Promised To The Alpha Twins
Chapter 105

The entire room held its breath. Fear was a smog thickening the air, rushing into my lungs like bleach fumes. It stung and burned, almost making me emit an unpleasant cough.

You could feel the tearing and destruction of alliances, the forming of opinions, and the questioning of beliefs.

Not every day did the High Table welcome a potential soul-devourer. An instinctual part of me told me to use my gift, to take David’s life before he could utter another command.

David’s eyes held mine, ice blue and filled with recognition. There was something strange in his perfectly cultivated emotions.

The pieces fell together in my mind, and ever so slightly, he tilted his head towards me. “Your move,” he said.

A question surged in my mind, one that made my stomach sink. Neither of us had thought of this before, especially not me.

That guard I had killed in the decrepit house; we had left him there. Did David know what a soul-devourer’s victim looked like?

Judging by the expression on his face, I’d say he knew exactly what one looked like.

He was waiting to see what I’d do, whether I’d unleash my power or surrender to keep it hidden.

I didn’t want to believe it, just like I didn’t want to believe I had already killed so many people. Far from the girl I had been just a few months ago, from the human whose views never strayed from black and white.

The guards surrounding the room stepped forward, forming a semicircle around the booth that housed us all. I tried to extract some emotion from them, but for them, this wasn’t personal. They were following orders, no matter how callous they might be.

Axel’s face was grim, with rough lines that seemed carved in stone. I could feel the challenge in his emotions, the hatred and resistance radiating towards David.

Something in my stomach churned at the idea of him speaking out against me, no matter how selfish his reasons might be.

The fact that I had people I could trust not to betray me, not to abandon me when things got too tough, meant more to me than anything else in the world.

Three of the guards stepped forward, all with dark hair and expressionless eyes. Attached to their waists were silver knives with jeweled handles, and dark-colored guns that almost shot silver bullets. One held a pair of thick silver handcuffs in their hands, and something must have glinted behind my eyes because they finally had the audacity to hesitate.

Just as they reached the booth, we all stood up, and the main doors of the conference room swung open.

Everyone’s attention shifted, even the guards in charge of me. It wasn’t the noise that caused such prolonged attention, but the man strolling in.

“Liam,” I exhaled, my panic-filled eyes turned to where Ethan was.

Liam entered the room, on the carpeted path that separated the various packs in attendance. There were more now than ever, piling up as the personnel continued to fill the room to its maximum capacity.

I had to give it to him, he was doing well. The crowd couldn’t sense the weariness in his bones, or how his limbs felt sore and used up. Like a true Alpha, he didn’t show his weakness to others.

He had changed into a dark button-down with gray pants, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was freshly washed, still gleaming from moisture. The beard that once covered his face was shaved, revealing smooth skin. The dimple on his cheek appeared as he smiled at the crowd, seemingly unaware of the mess he had just walked into.

Even his smile, directed straight at David Zoe, seemed genuine and flawless.

David was still where he was, his eyes fixed on my partner as he stopped in the center of the room. There was no emotion in his eyes, no admission of guilt or recognition.

“What a shame. Looks like I’ve missed a lot, but at least I’ve returned for some fun,” Liam smiled jovially, giving David a small bow. “I’d like to thank David Zoe for my leave of absence, if you want to call it that.”

“Throwing false accusations won’t exempt your companion from the rules of the High Table,” David stood up, demanding the room’s attention. He didn’t glare at Liam, nor did he snarl in indignation. His tone was neutral, like scolding a mouthy teenager in need of a lesson. “Since our kind was created, this has been our government, and we won’t dismantle centuries of success for the impulsive needs of a child.”

Fury pierced me, hot and angry. I could feel the witnesses in the crowd agreeing with David, indignant that a child would oppose him.

“I might be a stranger to our customs and rules, but I won’t live under your control,” my voice shattered through the silence. Suddenly, all eyes were on me. Accusers and curious alike. “There are many of us who see you for what you are, David Zoe. I don’t blame them for staying silent, for protecting their packs and families while you robbed their children and grandchildren for power. I refuse to hide while you try to claim my life. I won’t be your trophy or your weapon to wield upon the world.”

As the tension in the room escalated, Bruce and Helena stepped forward.

His golden hair seemed to shine under the light. Both Helena and Bruce met David’s gaze without blinking. They stood tall, unafraid even though this man was the most powerful in our world.

Helena turned her gaze to me and nodded firmly. “We’ll stand with you, Luna Sussan. Each and every one of us is responsible for the decay of our government, for the corruption we willingly turned a blind eye to.” Helena’s slight accent resonated among the crowd, eliciting a myriad of gasps and exclamations. I guess Helena was well-known within the werewolf community. Her mere presence inspired two other pairs to stand up as well. A middle-aged Alpha and another Luna had risen, both with dark hair and fine lines etched on their faces. The woman smiled at me, and though I could sense her boundless compassion, she was a bit weary of me. The second couple seemed a few years older than the twins and me. They didn’t seem scared or surprised as they stepped forward and looked at David.

No one else dared to step forward after that, but it didn’t matter. This was a beginning, proof that there were those who saw things, who wanted the truth as much as I did.

I could hear the silent whispers around me. Some just wanted to leave, to retreat to the safety of their lands. If only they knew how temporary that safety was. Others wanted the High Table to take me in now, to calm the situation before things turned violent. Little did they know, my companions would never let David take me. There were only a few in the room questioning things, realizing things they had never noticed before – small things here and there, one or two missing children, a family moving in the middle of the night.

On both sides, the guards were restless. David’s men were slowly getting closer, only to be pushed back when the twins’ men growled and tensed.

