Saved By The Alpha
Chapter 22

I was pretty sure the men were inside the facility for days, if not weeks — but in reality, it was forty-seven minutes. Forty-seven long, painstaking minutes. They had gone into radio silence as previously planned, but that didn’t settle my nerves at all. Each minute ticked by, and my nerves ratcheted up just a little further, inch by creeping inch.

One by one, the men checked in. Remus was first — reporting the death of Henri Dubois, a hardened alpha recruited from France. Nic reported in next, as he’d dispatched one of the oldest alphas, Karl Sauer. They had been a bit concerned about Karl — it got hard to determine a werewolf’s age, after a point, given the process was different for shifters. He also had come from Germany, so he could have been part of the original Project Night Moon.

The radio wasn’t the place for chatter, though. Maverick was the third to break the silence, reporting that Simon Roth was missing. Interpol’s file on the man indicated he was possibly an MI6 agent, but his identification hadn’t been confirmed. Today had been chosen because all four alphas should have been present in the building.

I should have been worried about Simon Roth’s disappearance, but I couldn’t bring myself to focus on it. Nic had requested Eli answer him several times, and he never answered. Each failed response made my pulse jump up farther into my throat. I was beginning to feel a bit lightheaded from nerves alone. After what felt like an entire year, Maverick gave the “all clear” to enter the building.

I don’t think I’d ever run that fast in my life.

Thankfully, Maverick instructed me on where to replace the group, yet Eli still hadn’t come online. My mind offered a million what-ifs. What if Victor had injured him? What if it’s worse than that? No, maybe he just lost his earpiece. Or maybe it got destroyed in the fight. Or maybe Victor and Simon were working together — they took Eli and made a run for it.

One thousand scenarios ran through my mind, each wilder than the last. I rounded the corner and spotted Eli in his wolf form, lying against the tile floor. His dark coat was matted in b***d. I forgot everything I had just been thinking and charged over, practically falling to my knees.

“Eli!” I gasped, carefully running my fingers over his fur.

If any of the other alphas were about, I didn’t notice. My eyes were only on Eli, scanning his large body for injuries. Even his thick coat couldn’t hide the wounds.

He g*****d softly, his blue-grey eyes flickering open. His expression seemed to brighten as he realized who was sitting next to him, and he started struggling to his feet.

“No, no, no, no,” I said, hushing him. “Don’t get up. You’re hurt.”

Eli ignored me, trying to prop himself upright. As soon as he put weight on his front left limb, his entire body stiffened. He clamped his jaw shut, but a whimper still escaped. Another shot of adrenaline surged through me as I twisted, trying to get a look at the injured leg. “Eli,” I said, pressing a hand into his ruff. “Please lay down. I’m not going anywhere. Don’t make it worse.”

He gave me a sideways look and sighed heavily. After a moment, he leaned over, pressing his wet nose to my cheek. He gave me a single l!ck, and then he slowly sunk back down, his belly against the floor once more.

“He’ll be okay,” Maverick said beside me.

I nearly jumped through the roof, my hand flying to my ch3st. “Ancestors!” I gasped. I was sure my eyes were comically wide at that point. I’d been so wrapped up in Eli, I’d become completely deaf and blind to the world around me. Eli had been the center of my entire universe. “Warn a woman!”

“I’m sorry,” Maverick said softly, looking genuinely abashed. He nodded at Eli. “I told him to wait a little longer in this form before he shifts, but he’ll make a full recovery. It might take an additional run or two before he’s feeling one hundred percent — but there will be no lasting impact.”

“Good,” I said, taking my first deep breath since entering the compound. “That’s good.” I ran my hand over his pelt gently, trying to settle my racing heart.

As I took another few breaths, I began to be aware of how busy the entire facility had become. It was like a hive of activity, but it wasn’t members of the Raven Brothers or scientists working for Project Night Moon. They were all shifters. When I took a minute to observe them, I realized they all smelled of the Silver Streak Pack. I glanced back up at Maverick, my hand still tracing the length of Eli’s body. “What’s going on?”

“Remus is spearheading the removal of the captives,” Maverick said, nodding toward the nearest group of people. “They’re getting them out of the building and into vehicles to get them away from here as quickly as possible.”

“To Dr. Hayes, yeah?”

“Yes.” Maverick nodded. “There are both drivers and guards, so this should be as secure as possible.”

I took another deep breath and nodded. Good. That’s good, real, concrete progress.

So why didn’t I feel better yet?

“What about the High Priority rooms? Did you replace anyone alive there?”

“Yes,” Maverick confirmed, quirking a brow. “Why?”

“Are they at the vehicles?”

“Yes,” he confirmed again.

I leaned forward and pressed a k!ss to the top of Eli’s furry head, smoothing my hand over his ears one last time. “I’ll be right back,” I promised. He was with Maverick. He would be safe. “There’s just something I need to check.”

I got to my feet and hurried toward the location we’d decided on for the assembly of cars. As Maverick said, there were far more shifters out there: most of them were Silver Streak members, but there were several captives too. They weren’t wearing silver collars anymore, but they all had a red rash from the silver burns. As I looked over the faces, none of them looked familiar. My heart fell into my boots.

