Page 54 of Alpha Queen
Moving swift and silent, they made their way towards the main storage area. Ares' heart pounded, every nerve on edge as they rounded each corner. Voices sounded in the distance, growing louder as they approached.
Just as they reached the door, Ares held up a hand. Voices carried from the other side of the steel door, low and gruff. He honed in on their words, ignoring the sounds of machinery in the building.
He sniffed the air. Two males.
"... shipment's late again," one growled. "Rudy's going to rip someone's ball off if this keeps up."
"Better them than us," another chuckled nervously. "I don't trust him. Rudy thinks he's untouchable, but Titan would gut him if it suited Titan's purpose."
Ares exchanged a look with Theo. His wolf growled at the mention of Rudy's name, the beast demanding action. Duncan was becoming more trustworthy than Ares had anticipated.
The other guard snorted. "As long as Rudy keeps the guns and suppressors moving, he's safe. But did you see how much was in the last shipment? They've got enough suppressors now to dose half the damn continent."
"Not me," said the first guy. "I ain't never taking those things. Screw that. I'll leave before I let them force me to take those."
"You think Titan will let you go? You've obviously never met him."
They'd been right. Titan was using suppressors on his rogues. Ares gestured for Theo and Santiago to ready themselves at the opposite side of the door while Duncan edged back toward the shadows, keeping watch on the room they'd come from.
Theo raised three fingers, silently counting down. On one, Ares shoved the door open, slamming it against the wall and catching the two wolves inside off guard. The first rogue hardly had time to turn before Ares surged forward, shifted mid-leap, and sent both of them crashing into a stack of crates.
Theo and Santiago followed like shadows, their claws slashing the second guard's torso before he could draw his weapon. The sound of gurgling filled the air as blood spattered across the floor.
The first guard struggled under Ares' weight, managing to shift partially before Ares sank his teeth into his neck. The body went limp, and Ares rose, shifting and wiping blood from his mouth as Santiago and Theo fanned out looking for more threats.
Theo trotted back and shifted. "Clear."
Duncan's dark eyes darted between the bodies on the floor and Ares' blood-streaked form. "That was fast," he muttered.
"No time to waste," Ares growled. "Where to?"
"This way." Duncan gestured toward another door at the far end of the room. The four of them moved efficiently, weaving through narrow rows of boxes and crates lit up by buzzing fluorescent lighting. Every turn felt more claustrophobic than the last, but Ares' determination fueled him forward.
His wolf surged, clawing to take over.
Kill. Kill. Kill.
He couldn't give in yet. Soon. I'll let you kill them all soon.
They reached another door, this one heavier and reinforced with multiple locks. Duncan cursed under his breath as he examined them.
"Can you open it?" Theo kept watch down the aisle as footsteps echoed in the distance.
"Give me a second." Duncan pulled a phone from his pocket and texted someone.
Ares' wolf's restlessness bled into him until he couldn't control himself.
He snarled and gripped the reinforced handle in both hands.
"Wait-" Duncan started, but Ares didn't listen.
With a guttural growl, Ares' muscles strained as he wrenched at the reinforced door, the metal groaning under the force of his strength. The locks gave way, and the door flew open with a resounding crash.
The group surged forward into a small antechamber, their eyes adjusting to the dim lighting. A bank of elevators stood before them, their polished doors reflecting the harsh fluorescent lights overhead.
"Third floor," Duncan panted. "That's where Rudy will be."
The elevator arrived with a soft ding, its doors slid open, revealing a plush interior that seemed wildly out of place in the industrial setting. They piled in, tension crackling between them as the elevator began its ascent. Soft music played over the speakers, and Ares glimpsed himself in the mirrored walls. Blood splashed his torso and face. His gaze slid to his neck, and he touched the mark River had left on his skin. He stared at the marks and then reached for the ribbon that connected them. It remained intact. Those two little things, scars and a ribbon, were the two things he held on to hardest. Having those two small reminders spurred him on in his determination to find her.
