Page 84 of Alpha Queen
The vet's eyebrows shot up in recognition. "Wolvenguard? The businessman?"
"Please," River begged, darkness creeping at the edges of her vision again. "He'll come for me. He's my mate."
"This is ridiculous," the vet argued, reaching for the phone again. "You need a hospital now. You could be in shock or delirious from blood loss."
"If I go to a hospital, Titan will find me," River insisted, her words slurring. "Please. Call Apollo or call Ares Wolvenguard. Tell them River is..."
Her vision tunneled, the van spinning around her as consciousness began to slip away once more.
The last thing she heard was the teenage boy's voice. "I think we should do what she says."
Then darkness claimed her again.
River floated in and out of consciousness, fragments of conversation drifting through the haze of pain and exhaustion. She was lifted, and something warm was draped over her naked body. They laid her on something hard and cold, and then she bumped across the asphalt toward a blue neon sign.
"…stabilized the bleeding…"
"… can't keep her here…"
"…said Wolvenguard, like the billionaire?"
"…dogs don't just turn into people…"
A cool hand brushed her forehead, followed by the sharp sting of a needle in her arm. River wanted to protest, but her body refused to respond. Her wolf lay dormant, completely unconscious.
Time became meaningless; minutes or hours might have passed as River drifted through layers of awareness. Images flashed behind her eyelids: Titan's wrathful face, the concrete wall looming over her, the desperate flight through the forest. And last of all, the faces of her mates, calling her home.
CHAPTER THIRTY
ARES
The small postal store stood silent in the darkness, its windows blank and empty. Three figures moved swiftly toward the rear entrance, their footsteps slapping on the wet pavement. Ares led the way. Cherry followed behind, while Duncan brought up the rear, a small electronic device clutched in his hand.
"Security system looks basic," Duncan murmured, scanning the building. "Probably an alarm that triggers if the door opens after hours."
"Can you disable it?" Ares asked.
Duncan nodded, already moving toward the electrical panel. "Give me two minutes."
While Duncan worked, Ares examined the door. Heavy metal with a deadbolt, formidable to humans, but not to an Alpha Lycan. Cherry paced behind him, her anxiety rolling off her in waves.
"We're wasting time," she hissed.
"And this is our best lead until we get information back on the vehicle registrations," Ares said without turning. "Duncan?"
"Almost there." Duncan's fingers moved deftly across the small device in his hands, connecting wires and typing commands.
Ares wondered where Duncan had learned the skills to break in, but being a rogue, he'd probably had to do whatever it took to survive. And though Ares was grateful for his skills, Ares was determined to pay Duncan back by inviting him to stay with them permanently. Making him part of the pack.
A small light on the security panel blinked from red to green, and Duncan gave a satisfied nod. "We're clear. Alarm is disabled."
Ares nodded and texted Apollo.
Put the cameras on a loop. We're going in.
Apollo replied with just one word.
Done