Remus, noticing me, headed over quickly. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his expression tight. “Who’re you looking for?”

I shook my head. “Bella’s parents,” I said quietly. I hadn’t known them for long at all, but their faces were burned into my memory. I knew I’d recognize them if they were here. “Maybe they’re still inside…”

“Perhaps, but I think we’ve liberated everyone we’ve found,” he said quietly, mouth pressed into a thin line. “Didn’t you say they’d both been badly injured?”

“Well, yes, but…I didn’t actually see them die.” I knew it was a weak argument, but it was all I had to go on. Part of me still clung to a sliver of hope that Bella’s parents were among the living and she wouldn’t have to grow up as I did. Remus had promised she’d end up with a shifter family, but…her own parents would still be best. “Maybe they got patched back up. They wouldn’t have escaped.”

“They don’t patch anyone up unless they absolutely have to,” Maverick said, his voice behind us. When I turned around, I realized he had Eli in his arms. Despite the size of Eli’s wolf, Maverick was carrying him as if he was a Labrador puppy, not a full-grown alpha. When I frowned, he shrugged. “Eli was going to drag himself out here after you,” he said, raising a brow. “I figured if I couldn’t stop him, so I might as well prevent as much damage as I could.”

He set Eli back down on the ground gently, and I sighed, eyeing the dark wolf. “You’re impossible,” I told him, my heart full of fondness. As soon as I looked back up at Maverick, any warmth I felt disappeared again. “You don’t think they’d keep her parents alive? Even though they were in a small pack?”

Possibly the last of a pack? An ancient pack?

Maverick shook his head, looking grim. “I’m pretty sure the main interest in her pack was the supposed treasure,” he said. “They’d only need one wolf. Perhaps more importantly, if her parents died, they’d be able to raise Bella just as they liked.”

I bristled, revolted by the idea.

The alpha sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I’m sorry, Iris. I wish I had better news for you.”

“It’s not your fault.” It was Dr. Brenner and the freaks who thought up this entire project. “Did you at least get the guys in charge?”

Maverick shook his head again. “The four alphas aren’t the head of the organization,” he said. “That’s the general. Additionally, Simon Roth is still unaccounted for. As soon as I can, I’ll alert my handler so she can put out a bulletin with Interpol.”

That was something, at least. “So…what happens to the Raven Brothers now? You got their commanders and a lot of foot soldiers.”

Maverick shrugged. “Someone will replace the commanders,” he said simply. “It’s a global organization. It won’t fold just because a few wolves were killed. Others will step up, and they’ll continue recruiting rogue alphas.” His expression hardened for a moment. “There’s no lack of those, you’ll replace, and most of them are desperate for a ‘pack’ to belong to. Even alphas don’t do well as lone wolves.”

I frowned, not entirely sure what he was trying to imply — but now wasn’t the time to read between the lines. “So, if that’s the case — what do we do now?”

Maverick nodded toward the cars. “We didn’t kill all the guards or the scientists. We took anyone who surrendered hostage and knocked them out. Remus is having them all transported to his holding facility so we can interrogate them. Hopefully, more information will help us replace the general.”

I nodded. “Has anyone done a thorough search yet?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Our first priority was to get the survivors and the hostages out and to a safe place.”

“As it should be,” I agreed, already turning back toward the building. “But we can’t leave stones unturned. I’m going back inside.”

Eli growled, and I stopped, glancing over my shoulder. Once again, he was trying to get to his feet, his ears laid flat against his skull as he hopped toward me on three legs. I frowned back at him.

“Damn it, Eli — you’re injured! You should rest!”

The look he gave was hilarious. Even though wolves couldn’t speak, “Are you serious?” was written across his face, plain as day. My scowl intensified.

“Yes, yes, I know how hypocritical that— Hey!”

He marched right past me, pausing a few strides later to glance over his shoulder as if daring me to stop him. Just as Maverick predicted, he was still limping, though not nearly as dramatically as before. The healing had already started. It was a relief, though I still felt reluctant to take him along. Unfortunately, it didn’t look like he was going to give me much of a choice.

Guess that’s a taste of my own medicine. Ugh.

“I’m coming too,” Maverick announced, already gravitating toward his side.

I didn’t want one bodyguard, much less two, but — it was far more likely Maverick was coming to keep an eye on Eli, not me. Hopefully, between the two of us, we could keep Eli from getting any more injuries.

“Fine,” I said, hurrying back toward the building. “But we better make this quick.”

We have no idea if or when reinforcements will show up.

Though Maverickor the other alphas hadn’t searched the facility yet, it seemed Remus had planned for that as well. As we entered each room, we found at least two Silver Streak wolves, if not more, combing over the areas. Files were removed, as were any and all electronics.

It made it much easier for me to stalk my way through. Some corner of me still hoped we’d see Bella’s parents, but each empty room killed off just a bit more of that hope. We finally came to the Black Zone, and I paused, glancing over at Maverick. “Did you guys figure out what was in here?”

“Not yet.” Maverick reached into his pocket, pulling out a key card. “None of the scientists currently in custody had cards to unlock the door.”

