ALPHA JORDAN
Coraâs destruction of Altier and the council was unlike anything Iâd anticipated. It was different from when she killed Laurent; I felt no fear this time. Instead, I was filled with pride as my mate unleashed her fury on them all.
Watching her address the Haven Crest Pack, my pride only swells. I can see the relief etched on the faces of these men who have lived under Laurentâs rule for the last century. The freedom Cora offers them is palpable in the air.
I expected some to leave, but to my surprise, every single one of them kneels, baring their necks to my mate, my luna, and, as it turns out, their queen.
Darius watches her with a fatherly pride in his eyes, and I realize I have actually been worried about him when the witch attacked. I never thought Iâd find myself hoping that a vampire could cheat death, but thatâs exactly how I felt.
Coraâs fear and heartache had nearly undone me, and I realized that, as much as I hate to admit it, I would miss the bloodsucker if he had gone.
Seeing her with Luca warms my heart. I can feel her love for her brother through our bond, and a weight I hadnât realized was there lifted the moment his eyes opened.
Danny seems unsure about Luca, constantly watching him as if he might turn on us at any moment, but there is something more in his eyes that I canât quite decipher.
âAlpha Jordan, you need to come see this,â Alex, one of the men from Dariusâs group, calls out as he rushes toward us.
He leads us through the town and into an old brick building, then down a set of stairs into a basement. The smell of urine, sweat, and sickness fills the air, making it hard to breathe.
Alex shines his flashlight into the room, revealing more than two dozen women and children huddled against the walls. They are covered in dirt and filth, many marred with bruises and lacerations in various stages of healing.
âMy name is Alpha Jordan. Are you prisoners, or members of this pack?â I ask.
There is a long silence before an older woman slowly stands, her hands held out in plain sight.
âWe are both. Alpha Laurent locked us down here nearly a month ago. Some of us are from this pack, some are captives taken from other packs.â
The thought of women and children being held prisoner makes my wolf bristle, but the rage is even greater for the fact that some of these people are members of his own pack.
âAlpha Laurent has fallen. You are all free to return to your packs if you choose, or you may return with us to ours. We will take you in and give you a home,â I announce.
I feel Cora approaching before I see her. Her heartache is palpable as she takes in the sight of everyone in the room.
She raises her hands, palms facing out toward the room. The air shifts, becoming slightly warmer as a white light engulfs her hands, growing brighter until we are all forced to close our eyes.
A strange, warm, tingling sensation washes over us just before the light fades and her hands drop to her side.
âWhat was that?â the older woman asks in a breathy voice.
âMy name is Coralie Velsire,â Cora replied.
The older woman takes a staggering step forward, a look of awe and disbelief on her face.
âItâs not possible,â she whispers, her eyes examining Cora closely.
Cora moves toward the center of the room, and I smile as I realize her intention.
She shifts into her giant opalescent white wolf, and many of the women kneel before her, baring their necks.
âWe seek to bring down the were council. We have more than four hundred soldiers among us. The vampires, witches, and wolves fight together as one, united for the common goal of freedom. We will help you get safely back to our pack lands and from there, we can help those of you who wish to return to your former packs,â I announce.
No one moves, their eyes still firmly locked on Cora.
âRise,â Cora growls in her feral wolf voice, and everyone quickly stands.
She shifts back to her human form, and everyone slowly approaches her.
âYouâ¦you are the lycan queen?â the older woman asks, though it sounds more like a statement.
âYes,â Cora replies, her displeasure at admitting her title evident.
But she must know how much these people need the hope her presence gives them.
âWe need to head out,â Danny calls from behind me.
We lead the women and children to the center of town where our men have gathered. We form a protective circle around them before heading away from this hell.
With the extra people and the slower pace, it takes us nearly three full days to reach our pack lands.
We give our men a few days to rest and for those from our pack to spend time with their families while we plan for our upcoming battle.
The leaders of each group gather in the meeting hall. The meeting quickly devolves from peaceful discussion to sheer chaos.