Page 110 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter
“Eyes down, girl,” he says.
I keep my chin high.
I meet his eyes for the first time in my life, trembling and furious andunbroken. My claws won’t retract, and I hope to God theyneverdo. I want him to see them. I want him toknow.
He stares at me like he doesn’t recognize the girl he raised.
And maybe he doesn’t.
Because I’m not her anymore.
“You think you’ve won?” I ask. “You think you’ve broken us?”
Gideon just stares, blank and cold.
“Why did you do it?” I ask, voice low. “Why him?”
He snorts. “I’ve been honest with you. I told you what happens when people break the rules.”
“He coulddie,” I say, the words strangled. “He didn’t even betray you—we just wanted toleave.That’s not a crime. That’s not betrayal.”
“You stole from me.”
“Youstole us first!” I shout. “You took me away. You took mom. You took June and all the other omegas and you locked us in cages! And now you’re shocked we don’t love you for it?”
“Know your place!” he bellows, the roar making the windows rattle.
I flinch, heart thudding, and stumble backward—right into Abel.
He grabs me.
I rip free.
I hit the wall behind me and breathe like I’m surfacing from drowning. Ephraim stands in the doorway, watching it all.
“My place,” I say quietly, “isoffthis Rig. That’s why I left. It’s why Mom left. It’s why weallleft.”
I let the words hang there, final and ringing.
“If you want your grandbaby, you have to let us go.”
For a second—just a second—Gideon falters. I see the cracks in him, rage and fear and maybe some ghost of guilt. But then the cracks close, and he smiles again.
A cruel, wild smile.
“I didn’t do it to punish you,” he says. “I didn’t even do it because you betrayed me. I dosed up Javier because it wasfunto watch. And it’s going to be even more fun watchingyoubreak.”
He takes a step closer, lowering his voice. “You’re going back to that room. And you’re going to watch him die. Slowly.”
I lift my chin.
Tears sting my eyes, but I don’t let them fall.
“That’s not my name anymore,” I whisper. “It’sPeaches.”
He barks out a laugh. “Stupid name for a stupid girl.”
He waves his hand, already turning away. “Ephraim—get her out of here. Abel and I have things to discuss.”
