My legs ache from the pace we maintain and how we’ve been moving nonstop for what feels like forever.
The firs and the hills in the distance are starting to look familiar. We’re nearing the compound, and nerves bunch up under my skin, as I have no idea what to expect. I’m stuck between a mountain and a hard place with two adversaries after me.
Please let Bardhyl and Lucien at least be somewhere safe.
We stop abruptly and even before I can make sense of what’s going on, I smell Ash Wolves on the cold breeze, but not my men. Shadows rise ahead of us alongside the trees. A dozen of them approach in animal form, snarling.
A shiver worms down my spine. “We need to leave,” I whisper to Nikos. “Before it’s too late.”
“I never run!” he bellows, his gaze jerking toward the encroaching danger.
He leans in and whispers, “Answer everything I ask you truthfully and I promise to release you.” He steps forward, hauling me alongside him by my arm.
I have no clue what he’s talking about. Fear grips me, and I slide in close to him, wanting the ground to open up and swallow me. If Mad gets me, he’ll never let me go. He’ll torture me, and eventually kill me when he finds I am not the answer to his demands for immunity. I’m no fool and know exactly what he wants, how terribly this will play out for me and my wolves.
“I want to speak to your Alpha!” Nikos shouts, loud enough for everyone to hear.
There’s no response at first, and I curse my grasp on his arm. Does this crazy northern wolf know what he’s getting himself into? That he is literally exposing me to a den of starved wolves?
His fingers around my wrist never loosen. His hold is cruel, and I don’t know whom to be more afraid of. I make no move to fight, only watch as a man steps out of the woods up ahead.
Wolves scour the land around us and with each passing second, the chance to escape fades on the wicked wind tugging at my coat.
The man has short hair. He’s someone I remember seeing in the compound a few times. He would definitely recognize me, and I slide farther into Nikos’ shadow.
“You called for me,” the stranger responds, his chin high, his shoulders broad. Except I’m confused, as this man is not Mad, so whoever he is, he’s faking. Or is Mad somewhere around us in wolf form, watching?
Nikos leans toward me and whispers, “Does he speak the truth?”
“He’s not the leader,” I answer softly.
“Who is he?”
I shake my head. “I think a guard.”
Nikos bristles, clears his throat, and turns back to the imposter.
“Your men took someone who belongs to us. I am willing to overlook it as an accident, but I am here to get him back. Bring him to me now, or your blood will spill.”
I glance up at Nikos, half-impressed by his cockiness, considering there are only three of them against a dozen Ash Wolves. Either he’s the best fighter in the world, or he’s bluffing. But whom exactly did Mad kidnap from this man anyway?
The imposter spits on the ground between us, his face twisting into fury. “You trespass on my land and dare threaten me?”
He flicks a hand at his wolves, and before I take a breath, we’re being attacked. I jerk backward, but Nikos holds on to me like a freaking lunatic.
“We need to run.” I gasp.
Half the wolves charge at us, their teeth exposed, their ears flat against their heads.
Nikos skims his hand up my arm, and to the back of my neck, pulling me closer to his side. “Hold still.”
A swish of wind suddenly rushes past me, a blur moving so fast, I flinch and bump into Nikos. My initial mistake is thinking an Ash Wolf attacked from the side, except it’s the two northern wolves at my back leaping forward into battle.
White as the snow, these creatures in animal form are bigger than any wolves I’ve ever seen, even larger than Bardhyl, and he is massive. These northerners could easily stand as tall as me at eye level.
Shivers crawl up my arms, but I can’t look away from how swiftly these two monsters pounce on the other wolves. One bite and bones crack. Whimpers and terrified Ash Wolves dart to escape. Whimpers flood the air, it’s a bloodbath, the tangle of fur and fangs and dust.
Who the hell are these Alphas?
I glance back to Jae, who is close to us now, her head low, hugging herself, not watching the assault. I want to tell her she will be safe, but there’s no way I can make such a promise for either of us.
“These damn fools. Don’t they know we’ll kill them all?” Nikos murmurs to himself.
It all happens so fast, and before us lie dead bodies, bloodied and broken, transformed back into human form. I scan them all for Mad’s face or anyone I recognize. Nothing on both accounts from my vantage point.
The imposter falls to his knees before Nikos, the monstrous wolves on either side of him, filling the air with their growls. Red stains their white fur, mouths dripping with blood. The sight alone leaves me trembling. An absolute massacre surrounds me, and it hardly took any effort.
In the distance, more Ash Wolves appear, which isn’t missed by Nikos’ wandering gaze. He might have fighting machines under him, but even he would have to realize he will fall against a full pack.
“I will ask one last time,” Nikos states. “I don’t want war between us, but I will destroy every last one of you. Bring me who you stole now!” he bellows. “And to show you I am a fair man, I will give you back one of yours.”
He whispers in my ear, “Change of plans.” His large hand shoves me in the back, and I’m stumbling forward before I can stop myself.
My heart pounds in my chest frantically, and suddenly, I’m backpedaling. That idiot just threw me into the lion’s mouth.
I glance back to him, to Jae. “Please no. Don’t let him do this.”
“Deal!” a dark voice responds as strong fingers clasp around my wrist.
I snap around and come face to face with the imposter standing inches from me, sneering. “Got you,” he mouths.
I pause and try to still my shudders, then look back to Nikos one more time. “Please. They’ll kill me.”
Jae’s tugging on his arm, fear twisting her expression. “Don’t let them take her. She needs to come with us.”
“We made a deal,” the ass holding on to me snarls. “She’s ours, and I will have my men fetch your man.”
No, no, no! Rage fills my veins. I haven’t come this far to be caught. I swing around, my fist flying, and I clip the asshole Ash Wolf right in the face.
His grip loosens as he groans, clutching his bloody nose.
I rip free and whip out of there.
He suddenly grabs me by the hair and wrenches me backward. I stumble, my feet buckling out from under me, and I hit the ground on my ass. I cry out, holding on to my hair to stop the excruciating pain.
Jae is screaming and running to me, but Nikos snatches her by the arm. “No, this is not our fight.”
“Bastard!” I bellow at Nikos. I’ve been right all along about these Alphas never seeing females as anything but commodities. And this prick has just sold me out.
Chapter 13
Dušan
“Get the fuck up!” The growl rips me abruptly from my sleep.