Page 25 of Alpha Fate
It’s empty.
Disbelief wars with rage inside me. I grip the bars until my knuckles ache, staring at the bare cell. Her scent lingers, tugging at something deep in my chest.
She was here. I know she was!
But now, she’s not.
Savannah is gone.
Chapter 9
Savannah
We reach the top of the stairs and stop abruptly as we meet a solid timber door. The stranger looks around us quickly.
“Bad idea to go out there yet. We’ll be too exposed,” he murmurs as he runs an eye on the walls around us. I stand mutely, not sure what to do next, fear spiking as I wait for someone to come thundering after us.
“Here!” The stranger guides me sideways into a dark crevice between two crumbling brick walls. It’s a narrow space that might have once been a storage area. Big enough for brooms and mops, but a tight squeeze for a pair of shifters. Although in my current half-starved state, it’s a whole lot easier for me than it is for the burly male.
My bare feet scrape against debris strewn across the floor as I shuffle backward. The pungent stench of mold assaults my nose, but I ignore it as he moves in behind me, hiding me from anyone who might look in here.
“Shhhh…” he says, as if I need to be reminded to say quiet. I’m literally holding my breath in case it draws attention to us. It’s probably unnecessary because there’s suddenly so much noise from below that I could start yelling and nobody would hear me.
Sounds of fighting erupt; crashing, roars, snarls, bloodcurdling screams. I resist the urge to clamp my hands over my ears, praying silently that whoever is down there doesn’t come up to us.
The battle sounds fade to silence and then I’m holding my breath again as that silence is pierced only by approaching footsteps. The stranger presses his body against mine, shielding me in the shadows. My heart pounds against my ribs.
Poking my head around him to get a look as curiosity overcomes fear, I suddenly see a figure appear in the narrow entrance. Silhouetted by the light behind him, it takes me a moment to make out his features, but when I do, my heart jolts.
“Hello, sunshine,” he says as our eyes meet.
Gage!
Relief crashes over me in a dizzying wave.
“You came back!” I blurt. He doesn’t get a chance to respond. Behind him, two huge wolves pad into view, tension radiating from their powerful frames.
The stranger steps forward, emerging from the darkness. In a blur of movement, the wolves lunge toward him, teeth bared. I see him stiffen, but he doesn’t do anything to defend himself.
“No, stop!” I cry out, my voice hoarse. They hesitate, glancing between me and the stranger warily.
Gage steps between them, palms uplifted. “Wait! I know this one.”
The wolves exchange uncertain looks as Gage studies the stranger intently. “You helped me escape…when I got out of here before.”
The stranger dips his chin. “I did. Name’s Alpen, Edirn Alpen.” His voice is low and gravelly. “Just trying to get the girl to safety.”
Gage’s jaw clenches as he weighs Edirn’s words. I hold my breath, pulse racing. Finally, Gage nods, and I see his taut shoulders relax marginally.
“Good.” He nods. “We’ll take it from here.” He casts a quick look around while the wolves keep their eyes firmly fixed on Edirn. Gage may be taking him at his words, but they seem more suspicious. I can’t blame them. I’m still trying to figure him out, too.
“You won’t get very far that way,” Edirn says.
Gage looks at him. “Why not?”
“Got a small team on patrol that side. I saw them when I came down earlier. You could take them on, but if they radio the others – which they will – you’ll be outnumbered. And they won’t hesitate to target the woman.”
Gage narrows his eyes, looking at me, then back at Edirn. “We can’t go back, either.”