“Let’s go,” I said, nodding toward it. “If there are any other wolves in there, we need to get them out.”

“Absolutely,” Maverick agreed, stepping ahead to slide Dr. Brenner’s ID pass through the scanner.

Please, please, please, let Bella’s parents be in here.

The lock clicked, and the door slid open a moment later, revealing a pitch-black room. I frowned, blinking a moment as my eyes struggled to adapt to the lack of light as we stepped inside. “I know it’s called the Black Zone, but this is kind of on the nose, don’t you think?”

I could practically hear Eli frown behind me as we all walked in, our echoing footsteps the only sound. There didn’t seem to be a single piece of furniture in the area. As my eyes adjusted, I realized it was completely barren.

“What is going on in here?” I hissed. “Is it abandoned?”

“Maybe—” Maverick stopped speaking as I froze in mid-thought, every hair on my body rising. I picked up a foreign scent just seconds before a low growl rolled through the area, so deep I felt as much as heard it.

As I turned, I was faced with bright yellow eyes. A massive black wolf stepped forward from the far wall, hair standing along his spine. His ears were flat as he showed his teeth. My wolf gave a panicked whine, clearly alarmed by the individual right in front of us.

Is this a Raven Brother?

“Get back!” Maverick barked, striding in front of both me and Eli.

I didn’t need to be told twice. My wolf was eager to obey the command. Even if Maverick hadn’t been an alpha, she wanted to get the hell away from the stranger. Eli balked, however, growling at the wolf. I reached forward, grabbing f0r his ruff. “Eli!” I hissed.

Maverick glanced over his shoulder, baring his teeth even though he was still in his human form. “Get. Back.”

Eli bristled visibly, his tail stiffening behind him. I knew they were both powerful alphas, but neither had command over the other — Maverick was a lone wolf. Eli would be a pack alpha someday, but he wasn’t, not yet. They would be at a stalemate, and if one of them tried to cast…I hated to think about it.

After a tense moment, Eli stepped back, still keeping himself between me and the strange black wolf. Maverick turned his attention away from us again. “He’s feral,” he said, gaze locked on the animal. The wolf returned his stare, l!ps peeling back to reveal his fangs.

I wanted to ask how he knew, but distracting Maverick right now could spell disaster. The next few motions happened in the span of a second. The feral wolf lunged, and Maverick charged to tackle him, seamlessly shifting into his wolf form mid-stride. He was a larger wolf by far, slamming the other beast back into the ground. He shifted back almost instantly, hands still wrapped around the feral wolf.

Moments later, the black wolf slumped to the floor, going still. Maverick waited a few more seconds before releasing the wolf’s neck, rocking back on his heels.

“Wow,” I said, legitimately shocked. “How did you shift so fast?”

Maverick shrugged. “Good training.”

Eli frowned, looking his friend up and down. He didn’t seem concerned about the shifting, but I could tell he had questions. He just didn’t have a voice at the moment.

“How did you knock him out like that?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “Seems like this wasn’t your first rodeo…”

Maverick snorted, lifting a brow at me. “Very observant. Between being discharged from the army and being picked up by Interpol, I worked in a semi-official capacity, corralling feral wolves,” he said, watching the motionless wolf for a few moments more. “Wolves and humans process trauma differently. Some choose to let their wolf process it. It might be less painful for them, in a way.” His expression grew stony. “It seems to happen to military vets most often. They have no pack to go back to. Plus, the things they see…” He cut himself off and shook his head.

I wanted to ask, but it wasn’t the place or the time. I glanced back down at the feral wolf. “What do we do? Can you rehabilitate him?”

“I’ll get in touch with the folks I was working with overseas,” he said, schooling his expression back into a careful neutral. “It’s a difficult process. Some wolves won’t shift on their own. Some can’t hold their human forms anymore — some refuse to. I wasn’t a part of that process. They have medical professionals. Psychiatrists. Therapists, too. My job was just to bring them in as relatively whole as possible.” He turned to look at me, offering a humorless smile. “Wouldn’t do to critically injure an already traumatized shifter under the guise of healing them, you know?”

I nodded. The more I learned about Maverick, the less I really knew. I wondered if Eli felt the same. “Can you handle getting him out of here?” I asked. “I suspect no one else in the area has any experience with feral wolves.”

“Yes,” Maverick said, nodding decisively. “I’ll handle it.”

“Thank you,” I said, motioning for Eli. We’d leave him to it. I was glad the facility was getting shut down, and the wolves inside were getting help, but this case was far from over. As Maverick had said, one of the four commanding alphas, as well as the Raven Brothers’ General, were still missing. On top of that, I hadn’t seen Ashley Sanders or Hannah Locke among those rescued from the facility.

They had to be somewhere, and that meant that Derrick and Linus weren’t the only traitors hiding in the Silver Streak territory. They weren’t acting alone — they might even be taking direct orders.

That meant the clock was still ticking for Ashley and Hannah if it hadn’t run out already. “C’mon,” I said, glancing at Eli. “Let’s get out of here. We have a lot of work left to do.”