Page 95 of Alpha Queen
Titan turned back. "Get everyone armed. We're going after her."
Kane blinked in disbelief. "Going after her? She could be anywhere."
"She's injured. Bleeding. She won't get far." Titan's eyes gleamed with obsessive certainty. "The twins will come for her. When they do, we'll be ready."
"Listen to yourself," Kane said, stepping further into the room. "You're talking about starting a war over one woman who clearly doesn't want to be your mate."
"SHUT UP!" Titan roared, hurling a heavy bookend and narrowly missing Kane's head. "She is MINE!"
"Screw River Whitetail!"
Kane's wolf leaping to its feet, gnashing his teeth at Titan. Spoiled. Pup. No Alpha.
Titan ignored his wolf. "When we started, this was about helping those who couldn't help themselves. But it isn't anymore. Your father disowned you. He found his fated mate. He had the twins. It sucks. If you want to take the throne to change things. If you want to take back your birthright, okay. I'm with you. But if you are just doing all this to get River as your High Luna, you are no better than all the others who promised change and were out for themselves in the end. And I'm not going to be part of that."
Titan's face twisted. "Get the guards. Tell everyone to arm themselves. We're going after her now."
It was now or never. If Kane didn't stand up to Titan now, it could cost everyone they'd been trying to help.
"No." Kane planted his feet. "I won't."
Titan froze. "What did you say to me?"
This moment would either save Titan or get Kane killed… but there was no other way.
"I said no." Kane stood his ground despite the dangerous energy radiating from Titan. "This is irrational, Titan. You're not thinking clearly. We need to secure the compound, not charge out half-cocked into what could be a trap."
"You dare defy me?" Titan's voice dropped to a deadly whisper.
"I'm trying to save you," Kane insisted. "Look what this obsession has done to you. Look at what it's done to everything we built."
With a roar that shook the walls, Titan launched himself across the room. His fist connected with Kane's cheek with bone-crushing force, sending him crashing into the bookshelf. Volumes rained down as Kane stumbled, tasting blood.
"I gave you everything!" Titan bellowed, stalking forward. "I made you who you are! I built all of this. Me. I built it. It's mine to do with as I please."
Kane spat blood onto the polished floor, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "And I've stood by you through everything," he countered. "But I won't follow you into madness."
Titan struck again, a vicious uppercut that Kane narrowly avoided. As Titan's fist crashed into the wall, splintering wood paneling, Kane countered with a sharp jab to Titan's ribs.
"Stand down." Kane circled him. "This isn't you. This isn't who we are."
"You don't tell me who I am!" Titan launched another attack.
This time, his blow landed square in Kane's sternum, driving the air from his lungs and sending him staggering backward. Kane recovered quickly.
Years of teaching Titan how to fight meant Titan's patterns were Kane's patterns. He ducked under Titan's next swing and delivered a punishing blow to Titan's kidney.
Titan howled, his movements becoming less calculated and more frenzied. He seized a severed chair leg and swung it like a club, catching Kane across the shoulder. Pain exploded through Kane's arm, but he delivered a powerful kick to Titan's knee.
The two men crashed through what remained of the desk, grappling in a deadly dance they'd performed countless times in training, but never with such raw intent to harm. Blood spattered the floor as Titan's elbow connected with Kane's nose, the cartilage cracking audibly.
Kane retaliated with a headbutt that sent Titan reeling. Both men bled, their breath coming in harsh pants.
The door burst open as several guards rushed in, drawn by the sounds of combat. They froze at the sight of their Alpha and his second-in-command locked in a brutal struggle.
"Stop them!" someone shouted, and four wolves rushed forward, attempting to separate the men.
Titan roared, his fist connecting with the first guard's temple, dropping him instantly. The second guard received an elbow to the windpipe. He collapsed, clutching his neck as he gasped for air that wouldn't come.
