Page 73 of Alpha Chained
“I died ten years ago. You’ve just kept my corpse around for entertainment. Well, the show’s over, Parker. If you want your champion back, you’ll let her go.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.” His voice is smooth, level. “Because it doesn’t work for me. In fact, I’d anticipated this a while ago. That’s why I decided you needed a new leash.”
“New leash?” I frown at him.
What the fuck is he talking about?
“Yes. You see, I knew it was only a matter of time before I couldn’t control you this way anymore.” He shrugs, aiming a dispassionate look at my still-struggling sister. “So it suited me perfectly when you got your sights set on the pretty female.”
“Get to the point, Parker.” I’m losing patience.
“The point is that even as we speak, plans are in place to bring your little friend back. Along with the rest of her pack. They’ll be a goldmine.” The smile he aims at me is an ugly, twisted thing. “She may not have told us everything I wanted her to, but we saw what they’re capable of. We’ll be ready next time.”
I feel a growl build as the implications of this begin to become clear.
“Oh, growl and snarl all you like, champ. You’ll need practice for the ring. Where you will fight for me like the good boy I expect. Or your little Raura gets it.”
I shake my head, feeling as if I need to clear it. “You mean you’re planning to use both of them to manipulate me?”
“Of course not,” he scoffs. “I don’t have any interest in keeping an entire flock of females just to keep you in line.”
“But Willow—” I begin.
“I already have a buyer for your baby sister, kid. Someone who’ll keep her handy if I need to add some weight to my bargaining power with you.” He looks at her appraisingly. “Got a pretty good price, too.”
“What?” I bark. “No! You can’t!”
Willow looks stricken. “Riley, what’s he talking about?”
“Yes, I can. This is what I do, remember?” He flicks a piece of lint off the lapel of his immaculate gray suit jacket.
Rage hits me like a physical force. “No!” I roar. “I will fucking end you!”
He starts to laugh. “Really?” He looks around. “You expecting the cavalry sometime soon?” When I don’t answer, he continues, “Your valiant return was a complete waste of time, Riot.” He smirks. “You would have been smarter to stick close to your little pet to try to protect her. Because that’s where I’ll be heading next.”
I stay silent now, the cold realization sinking in. He has Willow, and now he’s going after Raura. And there’s nothing I can do about it.
God, I’m such a fucking fool.
The bastard’s too smart, always one step ahead. And now, he’s won again.
Chapter 27
Raura
I run my damp palms nervously over the thick denim of my jeans as I step into the gathering hall, trying not to let my nerves show. It’s an imposing space – high ceilings, polished wooden floors, and a long table at the center where the members of the beta council are seated. Jagger catches my eye and gives me an encouraging nod. I take a deep breath and make my way to the front of the room, acutely aware of all the eyes on me.
“Thank you all for being prepared to hear me out,” I begin, keeping my voice steady. “I know the situation I’m about to present to you is…disturbing. But it’s something we can’t ignore.”
“Jagger tells us you have information about the abductions we’ve become aware of.” Callum is seated at the far end of the table. “Something about an organization. It seems it wasn’t limited to the Wildview pack?”
I shake my head. “That was barely the tip of the iceberg. The Consortium has been operating for years. At least ten that I’ve been told of, but I’m pretty sure it goes much further than that.”
Callum rubs his jaw, glancing at Jagger. “It’s what we were afraid of…this thing is big.”
“It’s huge,” I say, then launch into an explanation of the Chimera Consortium and its horrific operations, describing Parker’s role and the details of my captivity. As I speak, I can see a range of emotions play out across the council members’ faces – shock, outrage, grim determination.
Kieran, one of the younger betas, leans forward, his brow furrowed. “You’re saying this…Consortium is the organization that has been working in our area, working with Leadmills to abduct our kind?”