Page 111 of Alpha Queen
As the larger group began moving toward the door, a shot rang out. Kane leapt in front of Austin. A bullet tore through Kane's shoulder, the impact spinning him halfway around. Blood bloomed across his shirt as he staggered, pain lancing through him.
Austin roared.
"Traitor!" Lydia screamed, her gun still raised.
Kane lobbed a knife straight at the toe of Lydia's boot. She backed up a step.
Kill. Kill them all.
"You may be okay being enemies with wolves on the other side of the gate, but trust me, you do not want to make an enemy of me right here." Kane removed his gun from the holster and pointed it at the floor. For the first time in over a decade, Kane did something he never did. He unleashed his inner wolf and leveled his Alpha gaze on the rebellious group.
The group gasped, and several stumbled backward. No one in the pack knew he was an Alpha. No one but Titan and Deleah.
"Go," Kane told Austin. "Go to the front gate and wait for me."
As they fled, Kane backed toward the door, his gun drawn but pointed at the floor.
"Feel free to tell your new Alpha masters what we think of their mercy," Marius spat.
Anger and fear radiated off the wolves standing with Marcus and Lydia, all of them driven to fight for a cause that had spiraled out of control. It was no longer just about loyalty; it was about survival.
Without another word, Kane headed to the open door, and the night air rushed up to meet him. Kane's wolf snarled at the scents of Alphas and Betas. He swallowed hard and forced himself not to shift.
"No aggression," Kane called to the others ahead of him. "We walk out slow, steady, and together. If things go wrong, return to the main house. I'll hold off as many as I can. But no matter what happens, don't give them a reason to hurt you. Your stories need to be heard. Every single one."
A nervous murmur sounded around the group. Kane headed down the front steps to the driveway below.
Please, goddess, don't let these wolves die.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
RIVER
The room hummed with tension as Ares and Apollo prepared to leave. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, cool glow across River's new, larger bed. It did little to ease the chasm opening in her stomach.
"Please." River tried to keep the desperation from her voice. "Don't go."
Ares paused, his eyes filled with determination. "We have to, beloved. Trust me, we want nothing more than to stay right here by your side. But if we don't go, there is no telling if the Alphas will let the rogues go. And you've made it quite clear you want us to hear what the rogues have to say."
"You think they'd betray you?"
"We don't know," said Apollo. "Desperate men do desperate things. Alphas even more so. They could do it to try and cover their asses and things they've done, or out of revenge for those killed."
"Should I go with you then?"
"No," they said together.
"We aren't taking any more chances with your life or the lives of our children."
River nodded.
Apollo knelt beside her, concern etched into his features. "We promise we'll do everything we can to ensure everyone's safety."
"But they have to stay contained until we figure this out," Ares added gently. "There's still a lot we don't know."
River's gaze darted between them, desperation welling inside. "Where will they be taken?"
"They'll be held in custody until we can talk to each one of them," said Ares.
