Page 110 of Alpha Queen
"A chance to be judged by the same Alphas who cast us out in the first place!" a female rogue named Lydia called out, her gun trained on Kane now. "You've gone soft, Kane. Titan would never agree to this."
"Titan has lost his damn mind," Kane countered, his patience wearing thin. "He's willing to sacrifice all of you for his revenge."
"Better to die fighting than on our knees begging." Marius' finger tightened on the trigger. "You're a coward, Kane."
An older woman, with a teen girl hugging her, stepped forward. "My daughter and I had nothing to do with the kidnapping. We came here for sanctuary, not war."
"Then go," Marius spat, gesturing toward the door with his gun. "All of you who want to surrender, get out. But Titan stays with us. We'll defend him to the death."
"That's exactly what will happen if you try," Kane warned, his voice hardening. "Death. For all of you. Is that what you want? To die for a man who was ready to sacrifice you for his obsession?"
"Get out!" Lydia shouted, firing a warning shot into the ceiling. Plaster rained down as screams erupted from the more peaceful faction. "Take the cowards and go!"
Austin moved forward, hands raised. "Put the gun down. This doesn't have to end in bloodshed."
"It was always going to end in bloodshed," she replied, her eyes wild. "From the moment they labeled us rogues, our fate was sealed."
Kane raised his arm and shoved Austin behind him, with nearly forty rogues huddled behind Kane.
Twenty or so stood with Marius and Lydia, guns drawn and faces set with grim resolve.
"You can't win this," Kane insisted, desperation creeping into his voice. "You're outnumbered, outgunned."
"We know. But we'll take as many with us as we can."
"This is insanity." Austin took a step forward. "You're throwing your lives away for nothing!"
Marius raised his gun higher, aiming directly at Austin's heart. "One more step and I'll put a bullet in you myself, traitor."
"Marius, please," a younger female wolf pleaded from behind Kane. "We don't have to die today. The kings promised-"
"Promises from Alphas mean nothing!" Marius roared. "How many times have they promised us justice? Protection? Rights? And how many times have they hunted us down like animals? Titan is the only one who kept his word to us."
Desperation shone in their eyes. The look of cornered animals who'd been pushed too far, for too long. They weren't fighting for Titan anymore; they were fighting against a lifetime of persecution.
"Take them and go," Lydia ordered, gesturing toward the huddled.
Kane looked over the group. Marius and Lydia, he could take easily, even with guns. But how many other bullets could he endure before going down?
He sighed. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't save them all. Just one more promise he'd broken.
A young female touched Kane's arm. "Please, Kane. Take us out of here."
Kane looked between the armed rogues and the frightened ones behind him. Time was running out. He had less than forty minutes to deliver Titan to the kings, or the temporary truce would end.
"Last chance," he said to Marius and Lydia. "Come with us. Live to fight another day, a better fight."
"Get out." Marius fired a shot that whizzed past Kane's ear.
Kane ducked instinctively and growled.
His wolf leapt to his feet, teeth bared. A shift ripple flowed over his skin, and his teeth lengthened.
Hurt. Teach pups a lesson.
Kane straightened. No. Leave them to their fates.
"Austin, get them to the gate."
