Page 78 of Alpha Chained

It doesn’t come.

“Fall back!” someone yells, and suddenly our attackers turn away and disappear in the opposite direction.

What the fuck?

Now what?

There’s no way I can turn back in the direction we’ve come from – only captivity awaits us there. Our only option is to keep moving forward and pray that the men have left completely.

Gritting my teeth, I head around the corner at a dead run, Willow’s hand clasped tightly in mine, only to skid to an abrupt halt. The scene before me is one I never could have imagined.

The red-headed she-wolf who’d been at Steel Lakes is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a towering male, and they’re locked in combat with Parker’s guards. They’re not alone – a dozen other shifters from Steel Lakes fight alongside them, their movements fluid and deadly. In a matter of moments, they’ve dispatched the guards, leaving them dead or dying on the floor.

I blink, hardly able to believe my eyes. “What the hell…?”

The female turns to me, a wry grin on her face. “Surprise! We thought you could use a little backup.”

“How did you…?” I shake my head, stunned.

“Raura.” She shrugs. “She whipped up a rescue mission. That mate of yours is quite something when she puts her mind to it.” She winks at me. “Speaking of which…mates??”

I shake my head; there’s no time for this now. I’m reeling, trying to process this sudden turn of events. “Raura,” I manage to say, my heart in my throat. “Where is she?”

Casey’s expression softens. “She’s safe. Don’t worry.”

I breathe out in a rush.

She’s safe.Thank God.

The big male has been standing beside her, observing the exchange with an unsettling silence. He speaks now, “Casey.” He brushes her arm, then wipes a smear of blood from her cheek. “It’s time to move, my love.”

“Hold your horses, Edirn.” She looks back at me. “We’ve overrun the Enclave,” she explains. “Jagger’s leading another attack on the opposite side. Parker’s men don’t stand a chance.”

“They will if we keep standing around here,” Edirn says.

Casey pulls a face at him. “Wise-ass.

Willow squeezes my hand, drawing my attention. “Riley, what’s going on? Who are these people?”

I turn to her, a small smile on my lips. “They’re friends, Wills. Really good friends.”

Somehow, as I say it, I know that I’m right. Whatever happened when I reached Steel Lakes, they’re here now. They came.

Edirn fixes a strange look at me, and for a moment, it’s as if he’s staring into my soul. “Yes. We came,” he says. “We look after our own. You’re one of us now.”

Those simple words leave my head spinning.

One of us.

After so many years alone, cast adrift, it’s almost too much to process.

But I don’t have time to dwell on it. We’re still in the heart of enemy territory, and there are things to be done.

I glance back at my sister, then over to Casey. “Can you get her out of here?”

Casey lifts an eyebrow, running a look over my sister, then gives a nod. “Sure thing.”

Willow pulls back. “What? No! I’m going with you!”