“You’re a deluded child, fed lies from enemies of the High Table, traitors to our kind. They poison your thoughts, and someday, they will possess you and your abilities. I fear our own kind might come to an end if that day ever arrives.” David frowned, greatly concerned for the people he was tasked to protect. There were murmurs in the crowd, a wave of fear and anxiety as some actually believed what he said. “I’m not the enemy here, nor have I ever been. I urge you not to fight on behalf of your Alpha, to step back and surrender to the High Table so my guards can bring her. This is my only offer. The progression of this problem will have cowardly effects.”

A deafening blast resounded, echoing in my ears, drowning out all sound except a high-pitched buzzing. Strong arms smelling of Ethan had pulled me down, making my head spin as I struggled to catch up to the speed.

I caught a glimpse of red hair, and Axel’s concerned face before my eyes scanned the room, trying to make sense of the chaos.

Half of the witness room had dropped to the floor, startled by the gunshot that rang out. Those without the common sense to immediately duck fled toward the exit, pushing the doors until they gave way.

Ethan helped me to my feet, wrapping his hand around the top of my arm to keep me close. I stumbled a bit, but managed to replace my footing as we tried to move as far away from the fray as possible.

I was too busy looking down, at the guard lying at my feet. The one who had leaped in front of the bullet aimed in my direction.

When Liam caught up to us and scooped me into his arms before taking off, I realized something. It wasn’t Maurice’s face or the faces of his men that would haunt me, nor would that guard disturb my memories. This man, the one who had given his life to save mine, would never be able to erase his face from my mind. It was a debt I could never repay, making it all the more crucial that I fought against David.

The guards surrounded David, keeping him safe in case the fight spiraled out of control. He wasn’t even interested in the fight, but he was watching with murderous intent as Ethan slashed his claws through a nearby soldier and helped Axel keep them at bay.

“Get her out of here!” Axel growled, glancing back once before elbowing a guard in the stomach. He looked at his brother, who had a split l*p but was otherwise unscathed. Thomas nodded once, already knowing what his brother was asking. Axel looked Ethan in the eyes. “We’ll hold them off. Stick to the plan; you know where to take her. We’ll catch up as soon as we can.”

“We have to get her out of here, now!” The twins’ father urged his sons in the voice of a drill instructor, far from the carefree father I had seen on numerous occasions.

Liam picked me up and held me close, sprinting as I wriggled against him. Not that I was uncomfortable, and not that I wasn’t completely enjoying his touch right now, but there had to be something else I could do. No, I didn’t want to go soul-licking everyone, but I could at least run on my own.

“Put me down, Liam,” I said, giving him a stern look.

Even breathless with sweat drops on his forehead, seeing him brought tears to my eyes. That dam in my chest threatened to break and crumble, but I sealed the dripping seams before a solitary tear could escape my eye. I couldn’t fall apart right now, not when our lives were at stake.

“I’ll explain when we’re in a safe place. Okay, sweetheart?”

The sound of his voice, and the nickname I had once despised. I clamped my lips shut, unable to form words even if I wanted to.

We skipped the elevators, now filled with werewolves still trying to escape. Liam burst through the metal door labeled ‘staircase’ so forcefully the glass rattled. He took the stairs two at a time, sometimes three. Every time we passed a wall-mounted camera, he smashed it and crushed it with his foot.

We were four floors down when a louder rattling startled us. As I looked up through the metal railings, I saw dark-clad guards swarming the stairs. Their feet pounding downward, closer and closer, it was like my own personal march of death.

One of the guards vaulted over the railing, falling at least one floor before hurtling down towards us. The twins’ father sprang into action, sidestepping the blade in the man’s hand as he traced a wide arc through the air. A few well-placed hits, and the guard was toppling over the railing.

Liam finally set me down but kept my hand tethered the whole time. I think he needed the contact as much as I did, especially after so long missing that part of me.

Even farther below us, another door slammed open. Even more guards barged in, but these guards weren’t David’s.

The men halted right where we were, as one stepped forward. “Luna Helena sends her regards and wants you to know she’s managed to safely exit the building. She’ll get in touch once you get out. We’re here to make sure of that.” A man with dark tan skin and curly hair nodded toward me.

We continued onward, thundering down the stairs as I listened to the battle between David’s men and Bruce’s.

I winced as another body tumbled over the edge of the railing, a dull thud escaping as it hit the concrete floor.

On the floor below, the doors swung open. The guards who entered this time were different. They were more heavily clad, with vests that seemed to be at least five centimeters thick. They had helmets on and an assortment of things strapped to their waist. Something clicked against the metal railing as they tossed something up the stairs.

The twins realized what it was before I did and sprinted for the door leading to the second-floor hallway. Just as we burst through, there was a thud, and smoke began seeping out from under the door.

I ran alongside Liam, our fingers interlocked. Everyone else kept pace, keeping our eyes wide open for more guards who would surely come.

We had long given up on stealthily maneuvering around corners and instead lunged past them, trying to get as close to an exit as possible.

We rounded a particularly sharp corner and nearly collided with a little girl. Her hair was in tight curls, and her eyes were dark and intelligent.

The tension in Liam and Ethan melted as they saw her, as she clearly wasn’t harming anyone at this moment.

“Sven needs to talk to you,” she said in a childlike soprano, blinking once and then twice.

I opened my mouth to reply, but I wasn’t exactly sure what to say. Now wasn’t exactly the best time. Before I could think of anything, she approached me with her small hands. The instant her fingers connected with my skin, the floor ripped from beneath my feet, and I fell headfirst into a suite suspiciously resembling the one we had just been staying in.

In front of me stood Sven Ross.