“Alright. At first light then,” I agreed, much to my dismay. I wanted to rush to Lily’s rescue, but Tess was right. We had to find his pack’s den before we could press on.
37
Liliana
“Wake up, Miss,” a deep voice said as a warm hand touched my shoulder.
I jolted awake, unsure of how I had even managed to fall asleep while tied to the oversized wooden throne.
“I’m sorry. Don’t be afraid,” the voice said again. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the sleep from my vision, since I was unable to rub my eyes.
When my eyes began to focus, I saw a large bald man--easily six foot eight--towering over me.
“I’m not going to hurt you. I was sent to make sure you get ready for the day. The beta... can’t control her anger around you,” he explained, his soft way of speaking a direct contrast to his giant frame and overall scary visage. He was clothed in only jeans, all of his incredibly muscled torso covered in intricate tattoos. The side of his head was tattooed for fucks’ sake--he looked terrifying.
There was something about him, though, that I found soothing. Chelsea, who had to be the beta, and Ben seeped malicious intent but this man just seemed... Kind.
“You’re not like them,” I murmured before I could stop myself.
He gave a shake of his head and began to untie time me as he spoke, “No, I am not. My alpha surrendered to the Alpha Omega and ordered us to follow his orders. Our packs merged a couple of years ago. They... I mean we... absorb other packs pretty regularly. If your mate surrenders, it’ll be safer for everyone.”
From the way the man looked at me, I knew he wanted me to convince Sam to surrender but I wouldn’t. From what I understood, wolves couldn’t disobey their Alphas. If they had a bad one, they were helpless. Seeing this guy, being forced to stay with an evil pack master while he was nothing but kind, made me want Sam to fight more. I didn’t want him to come save me, but I did want him to fight this pack off. A.K., Alex, Selena, Erin, Nate--none of them deserved the fate that this man was forced to live.
I ignored him and spoke, “I’m Liliana.”
“Ryan,” he responded as he pulled the last of the bindings free and helped me stand.
I was stiff from remaining stationary for so long. Ryan let me stretch for a few minutes before he motioned me toward the basin that had been placed on top of a solitary table in the corner of the small windowless room I was trapped in.
I began to wash dried blood from the rope burned wounds on my wrists, “Can I ask you a question?”
“I might not be able to answer but yeah, sure,” he said.
I peeked over my shoulder and felt the ghost of a smile tease my lips as I watched him face the opposite direction--his back facing me for some semblance of privacy. Wolves didn’t care about nudity and I was certain that he was supposed to keep his gaze fixed on me to make sure I didn’t try anything, but he was trying to allow me to keep my dignity.
“Why do you call Ben the Alpha Omega?”
“Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet--Omega is the last. It’s a term in our world that basically means Alpha of all. He is the beginning and the end,” he spoke matter-of-factly before casting his voice lower. “He believes that as the first known hybrid witch, that he is the beginning of a new era for the wolves. He’s obsessed with becoming the Alpha of all wolves, conquering them pack by pack until he reaches his objective. Then he’ll move onto the witches.”
Ryan wanted out. That much was obvious, but he didn’t ask--clearly unwilling to risk anyone else getting hurt.
“Enough talking. You have to get ready. The Alpha Omega wants you to join him for breakfast.”
“No,” I said through gritted teeth as I changed into the ridiculous dress Ben had sent for me. It was a black lace halter top with a high-necked collar that towered over the top of my head. It left my shoulders and upper back bare, and my cleavage dangerously exposed. It was fitted to the point where I could hardly breathe. I felt ridiculous.
“It wasn’t a request, Liliana. It’s an order. I have to bring you. Don’t make this harder on me.”
I wanted to fight, to scream, but I didn’t. Instead I readied myself obediently. I even styled my hair. Fighting back wouldn’t do me any good. If anything, it would just make things worse for Ryan. He was ordered to deliver me to breakfast. If I fought, he would force me to go. I didn’t want to put that sort of mental scarring on his conscience. He wasn’t a bad person. He was just stuck in an impossible situation.
Once I was ready, Ryan escorted me to a large dining room that starred an ornate hand carved table for eight that was beautifully set. It looked like it was prepped for a dinner party, not breakfast.
Ben sat at the head of the table. It was creepy seeing him there, the scowl so deep set on his face. When we first met, I had noticed he had laugh lines but seeing his current expression, I was positive that the forming wrinkles were from frowning.
“Sit. Eat,” he said, motioning beside him as he began placing food on his plate. I followed his instructions, not wanting to incur his wrath, but didn’t reach out for any of the breakfast buffet that covered the table top.
“I said eat,” he snarled, “or you can starve. I won’t offer you food again.”
I weighed my options for a moment before beginning to fill my plate. Not knowing how long I’d be stuck with him, I didn’t want to starve to death. I was going to die, I wasn’t foolish enough to believe there was any hope for me, but starvation didn’t seem like the way to go. If I was going to meet my end, I wanted it to be over quick.
We ate in silence. Ryan stood guard at the only door that led into the room, the entire layout built like a fortress--easy to defend. I sincerely hoped Sam didn’t come for me. He’d have better luck trying to infiltrate a medieval castle than the concrete fortress Ben currently held me in.
