Page 103 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter
And somewhere in there is Javi, his heart thudding slowly.
My heart leaps into my throat when I see a group of people heading out of the mess toward the Angel’s ship, the creature flanked by his two big guards. I squint to make out their features, finding my father, Abel, a couple others I grew up with…but no Javi.
“Where are you?” I repeat.
Gideon shakes hands with the Angel and they say goodbye as I strain to hear them. I can’t make anything out through the grimy old window, especially when I’m nervous enough that I hide my face. I don’t want them to see me watching, and I definitely don’t want them to know I’m trying to listen. I poke my head up again and watch as the Heavenly Host ship hovers over the deck, the Rig rumbling slightly…and then it zips off into the night.
The floodlights don’t come back on. I guess it must be protocol to leave them off out of courtesy to the Angels.
They don’t tend to like bright lights.
My father diverts course and heads toward the citadel, and I rush away from the window to pretend I wasn’t watching. I sit down on the bed and dive under the covers, acting like I wassleeping this whole time like I was supposed to be. Right on cue, I hear the doorknob turn, and he lets himself in unannounced.
“Esther,” he says, the usual hint of cruelty in his voice. “Wake up.”
I open my eyes and look over at him, pulling the blanket to my chin. He crosses his arms and leans against the wall, a sick smile on his face.
I don’t say anything.
I’ll keep following his rules until Javi is safe and back in my arms. I’ll do whatever it takes.
“You’re permitted to speak, Esther,” he says.
I nod. “What can I do for you, Prime?”
I can’t ask about Javi yet, no matter how much I want to.
As far as I know, he’s safe and has just been assigned to some silly task. His heart is still beating, after all, and I don’t want to attract attention.
“Hm…” he says. “Well, you can start my telling me how long you’ve been play acting at being obedient.”
I gulp, my eyes going wide. I’ve always been terrible at hiding my emotions, and now is no exception. Adrenaline surges through me, my wolf threatening to come out to play. In fact, she already has; my fingernails have turned to claws, piercing the sheets in my hands.
“I don’t…I don’t know what you mean,” I whisper.
His usual congenial smile drops, giving way to something horrible.
“Don’t lie to me,” he snarls. “Not anymore, you lying little bitch.”
I pull my knees to my chest, assuming a defensive position. I’m scared, yeah—but there’s a beast inside me that knows I’ll fight to protect the little life Javi and I made together. It gives me strength, reminding me that I’m not alone anymore.
I have a family to take care of—Javi included.
“Where is he?” I ask, emboldened by my lycan fury.
Gideon ignores the question, shaking his head. “You know,” he says, “it’s funny—I was really starting to believe you were going to be part of our family again. I thought I had my little girl back! So color me surprised when our guest arrives and shares with me that my daughter and my shiny new son-in-law are planning on stabbing me in the back.”
He emphasizes those last four words, even gesturing like he’s being stabbed and someone is twisting the knife. I stare at him in disbelief, shocked by how ignorant he is even after everything.
I want to tell him he’s an idiot—that you can’t stab someone in the back when you were never their ally to begin with, that me and Javi were just trying to survive—but I have to stay on task.
“Where is he?” I ask again.
“That’s none of your concern, girl—though I suppose you’re allowed to know he’s alive,” Gideon says. “Because the Angel told me one other, very interesting fact…and that’s that dear Javier already knocked you up.”
The air drains from the room.
My knees go weak. I grip the edge of the chair to keep from collapsing, suddenly nauseous in a way that has nothing to do with hormones.
