08:23 AM.

Emerald City

The morning sun was already climbing high over the City when Jayden’s hoverbike touched down gently on the ground just outside the Isley mansion. He’d left Jade city with Cassandra about thirty minutes ago, and now, there were finally here. Home.

Cassandra had fallen asleep against his back during the flight, exhausted from everything she’d endured.

Jayden gently woke her. "Cassie. We’re here. You’re home," he whispered softly.

Cassandra stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, confusion giving way to recognition as she saw the familiar gates and walls.

"Home," she whispered, her eyes widening. "I’m really home."

Jayden helped her off the bike, supporting her weight as they approached the gate intercom. Before he could press the button, the gates swung open.

The front door burst open and Penelope came running out.

She was still in her nightgown and robe, her usually immaculate appearance disheveled, her face drawn with days of sleepless worry and endless crying. But the moment she saw Cassandra, everything else vanished.

"Cassie!" she called out in joy, running towards her daughter.

"Mom!" Cassandra yelled, her eyes already tearing up as she ran towards her mum.

They met halfway up the driveway, Penelope catching her daughter in a fierce embrace. Both were sobbing—Penelope’s hands running through Cassandra’s hair, over her face, checking that she was real, that she was truly there.

"Oh, Cassie," Penelope muttered. "My baby, you’re home. I thought I lost you."

"I’m okay, Mom," Cassandra sobbed into her mother’s shoulder. "I’m here now."

They sank to their knees right there on the driveway, holding each other, crying out days of fear and pain and relief.

Jayden stood back, giving them space, feeling the weight of his exhaustion finally beginning to settle over him.

After several minutes, Penelope pulled back slightly, cupping Cassandra’s face in her hands, examining the bruises and cuts.

"Who did this to you?" Penelope’s voice was deadly calm now—the voice of someone with the power to make people disappear. "Give me names."

Cassandra shook her head. "Mom, there’s no need for—"

"Names, Cassandra." Penelope insisted.

"They’re already handled," Jayden said quietly.

Penelope’s head snapped toward him, as if seeing him for the first time. Her eyes widened. "Oh, Jayden. I didn’t see you there," she said. "I’m really sorry."

Jayden nodded quietly. "It’s okay," he said softly. "All that matters is that Cassie is safe."

Penelope stood slowly, helping Cassandra up, and walked over to him. For a moment she just stared, taking in his appearance—the tactical suit, the cuts and bruises on his face, the exhaustion in his eyes.

Then she did something Jayden didn’t expect.

She pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you," Penelope whispered, her voice breaking. "Thank you for bringing my daughter home. I don’t know how you did it, I don’t know what you had to do, but thank you. Thank you so much."

Jayden stood stiffly for a moment, then carefully returned the embrace. "I made a promise," he said. "And I kept it."

Penelope pulled back, wiping tears from her eyes, and studied his face. "How bad was it?"

"Bad enough," Jayden replied honestly. "But she’s safe now. That’s what matters."

Penelope clenched her fist. "The people who took her—"

"Are in the EVA’s custody," Jayden said, which was actually true. Last night, just before he slept, he’d contacted Fred and given him the location of the facility.

He initially wanted to return to the facility another time and rescue the hostages himself... because even though he trusted Fred, he didn’t trust the EVA. But after giving it much thought, he decided it was best to act now. Because after what he pulled off, the remaining hostages could be in danger... the syndicate could decide to move them, or even sell them off quickly. So he gave the location and details to Fred, who acted immediately and conducted a raid on the facility.

Penelope nodded slowly, her expression shifting from relief to something harder. "Good. Because if the EVA hadn’t gotten to them, I would have eventually. And what I would have done—" She glanced at Cassandra. "Well. Let’s just say it’s better this way."

Jayden nodded. "Indeed it is,"

Penelope hummed. Then guided Cassandra toward the house, one arm around her daughter’s shoulders. "Come on inside, both of you. You look like you need rest and proper medical attention."

"I’m fine," Jayden said. "Just tired."

Penelope scoffed. "You’re not fine. You look like you just got out of a street fight."

Jayden chuckled. A street fight was an understatement to what he’d really been through in the last 72 hours.

Penelope’s voice took on that tone that suggested arguing would be futile. "Inside. Now," she insisted. "I’m having my personal physician examine both of you."

Jayden exhaled in defeat. "Alright."

...

Several minutes later,

The physician had come and gone, treating Cassandra with IV fluids, pain medication, and strict orders to rest.

Jayden had refused treatment beyond basic first aid—his Lycan healing factor was already working, and he didn’t want to answer questions about why his injuries were healing so quickly.

Now they sat in the mansion’s sprawling living room—Cassandra on the couch wrapped in blankets, Penelope beside her holding her hand, and Jayden in a nearby chair trying to stay awake.

"Tell me everything," Penelope said gently to her daughter. "What really happened? Who took you?"

Cassandra took a shaky breath. "It was the day I left the house. I was on my way to the Southside Park to clear my head. After a while, I noticed someone was following me. I tried to text Jayden, but..." Her voice caught. "He attacked me out of nowhere. He had fire abilities like I do—so much fire. I tried to fight back, but he was too strong and too fast. Eventually, he overpowered me and knocked me out. And when I woke up, I was in a cell."