“Your witch friend has been tracking you. I blocked her magic most of the night but then I grew bored,” Ben said, conversationally. “I let her break through. I’m sure she’ll be here with your boyfriend soon.”
“Please don’t hurt them,” I pleaded. Pride be damned, I wasn’t going to let my people get hurt.
“I gave your lover the opportunity to surrender. He declined,” his tone unbothered as he spoke. “Now you’ll all die and the remnants of his pack will bow to their true alpha.”
“You’re deranged. You think one alpha can rule all wolves? There are too many.”
“I’m not just an alpha,” he glared at me as he bit into an apple before he continued talking as he chewed. “I have the strength of a wolf and a witch. I am the true Alpha. The Alpha Omega--the prophecies foretold of my victory.”
“Prophecy?” I questioned. Great. He’s even crazier than I thought.
“The great witch had a vision centuries ago. The Were who was not born a wolf will rise and in its shadow the wolf packs and witch clans will unite and live as they were meant--as one,” he said, his voice full of reverence as he spoke.
“That’s your plan then? Conquer the wolves and then the witches? I hate to be the one to break it to you but forcing people into your servitude is not the same thing as unity, buddy,” I sassed. If I was going to die, I was going to go out making this asshole question himself.
He surged to his feet, his hand poised to backhand me before he froze, a wicked smile spread slowly across his face. “I’ll punish you for your disrespect later--if you’re still alive.”
“You,” he gestured to Ryan. “tie her hands and leave enough rope for me to lead her. I want Sam to see his mate being walked like the bitch she is.”
He grabbed my forearm and pulled me up from my chair, his strength far greater than anything I could combat. “Your boyfriend is here. So is your bestie. Are you ready to watch them die?”
He shoved me across the room before I could formulate a response. Ryan caught my falling form as the evil alpha exited the room. He began to tie my hands together as he apologized over and over a
gain.
This was it. It was time to face my end. I could only hope that Sam and Tess managed to escape and save the pack. There were so many innocent children and human mates who had no means to defend themselves from Ben’s perverse beliefs. Someone had to keep them safe. I just hoped my love would keep his promise this time and put his people first.
38
Sam
The sun barely began to peak over the horizon as our strike team circled up. The witches were armed to the teeth with guns and daggers but also satchels and amulets. The wolves were already in their animal form, each standing beside the witch they were paired with. Nate and I stood apart from the rest of the group as Tess and Bael joined us.
“Are you ready?” the female witch asked.
We both nodded. I’d hardly slept the night before, too worried about Lily, but energy whizzed through my body despite the exhaustion I should have been feeling. My fear for my mate kept me wired with energy.
“Are you both going in as men?” Bael asked.
“I am. He’s going to shift,” I answered.
“Alpha, with all due respect,” Nate began but I waved him off.
“You need to go in as a wolf. Chelsea is one of the fastest shifters I know. She can call her wolf to the surface almost as fast as I can. It’s not worth the risk. Go in as a wolf.”
I could tell he wanted to argue with me, but he bit his tongue and bowed his head slightly in defeat.
I patted his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him before I turned to the witches once more, “When do we leave?”
“Now,” Bael said.
Tess turned to our gathered warriors, “You know the mission. We save the human and take down the hybrid. He cannot be allowed to live. Wolves, pair up beside the witch you were assigned. They’re going to have to grip the fur around the nape of your neck in order to transport you to our point of attack.”
My wolves nodded their understanding before they--and their witches--began to pop out of the clearing we’d met it.
“Let’s go,” I said, as Nate stripped in preparation for his shift. A small smirk played at the corners of my mouth as I noticed Tessa admiring the view. If Lily wasn’t in danger, I would have taken the time to tease her for it but I was too consumed with anxiety.
Nate shifted and Bael grabbed him, both disappearing from right in front of me with a large pop.
Tess linked our arms together and squeezed gently, “I’m going to do everything to hold him back Sam. The magic around their hiding place was strong. It took us hours to find and even longer to break through the shield. This is not going to be easy.”
I smiled reassuringly, “I’ll take him down, Tess. We’re going to save Lily. I promise.”
She didn’t look as confident as I felt but she didn’t understand. I was a wolf and Liliana was my mate--there was nothing I wouldn’t do to save her. This wolf threatened my love and I was going to make him pay.
Tess blinked and suddenly my entire body felt like it’d been compressed into the size of a dime. The breath was squeezed from my lungs. Before I could panic over the feeling of suffocation, we arrived in a wooded area. Our team stood in formation as they waited for orders to move out.
I gave a nod and half of them split off to circle around to the other side of Ben’s camp. We gave them a head start, waiting twenty minutes for them to reach their destination. Once the allotted time had passed, we began making our way through the dense forest.
It was eerily silent. Thick magic hung in the air. The trees were blackened and barren, no hint of the fall leaves remaining. The closer we got to the camp, the faster my heart began to race. I’m coming, Lily.
I couldn’t see the hide out but I knew we were close. I could feel it in the way the magic surrounding us reacted. An old stone archway lay ahead, moss growing through the cracks. It was weathered by time, chunks of stone missing, but it gave off a feeling of significance that I couldn’t shake.
