Page 117 of Alpha Queen
"Chain him tighter," Apollo commanded, stepping back from Titan's broken form. "Gag him if necessary."
As the rogues rushed to comply, Kane approached cautiously. "What will happen to him now?"
"He'll face trial," Ares replied, his voice hard as iron. "Before the Council and every Alpha whose pack he's harmed."
"And the others?" Kane asked, glancing toward the door.
"We'll keep our word," said Ares. "They won't be harmed unless they force our hand."
Kane nodded.
The acrid odor of burning skin scorched Ares' nose as several more pairs of silver shackles wrapped Titan's arms and legs.
Titan barely noticed the extra shackles. His eyes stayed on the floor. When he finally lifted his eyes, he looked straight at Kane.
"What did they offer you? What do you get out of betraying me to my enemies? A place at their side?"
Kane looked to Titan, his eyes sad. "Nothing. Like you, I'll take whatever punishment they dole out. That's how we wanted it, right? Fair justice for everyone."
Titan stared at Kane emotionless. "Then I guess we'll die together."
Kane nodded. "As it should be."
ARES
They hauled Titan to his feet, and Apollo turned to Ares. "Let's go before this whole place collapses on us."
Ares nodded and then looked at Kane. He motioned to the rogues. "Shackle him as well."
The rogues paused, looking at Kane.
Kane held out his hands, offering up no resistance. "Do it."
Ares' wolf gnashed his teeth.
No fair. Kill Titan. Touched River. Hurt pups.
I know. But we must let River decide. It won't be fair to her if we just kill him. She deserves justice. Closure.
Death. Kill him. Break bones. Rip throat.
Ares sighed. He needed his wolf to stop before he lost all sense of reason and let his wolf have what he wanted. He took the steps three at a time, reaching the kitchen and striding through it. He coughed several times and covered his nose with his sleeve.
The fires had been put out, but the air remained thick with smoke and the scent of burning hair and flesh. The main floor revealed itself as they emerged from the kitchen into the hall. Kane faltered at the threshold.
The once opulent entryway had become unrecognizable. Blood slicked the marble floors, the pristine white walls now painted crimson in sprawling, chaotic patterns. Bodies lay where they'd fallen. Alphas, Betas, and rogues alike. Their limbs contorted from the final moments of desperate struggle.
"Goddess," Kane whispered, his voice hollow as he took in the carnage.
A young female rogue crumpled against the wall, her blonde hair matted with blood, eyes fixed in a permanent stare. Beside her, an Alpha from a northeastern pack, his throat torn out, fingers sizzling and still clutching a silver dagger embedded in his heart.
The Alphas wanted vengeance, and they'd gotten it. One way or another.
Kane moved forward. He knelt briefly beside a fallen rogue. A boy, merely a teen, his ribcage ripped open and his heart on the floor next to him.
"His name was Licah," Kane said. "Seventeen. Exiled because his Alpha feared he would challenge for leadership someday." He rose, continuing through the battlefield of broken bodies.
He walked to the female with blonde hair. "This is Lydia. She was one tough wolf. She ran from her pack after they killed her mate. She never would say why." Kane closed her eyelids.
