Chapter 43
FORTY-THREE
THISTLE
When Rogue finally fell asleep, I tucked him in and got to my feet.
We still have a problem, Bunny.
Knox didn’t want me.
Rogue was one for two, but I was determined to get them both before it was too late.
Ambushing him with a blow job had worked way better on Knox than it ever had on Ace. Come morning he’d agreed to let Rogue out of his cage. He was a vulnerable sleeper, so this was definitely the best time.
I tiptoed out of the bedroom, leaving Rogue to rest as I tried to come up with a plan.
It was silent in the cool basement hallway, and I glanced down at Bunny, shoving away how badly it hurt that he’d left us without a bite. “He tried to take you and Rogue away. My whole pack. Who does he think he is?” I clenched my jaw, pout on my lips. “Jealous, that’s who. We shouldn’t want him. He’s not even a scent match.”
It was so stupid that I couldn’t get him out of my head. There was no reason he should be taking up space in my little pack dream cave where Bunny and Rogue were supposed to stay. “Stupid Alphas. Stupid hormones.”
Mine or his? Couldn’t tell anymore.
“Come on, Bunny. We gotta go find him.”
He’d bite in.
Couldn’t not.
“He was already talking about it, anyway. Who cares if Rogue is heat bonded?”
I swallowed as I pushed open the huge door to the broad stone stairs that led up to the main floor. I passed a window in the hall and saw the hint of a storm outside. I felt it in the air. To my bones.
It was coming.
Gotta get him on board.
I was still wearing my silk gown, and though I had a bit of blood on me from Rogue and the open bite wound, but I didn’t think that would put Knox off.
Kinda the opposite, actually.
I battled with my smile as I hugged Bunny to my chest.
My pack was about to happen—I knew it. If Knox didn’t want to join, that storm would arrive and then I’d just have to make him.
Besides, he’d bought me, (and then bought me a sketchbook). That made him fair game.
“A whole pack together and happy forever,” I whispered, squeezing Bunny so hard I could feel the small hard lump within his stuffing.
But then I turned the corner from the steps to the main floor and ran right into the back of an Alpha whose scent I didn’t recognise at all.
ROGUE
I woke to a sharp spike of fear in the brand-new bond. I sat up blearily, still more sluggish than I was used to.
Where the hell was my Omega?
I stared around the room before another jolt of fear shot through the connection.
I was on my feet in an instant.
What was going on?
Had she gone to find Knox?
But he wouldn’t hurt her, and the fear I was feeling from her was primal.
I checked my phone.
No messages. But then I saw the ‘no signal’ bar at the top.
Fuck…
Something was up.
I collected the gun from the floor, and the bloody knife Thistle had left on the bedside table. Instead of taking the main stairs or the outdoor exit, I slipped up the narrow stairs built for the staff.
I was careful, pushing the door open, when I reached the second floor, peering out into the hallway beyond, but it was deserted.
Still, I could feel her in the bond, and her terror hadn’t waned at all. Each spike sent adrenaline through my system, keeping me alert despite how exhausted I was.
When I turned down the next hallway, I spotted movement.
I ducked back around the corner, then rechecked the gun was loaded before creeping out.
I found my gun pointed at the back of a familiar, slender figure with dark skin and cropped hair.
Vance was at the end of this hallway, gun in his own hand as he craned his neck to see what was past corner before him. Beyond it was the second-story balcony that overlooked the ballroom.
I could hear the faintest sound of voices, but I couldn’t make out who or what they were saying.
As I stepped up, Vance spun, eyes wide, gun training on me, then froze. He swore under his breath, lowering it as I closed the distance between us.
“What the fuck is going on?” I asked in a hiss.
“They’re in there.” Vance nodded toward the ballroom. “Bella Morgan and her whole fucking pack. They have Knox and Thistle.”
Shit…
Bella?
This was about Knox, then.
I craned my neck around the corner, but we weren’t close enough to look down into the ballroom.
“No one’s up here,” he went on. “I think there’s a few out in the hallway downstairs, but that’s it. She has nine Alphas, but I count seven in there, and movement outside two of the doors.”
I turned back to him with a frown. This wasn’t his fight. The stupid kid shouldn’t be here in the first place. “Go to the safe room. Let the others know to get inside.”
“They’re already locked in,” he said. “And I’m not going anywhere?—”
“This isn’t your business.” I jabbed him in the chest. “I’ll deal with it. Go back to the east wing and hide until they can let you in.”
“Are you joking?” He was staring at me in shock.
I tucked my gun into my belt. Stubborn little fuck. “Knox will off me instantly if I watch any of you get hurt.”
“I’m not going—!” But he cut off, as I grabbed his wrist with the gun, then seized him by the shoulder, shoving him face first against the wall, and easily trapping him in a headlock.
He let out a grunt, but the gun slipped, and I grabbed it. Then I slammed my hand over his mouth as I squeezed his neck, cutting off his circulation with ease. Quickly, his struggles died, and when he went limp.
I lowered him to the ground as quietly as I could, checking his gun was loaded. Couldn’t have too many if what he said was true.