Penelope’s hand tightened on Cassandra’s. "Who was he?"

"I don’t know his name," Cassandra whispered. "But he had scars. Burn scars all over. And his eyes... they were so merciless. He said I was being held for a client. That someone had paid a lot of money to have me abducted."

Penelope’s face went pale. "What? Who would dare do that?" she clenched her fist in rage. "Who was the man even working—"

"The Black Cobra syndicate," Jayden said quietly. "They were hired to acquire her. The man was simply one of their pioneers."

"How do you know this?" Penelope asked, her gaze sharp.

"I worked with an EVA captain. He had intel on the syndicate’s operations. We tracked Cassandra to a facility in Jade City." Jayden kept his voice even, omitting the parts about infiltrating the criminal underworld, fighting through dozens of gang members, and nearly dying multiple times. "That was how we were able to save her."

Penelope furrowed her brows. "And the man—the pioneer that took Cassie. Where is he now," she asked, her voice dangerously low. "I would like to have a word with him."

Jayden cleared his throat, turning his gaze away. "Um... well, he was defeated by the agent I mentioned," he said smoothly. "I’m afraid he’s dead now."

Penelope sighed in frustration. "Tsk. I wanted to ask him who hired the syndicate to abduct my daughter," she muttered, feeling disappointed. "But it doesn’t even matter now. I will get to the bottom of this myself. I’ve been dormant long enough; now it’s time for me to take action."

Jayden had a very good feeling what she meant by that. Fred had already provided him with insights into Penelope’s capabilities, and after conducting further research, he discovered what Fred was truly afraid of.

Cassandra had once gone missing, but it was just one of her many schemes to get her bodyguards fired. She had faked her own kidnapping. But before Penelope could understand that it was just a fake abduction, she had already destroyed a third of the city in a fit of rage. Many people died that day—mostly gang members and thugs—but the mortality rate was still alarmingly high.

This was the reason why immediately after hearing about Cassandra’s disappearance. The EVA had immediately gone to Penelope to appease and assure her that Cassandra would be found—in efforts of preventing another mass massacre by a furious, fiery mother.

Penelope had decided to extend them a measure of grace, promising not to take any action for a while. That was why, for the past few days, all she could do was stay home, cry, and pray, feeling like a helpless mother.

"This agent you mentioned," she said, turning to Jayden. "I want to thank him personally."

"I’ll pass that along," Jayden said.

Before Penelope could say anything further, the doorbell rang

Moments later, voices filled the entrance hall. And then...

"CASSIE!"

Tasha, Jessica, and Aileen burst into the living room, with Harleen and Jacob following more sedately behind. The three young women rushed to Cassandra, engulfing her in hugs and tears.

"Oh my god you’re okay!" Tasha said, her voice filled with emotion.

"We were so worried!" Aileen said.

"You’re really here!" Jessica muttered excitedly. "I’m so glad you’re okay."

Cassandra was crying again—happy tears this time—as her friends held her. Harleen moved to Penelope, embracing her fellow mother, murmuring words of comfort and shared relief.

Jacob approached Jayden, who had stood when everyone entered.

"I have a feeling you had something to do with this," Jacob said quietly, his eyes searching Jayden’s face.

Jayden only smiled. "Maybe," he replied quietly.

Jacob chuckled. "I don’t know how you did it, but, good job, Jayden," he said with pride in his voice. "Your mother would be proud of the man you’ve become. A man who takes care of those he loves and does anything to make sure they’re safe."

Jayden simply gave a small nod.

The living room became a chaos of joy and tears. Cassandra was in the center of it all, surrounded by the people who loved her, finally safe.

Jayden stood slightly apart, watching. This was good. This was right. Cassandra was home, surrounded by family and friends.

His job was done.

After several minutes of celebration, Jayden quietly moved toward the door.

Tasha noticed immediately. "Where are you going?"

"Home," Jayden said. "It’s been... a long few days. I need to get some rest."

"But you should stay!" Jessica protested.

"I’m really tired," Jayden said gently. "You all stay. I’ll see you later."

Cassandra looked up from her position surrounded by friends, her eyes meeting Jayden’s. There was something unspoken in that look—gratitude, yes, but also something deeper. Something complicated.

"Thank you," she mouthed.

Jayden nodded once, then turned to leave.

Penelope followed him into the entrance hall. "Jayden, wait."

He turned.

She walked up to him, her expression serious. "What you did... I don’t know all of it. I suspect you’re not telling me everything. But I know it was dangerous. I know you put yourself at risk for my daughter." She took his hand, squeezed it. "I won’t forget that. If you ever need anything—and I mean anything—you call me. Understood?"

"Understood," Jayden replied.

Penelope hesitated, then added quietly, "We’ll talk. Soon. About... everything. But not today. Today is for Cassandra."

"I agree." Jayden smiled.

Penelope smiled back and kissed his cheek, then she returned to the living room.

Jayden walked out the front door into the morning sunlight. He was halfway to the gate when his holo-tab buzzed. He took it out and stared at the screen.

It was an Incoming call from the EVA captain, Fred.