10:46 Fri, May
Chapter 172
Chapter 172
Ragnar
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I have never been to any of the packland ruins. This is a first for me. Before the supernatural world took over and began repairing the damage humans inflicted on nature, wolves, vampires, and incubi used to live in isolated castles that have long been abandoned or turned into endangered-species sanctuaries.
The witches own some of the biggest beehive sanctums to ever exist, and one of them is not too far from here. If I were to calm myself enough to really listen to the noise in the night. I can hear their buzzing.
These ruins were the home of the second Alpha King over twenty-three hundred years ago. When humans were informed that they were no longer the dominant species, they tried to destroy it, only to be met with the wrath of over two hundred wolves taking refuge inside. It was a massacre, and the place was abandoned because of the gruesome battle that took place. No one comes here except for witches who need the negative energy for their seasonal witchy shit.
A cooing sound echoes a few yards from us, and I see Alex visibly relax. He takes his gun out and motions for me to follow. This feels a little too familiar. It reminds me of our time together in Africa and Russia.
I don’t know how we ended up in the same formations back then, but at some point, I came to think of this man as a friend. A part of me is glad that he isn’t the reason why everything went to shit and that he tried to settle the score. The rest of me doesn’t know what to make of everything going on. I just want it to stop. For all of us.
We both step into the center of the ruins, back to back, aiming towards the darkness. A woman steps out from behind one of the collapsed walls. I clear my throat, and he turns around to face her. He lets out a heavy sigh, lowers his gun, and puts his hand up so I may lower my own.
Without hesitation, she runs to him. He receives his welcome while I try my best not to impose on their grand reunion. I raise my gun with a team in military-issued gear, steps out of the darkness after her.
“He’s with me,” Alex growls at them. “This man saved my life. Again.”
“I think the credit can go to Sophia this time. She’s the one who got us in.”
“I’m glad she remembered what she needed from the last time we saw each other. How is Sophia? I heard she took a pretty bad hit to the head.” The Queen Luna asks.
“She’s resting,” is all I say.
The two of them look back at their team as one of them drags a black body bag over. It’s still moving, which means they didn’t kill the shifter. He talks to them in whatever code they set up. The two of us walk up to it. Alex bends down to unzip the bag, and I stomp on top of hit winding the person inside.
The Alpha King’s face stares back at us when it’s open. He’s staring at the man in front of him with complete terror. I smile when the Beta princes all come over to pick him up. He struggles to catch his breath and is visibly shaking.
“It doesn’t feel good, does it?” Alex asks him.
“I was just following orders, sir,” he says, lowering his gaze.
10:46 Fri, May 8
Chapter 172
“Who’s?” I ask. He looks between us and shakes his head.
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“You might as well kill me. I’m not giving you anything,” he says, lowering his gaze. Alex waves his hand forward, and a Beta Prince comes over to him. He pulls out a syringe and injects him with it. “Sorry, man. I was raised by blood suckers who injected me with worse shit to get high off my blood. Your truth serums don’t do shit. They don’t even get me high.”
“I love being a stalker,” everyone turns around to find Anastasia and Santiago emerge from the darkness of
the tree line.
“Hi,” Sophia steps out from behind her. She waves at me with a smile. “In my defense, she said we were going for a late-night drive, and then Santiago handed me a vest.”
The terror twins both smile, confirming her defense. I wave her over because it’s been almost a week since I’ve seen her in person. She runs over to me. Her body smacks against my side. I want to enjoy this, but there are bigger problems at this moment.
“Sophie,” Ana says and motions the shifter.
“Who are you?” Alex asks him. He smiles.
Sophia takes a deep breath and steps away from me, gripping the top of her vest. Her usual calm aura changes, and her eyes glow brilliant blue. The shifter groans and falls to his knees, not taking his eyes off her. The eldest son in Aurora’s report emerges from beneath the shadow’s shedding skin. He looks up at her with genuine hate.
“How did you do that?” he growls at her. He releases his claws, but before he can get close enough, Sophia holds her hand out and slowly makes a fist, making him scream.
“How’s that for a high?” she asks him. “I believe the real Alpha King asked you a question, asshole. I suggest you answer it before I turn you inside out.”
The pack wolves are staring at her with disbelief.
“Kill me,” he chokes out when she releases him.
+
“That’ll be too easy,” Ana laughs and steps closer to him. Her eyes turn neon green as her affinity reaches out to rob him of breath. He stumbles back and tries to inhale. He looks at her as he struggles to breathe in
or out.
“Ana,” Sophia warns her.
She sighs and releases him. He falls to his knees and gasps for air. When he’s finally got it, Ana starts up again. She’s pacing around him as he fights for his life on the abandoned floors of this haunted castle. She lets him go again and stops behind him as he gasps for air. He reaches for him once he has some oxygen in his system again. Her claws elongate against his throat long enough for him to feel how sharp they are.
“Who sent you?” she whispers in his ear. There are tears sliding down his face as he stares back at us.
“I’m sorry,” he says, shaking his head.
“It’s fine,” Sophia sighs, walking up to him and placing her hand on his chest. “The other one is going to tell us. He likes the sound of his own voice. And when that fails, we’ll just keep killing his brothers until one of
10:46 Fri, May 8
Chapter 172
them gives us what we want.”
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She releases her claws and smiles, looking up at him. I can hear his heart racing in his chest. When she pulls back to dig her claws into his chest, he growls in panic.
“My father,” he shouts. The two of them step back, satisfied with the outcome.
“Look at that. We make a great team. BFFs,” Ana does a little shimmy.
“What does your father want?” Alex asks. He glances over at me, amused by the two of them.
The shadow’s skin is falling off his body in chunks, and it’s not a pleasant sight. I now understand why Sophia sounded panicked when she first discovered it. The scene is grotesque. Something I’ll be okay never seeing again. I’ve never come across these creatures before, and I never want to after this.
“We’re looking for my mother,” he says quietly.
“Who is your mother?” Alex asks. He looks down at Sophia.
“What?” Sophia steps forward. “Why the fuck did you look at me?”
“My mother’s name is Vivianne Galloway,” he answers her.
Sophia steps back, shaking her head in disbelief. She growls, and the next thing I know, her fist meets his face. I don’t know what that name means to her, but I have to pull her away before she kills him.
“Sophie,” I shout, and she stops struggling.
“You’re not going to find her, you piece of shit,” she spits in his face.
“You know where she is?”
“Yeah, I fucking know where she is,” Sophia laughs. I’ve never seen the malice in her eyes like this before. “I fucking killed her. And you’re next.”
“Sophia,” I shout.
She doesn’t listen this time. I feel the instant her affinity lashes out, and I pull her away, the others move away from him as well. The sound his body makes when he explodes makes me flinch.
“What the fuck?” Alex shouts at her. “Why?”
