? I can practically see her confused face and laugh.

Someone came and told me everything. Why don't we play catch up later? Where are you?

I don't know, Chlo. But I'm getting out today, so don't worry. Why don't you go let everyone know and I'll work on getting out?

Okay and Beca? Be safe. I love you.

I love you too baby. The silence that follows fills me with loneliness until I realize that Beca will be back soon. That she's alive. With hope in my heart, I throw on sunglasses, grab my keys and head over to my mom's. In the group chat, I text everyone to meet me there, including Chicago. Where has he been? I haven't heard anything from him since I passed out. After I explain who he is, that's when I'll tell everyone the good news.

When I get to my mom's house, everyone is already there. Damn, they move fast. The moment I enter the house, they all fix their eyes on me.

"Chloe?" My mom pushes through the crowd, dragging Eli behind her. "What's all this about?"

"Chicago?" I call out and when no one answers, I turn to my mom. "I need everyone to listen. I'll go ahead and tell you guys and then when Chicago gets here, I'll let him know."

"Chicago?" Aubrey asks. "Who the hell is that?"

"Beca's brother."

"She has a brother?" Eli ponders. "Why didn't I know of this?"

"The pack hid Beca from them and so for years, Chicago and her father-who is still alive have looked for her. Look, I'll explain later. For now, we have more important matters to discuss."

"She's alive!" Chicago shouts, slamming the door open. Next to him, stands a tall man with dark hair. He watches us with fascination, his eyes flicking everywhere constantly.

"Who's alive?" Jesse asks, obviously overwhelmed. I don't blame him. This got crazy, fast.

"Beca is," I answer and Chicago turns his wild eyes on me.

"You knew? How?"

"She told me."

"Are you sure?" My mom asks and I love the hope in her eyes. She loves Beca like a daughter and wants her back as much as I do.

"I'm positive."

"Chloe, are you sure you aren't going crazy?" Aubrey asks, making me laugh. Of course she's the one to suggest that.

"I've seen Beca myself," the stranger next to Chicago announces and I move toward him.

"What?"

"This is Theo," Chicago introduces. "He works as a guard for Beca who is currently in the hands of Dr. Ezikial Fergus." My mom gasps.

"I recognize that name. Richard worked for him," tears stream down my mom's cheek and I grasp her hands.

"It's okay Mom. He didn't want to have any part in it. He did it for me. Dad wasn't a bad guy."

"For you? What do you mean?" My mom's confused eyes stare at me and I can see her wanting to search mine for answers. Until we can get everything out into the open though, I need to keep my sunglasses on. That story can wait.

"I had a high chance of having the same heart defect that he did so he stayed on the job to find a cure. When he found a possible one, he destroyed all others except for two. I might be dead if it wasn't for him." My mom sobs and Eli hugs her.

"Guys, we need to focus here," Theo shouts. "I know that everyone is confused and we'll get to that later. For now, we need a plan of action. Beca is still stuck with Dr. Fergus and we need to get her out."

"How is she?" I ask. "I heard what you said, but I need to know. She won't tell me if anything is wrong so I need to hear it from you."

"Last I knew, she was sick. Dr. Fergus had her fight one of his other experiments and she got hurt. An infection spread and she wasn't doing too hot."

"Oh god," I choke out. The thought of Beca suffering.

"So how do we go about this?" Jesse pipes up.

"I don't know," Theo hunches over. "All I know is that some friends of mine can get Beca past a certain point, but after that…" His phone rings and he picks up, putting it on speaker phone.

"You there Theo?" A soft woman's voice asks.

"Hey there Ashley. I have you on speaker. Beca's family is here and are ready to help her out of there.

"Well we better hurry because she's ready to go out there fighting and I think she could do it."

"Last time I saw her she couldn't even sit up," Theo shouts incredulously.

"I know, but it's been days and the wound is fully healed. The withdrawals from the wolfsbane wore off and she's...different."

"How different?" I ask, afraid that she went crazy again. "Sorry this is Chloe, Beca's mate."

"Nice to meet you, well you know. Beca has said some great things. Anyway, her eyes are silver."

"Like liquid silver?" I ask, remembering the eyes I saw in the mirror and how mine also changed.

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"Just a guess." I look away from the phone and meet my mom's gaze. She lifts an eyebrow telling me that I'm not fooling anyone.

"So how do we get her out?" Theo asks.

"We can put her on a gurney and roll her down to floor 4. There's an entrance to the underground parking garage and if you guys can, park down there and meet us."

"There's a security check. No way they'll let me through."

"I can convince them," I blurt out, not sure why. Just a sudden gut feeling.

"How?" Ashley asks.

"I don't know. Just trust me," I plead, ready to have Beca back in my arms.

"Fine. That's the plan. Let's do it." Ashley finishes. "Meet us there at 5. They shouldn't suspect us going to the fourth floor near the end of our shift." She hangs up and everyone starts talking at once.

Shut up!" I scream. "I can't think. Look, we have a few hours before we have to go and before that, we need to figure out who's going."

"Definitely me," Chicago asserts. "And Theo of course."

"Let's take some wolves, in case of a fight." Jesse suggests. "Me, Eli, and Emily."

"Are you sure you have to go?" My mom asks, grabbing my hands.

"Yeah. It's time I saw Beca again."

"Why do you think you can convince the guards?" Theo asks. "They aren't easy people to persuade."

"Beca wasn't the only one who changed, " I slowly take off my sunglasses. "I don't know how, but I'm different now." Everybody gasps at my eyes. Some have fear in their eyes, others awe. I'm not sure which I'm more uncomfortable with.

"Chloe," my mom whispers, stepping closer. "How?"

"I don't know," I shrug. "But when I got up this morning and looked in the mirror, I felt different, new. If Beca is also different, then it has something to do with our connection."

"So this new change," Theo speaks up, "you think it can help you persuade the guards?" I nod.

"Just give me a chance. For now, I'll shut my eyes for a few minutes, see if I can conjure up a vision of what's going to happen. You guys, make a plan. Then, it's up to us to get Beca out safely. That goes for all of us. No one gets caught."

"I'd rather die," Jesse declares, puffing out his chest and I nod in agreement.

"Let's get to work," my mom shouts and everybody starts moving. Beca, you're coming home if it's the last thing I do.