Page 75 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

No!

Anger and dread pumped through me.

Summer was covered with cuts and bruises. Her blue eyes were wide with terror.

But that wasn’t even the worst part.

Axel was standing behind her, and he had a knife to her throat.

Chapter Twenty-four: The Next Cut

Summer POV

“You can’t even listen to simple instructions, can you, Gabriel?” Axel demanded and pressed the knife further into my neck. “I told you to come alone!”

There was a nervous edge to his voice. Although I couldn’t see the fight going on outside, one of the Rogues had come into the warehouse a few minutes ago to report to Axel that their side was outnumbered and outskilled. Their army had already lost half of their warriors—some Rogues had even run to save themselves. The fact that Gabriel had brought his shifter army gave me a sliver of hope. It quickly died when Axel told me that he was going to kill me if Gabriel didn’t get here soon. That was when he had put the knife to my throat.

But Gabriel was here. He had fought his way through an army of Rogues to get to me. He was limping, but when he turned slightly, I could see that the wound was shallow.

Gabriel scanned my face, his nostrils flaring with anger. It seemed like he was noting every bruise and cut Axel had given me and was planning the ways he was going to make him pay for each one.

“I'm going to save you,” Gabriel promised me. His voice held such conviction that I couldn't help but believe him. “I love you.” His eyes were brimming with warmth and tenderness.

My heart filled until it seemed like it was going to burst.

“I love you,” I said like a vow.

For a moment, our gazes met and I was certain that I'd love this man until the day I died.

Please don't let that be today.

Our moment was interrupted by a cruel, high laugh.

“Love!” Axel scoffed from behind me. “You think that your love will save you?” He roughly grabbed my left shoulder with his hand that wasn’t holding the knife.

Gabriel’s hands began to shake with rage, but he didn’t dare move toward us when Axel could kill me in less than a second.

“I hold all the power here, Gabriel,” Axel mocked. “For once, I’m the one in charge. Now, give me one reason why I shouldn’t slit her throat.”

Gabriel’s fist clenched.

“Because, she’s the only reason that you’re still alive,” Gabriel said in a low, dangerous voice.

The veins in Gabriel’s neck and arms were bulging. There was a look of such murderous rage on his face that I would be terrified if it were directed at me.

“You've lost, Axel,” Gabriel said. “My warriors will be swarming this building soon.”

“Where did you get warriors?” Axel demanded, frustration lacing his tone. “Did you finally pay off the Alpha King? Is that the Royal Guard out there?”

“No,” Gabriel answered. “I created my own army.”

Axel went silent. Even though I couldn’t see his face, I could still picture his shocked expression.

“How? I would have known. I’ve been going through your paperwork for years. And our father’s paperwork…” Axel trailed off.

“Don’t!” Gabriel screamed. He was in danger of losing control. “You have no right to call him your father. You lost that privilege the second you started working for the Rogues.”

“Well, I guess I lost that privilege years ago. I don’t want to be a part of your family, Gabriel. If I had been yourparents' true son, Iwould have been Alpha. How did they not see that I'm a much better leader than you?” Even though he was trying to hide it, Axel’s voice was full of jealousy. “Besides, I didn’t need help from your family to gain power. I earned it all on my own. I’ve been working with the Rogues ever since we were eighteen,” Axel revealed, his tone smug. “Remember when I started going to that casino in Brindle Creek? I met a Rogue in disguise there who brought me into their ranks. I’m a leader in their group, not just some bitch Beta. And I actually get compensated nicely for my work with the Rogues.”

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