Page 107 of Alpha Queen
"You have connections. People who owe you favors. Call one."
Vanessa's perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose in surprise. "What makes you think I know someone?"
"Because you know everyone," Kane replied flatly. "It's what you do. Information is your currency."
For a moment, Vanessa looked like she might deny it, but then her shoulders slumped. "I might know someone. But Kane," her voice softened, "even if I can reach them, there's no guarantee they'll listen."
"We have to try," Kane insisted. "For them." He gestured toward the door, beyond which dozens of rogues waited, some preparing for war, others holding on with desperate hope. "We owe them that much."
Vanessa studied him for a long moment. "I don't owe them anything but..." She nodded. "Fine." Without another word, she pulled out a slim phone from her pants. Not the one Kane had seen her with. A different one. She scrolled through contacts, her finger hovering over a name.
"Who are you calling?" Kane asked.
She pinched her brow and scrunched up her face as if contemplating. "Someone who owes me a favor."
She dialed a number and turned away, keeping her voice low as she spoke into the phone. The conversation was brief, mainly consisting of one-word responses from Vanessa and long pauses as she listened.
When she ended the call, she turned back to Kane, her expression unreadable. "They'll call back in five minutes. On this phone." She handed it to him. "It will be Ares."
Kane took the phone, feeling its weight in his palm like a ticking bomb. "And they agreed to this? Just like that?"
"I called in a significant favor." Vanessa avoided his gaze. "One I've been saving for an emergency. I'd say trying to remain alive qualifies."
The five minutes stretched interminably as Kane paced the office. The sounds of conflict grew louder on the other side of the fence. Shouting, and something crashed against the perimeter fence. The crackle of electricity zapped through the air as another Alpha tested the perimeter.
When the phone finally rang, Kane answered it with steady hands despite the chaos in his mind.
"This is Kane."
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't tear your throat out personally," Ares Wolvenguard's voice growled through the speaker.
"Because I want to end this without more bloodshed, your Majesty."
"You helped kidnap my mate," Ares snarled. "You helped keep her prisoner."
"I know," Kane acknowledged, keeping his voice level. "And I will face whatever consequences come from that. But there are innocent wolves here who had nothing to do with River's abduction. They don't deserve to die for Titan's obsession. They've already been through enough."
"They sided against us. That's not innocent."
"They didn't side against you. They were looking for a pack. A home. We gave them that when no one else would."
Silence stretched for several seconds.
"Did you find her? The High Luna?" Kane asked, already knowing the answer but needing confirmation.
"Yes," Ares bit out, his voice still hard but fractionally less murderous.
"Is she okay?"
"She's safe. Not uninjured, but safe."
"Good," Kane said sincerely. "I'm glad. Please tell her that 'the asshole' says he's sorry I couldn't do more to help her."
Another pause, then Ares spoke again, his voice slightly less hostile. "What are you proposing?"
"We surrender Titan to you. He's unconscious and subdued. In exchange, I ask for amnesty for those not directly involved in the High Luna's kidnapping. An opportunity for them to plead their cases individually."
"And why would I agree to that?" Ares demanded. "I could wait until the compound's defenses fail and take everyone."
