Page 118 of Alpha Queen
Ares scanned the room, his wolf pacing, unsure what to think or feel.
The destruction was absolute. Shattered chandeliers, splintered furniture, walls pocked with bullet holes and claw marks. In the formal dining room, three more bodies. Rogues who had made their last stand among overturned tables and broken china.
"I never wanted this." Kane's voice cracked despite his efforts to maintain composure. "None of this was supposed to happen. We were building a sanctuary, not... this."
He paused beside an older fallen wolf with silver-streaked hair. "This was Yaser. He treated everyone as equals, regardless of their status or pack affiliation. Titan found him living in the woods after his Alpha cast him out for giving rogues shelter and food." Kane's fists clenched at his sides. "He never hurt anyone."
Apollo's expression remained impassive, though his eyes cataloged every detail, every fallen wolf. Ares walked slightly ahead.
"All of this," Kane continued, gesturing around them, "because of bloodlines, and territory, and power. Because some wolves are considered worthy of protection while others are disposable." His voice hardened. "Tell me how this is justice."
He turned and pointed at Titan. "And you. This is your fault. You promised them a better world, and they sacrificed their lives for it. They didn't even care that you'd given up on them in the end. That you only cared about yourself. They tried to protect you anyway."
"Fuck you," said Titan. "And fuck all of them as well."
Ares slammed his fist into Titan's jaw. "Do you have no respect for anyone?"
Titan spat on the floor and looked up through one barely open eye. "Fuck you, too."
Ares' wolf roared to life, wanting to rip Titan's head off. But Ares refused. To kill him would be selfish. He hadn't let Apollo kill him, and he couldn't either.
As they approached the main doors, the sounds of struggle reached them from outside. Ares pushed open the massive doors, stepping out into the darkness to find five rogues forced to their knees on the driveway.
Elkan and Elena stood over the kneeling rogues, their eyes burning with a primal hunger for retribution. Blood dripped from the prisoners' faces, their bodies bearing the marks of a brutal capture. One young male trembled as Alpha Ronan pressed a blade against his collarbone.
"We found these," Elena announced, her voice sharp with satisfaction. "Trying to escape through a service tunnel."
Ares moved forward with regal authority, his gaze sweeping over the captured rogues. "Bind them. They'll be transported with the others."
"Bind?" Ronan snarled, pressing the blade harder against the young rogue's skin. "These vermin deserve to die where they kneel. This one personally participated in an attack on my territory."
Alpha Elkan nodded in agreement, his massive hand fisting in another rogue's hair, yanking his head back to expose his throat. "This one killed three, including my Beta. Their blood demands justice."
"And they will face it." Apollo stepped forward to stand beside his brother. "But not here. Not like this."
"With respect, your Majesties," Elena countered. "These rogues have slaughtered our people. A quick death is more mercy than they showed their victims."
Ares' voice dropped to a deadly rumble. "I said bind them."
The command vibrated with Alpha authority, causing the surrounding wolves and Alphas to lower their eyes. Ronan held his ground, the blade still against his captive's throat.
"Your mate is safe now," he argued, desperation edging his voice. "You have Titan. Let us have our vengeance on these nobodies."
"This is not a request," Ares growled. "It is a royal command. Any wolf who defies it will follow the wolf they kill straight to the grave."
Tension crackled as Ronan's eyes darted between the twins, weighing his options. With a snarl of frustration, he withdrew the blade and stepped back.
"Bind them," Apollo ordered the rogues who had followed them from the garage. "And ensure they reach the holding facility alive and unharmed."
Kane looked on, silently. The young rogue Ronan had threatened held silent gratitude in his eyes.
"This isn't over," Elkan warned, his voice low as he reluctantly released his grip on his captive. "These rogues will answer for their crimes."
"Yes, they will," Apollo agreed, his tone leaving no room for argument. "But they will answer to us and the law. Not you."
The Alphas reluctantly back away.
"Go home," said Ares. "We will see justice done."