I motioned toward it with my hand and looked at Tess.
“That’s the way in,” her voice echoed inside my head, causing me to twitch slightly in surprise. I had no idea that witches could speak directly into our minds. I found it disconcerting, to say the least, but--in this situation--I was glad for it.
I nodded to show I understood and then made my way through the arch. Magic clung to me as I trudged through. The stone artifact was only a foot or so thick but the protection spells made it difficult to move through. My wolf surge to the surface, not quite enough to break free but enough to use his alpha magic to help me move through the sludge-like shield.
I felt the magic coat my body, allowing me to cut through the arch’s defense like butter. As I stepped through to the other side, a clearing came into view. Dozens of wolves stood at the ready, their piercing gazes locked on me as the others made their way in. There were only ten of us at this entrance, five wolves and five witches. The odds weren’t great but I didn’t care.
Standing in the middle of the clearing, her hands tied in front of her with a rope extending off like a leash, was Lily. She wore a black lace victorian dress that left her shoulders bare, the high collar of the back adding to the dramatics of the look. Her lavender hair piled on top of her head with loose curls falling down around her, she looked like she’d just stepped off the set of a movie from the 1800s. It was disconcerting to see her dressed in such a manner and, honestly, I didn’t understand why he’d chosen the outfit she wore.
My eyes moved beyond her appearance once I was able to ascertain she was--mostly--alright. Ben held the rope that was attached to her bound hands, pulling her roughly towards him. She stepped on the excess fabric of the dress that pulled at her feet and fell forward. She had no hope of catching herself, restrained as she was, but he didn’t let her fall. Instead he caught her and pulled her back against his chest. Was that his plan? Was he going to hide behind my mate?
The witches began their chanting as the alpha met my eyes, “You should have surrendered, Sam. Now I have no choice.”
I watched in horror as his head shifted into that of his wolf while his body remained human. It was unnatural. We weren’t meant to only partially change. We either gave up our body to our wolf or we didn’t. The horror of his abnormal shift paled in comparison to the terror that followed.
He leaned forward and bit into Lily’s exposed shoulder with no warning. Blood began dripping down her neckline as he shook his head, his teeth shredding her flesh.
“No!” Tessa and I shouted in unison as he lifted his lupine head and met my eyes. My wolf ripped my human body to shreds and I practically flew toward the alpha as he licked my mate’s blood from his muzzle. I had to get to Lily. If I ended the fight fast enough, perhaps Tess could use a spell to save her--to remove the wolf venom.
Sweat beaded on Lily’s face immediately after the bite but she still managed to remain standing as she shouted at me, “Get out of here! You promised you’d put your people first. I can feel the venom. I’m dying. Sam, please go. I love you. GO!”
Like I would just turn around and leave--as if life would be worth living without her. Even if Tess couldn’t save her, I refused to abandon her with that madman.
As soon as I ran at Ben, his wolves descended. The witches worked wonders, shooting them out of the way as the other half of our rescue team joined us from the opposite side of our enemies. Attacking from both sides, my wolves managed to keep the path to Lily unencumbered as the witches began binding the enemies’ wolves inside them.
I could feel Tessa and Bael’s magic binding Ben’s as he released Lily and fully called the shift onto himself. She hit the floor like a ton of bricks--the fast-acting toxics already robbing her of consciousness.
The fight that broke out as soon as he bit Lily barely registered in my mind. All I could focus on was taking Ben out and somehow saving my mate. The tawny wolf ran at me, his magic colliding with my body before he did. I could feel my wolf’s desire to retreat within me but I fought against the spell’s hold. I
f I shifted back, we were all doomed.
“You’re strong but you weren’t strong enough to save your mate--or your pack. Submit,” the hybrid’s voice echoed in my mind, much like Tess’s had earlier. I couldn’t respond as a wolf but, if I could have, I would have told him that a Hernandez wolf would never submit. My people were strong and valiant. We would rather die than follow such a twisted alpha. Any pack that would attack unprovoked or kidnap women and children deserved to die. We would never join them.
While I fought against his magical hold, the tawny wolf bit at my muzzle. He turned his head, tearing my skin, as he slammed my face into the ground. I swiped at his underside with my claw, my nail embedding in between his ribs and tearing his flesh open. His wound began to knit itself shut before I’d even pulled away. His magic was clearly still active. He released my jaw and jumped back, resetting himself in a defensive position. We circled, both feigning to test the other’s reflexes. I could see him slowing as the witches worked to lock away his magic. It was almost time.
“Now!” Bael and Tess shouted in unison.
I required no further prompting. I threw myself at the alpha, purposely shooting over his head. Rotating in the air, I landed on his back and buried my teeth into the side of his neck as I dug my claws into him. He rolled onto the ground, trying to shake me off but I held firm. Tearing with my teeth, I rolled us again--driving him closer to the witches.
The hybrid was so focused on defending himself from me that he hadn’t been paying attention to the magic users. As soon as we were within their range, I released my hold and retreated.
Alpha's Ultimatum Page 13
