25. Magnus
Chapter twenty-five
Magnus
I t's utter chaos in the tunnel as Levi and I fight off the warden’s men.
More soldiers were waiting for us as soon as we swooped in, but we were ready.
Our Omegas need us.
All around, Packs Gold, Titan, Snow, and Hart dispatch soldiers left and right, and not every man we kill is a Beta.
Some are Alpha, and a growl sounds in my throat as I slit the throat of one motherfucker who comes at me.
His blood sprays my face, and I breathe in air through my nose, taking a moment to compose myself.
“Come on!” Levi shouts, and I snap back into action, rushing after him down the tunnel.
Gryphon is in the lead, followed by Jeremy and Theo.
The rest of the Alphas stay behind to finish off the warden’s soldiers. I hear one loud cackle, and there I spot Lachlan stabbing a dead man over and over.
“He’s already fucking dead!” Alastor shouts, but the blond Alpha is too far gone.
Nothing will get him out of that funk.
I just thank God he is on our side as we wind through the endless tunnel.
There are more men in our way, and we find ourselves in yet another battle. Guns go off, and I duck bullets, and I’m really starting to get pissed off.
Zayden and Opal need me.
With a roar, I knock down several soldiers like a battering ram, paving the way for the squad as we rush through the melee.
The others catch up with us, and my adrenaline races when I spot that faded light up ahead.
Finally.
The sight I find has me halting in my tracks, and I blink when I spy that bearlike creature thrashing in his chains.
Shit.
That’s no bear. That’s Reed.
What’s wrong with him?
“He’s gone into rut,” Levi whispers, his face pale, and my heart drops to my feet.
Fuck.
We were too late.
Gryphon rushes to his Omega, Oliver. “Where's the warden?”
Oliver comforts his little sister as he has his arms wrapped around her. He points up the tunnel. “That way. Mila and Rian went after him. He’s not going far.”
Gryphon nods and pats his Omega’s shoulder. Then he comforts Belle for a moment too, and now we all follow him down the tunnel where the warden vanished.
In the corner of my eye, I spy Opal and Zayden. They’re trying to get through to Reed, and I hesitate.
I should stay with my Omegas.
They are not safe.
An Alpha in rut can be a dangerous thing. Especially one who has been forced into an artificial rut.
Ella and Brody hover close by, knives and guns at the ready, and a lump forms in my throat.
If they have to, they will kill him.
Zayden finds my eyes and smiles. “It’s okay, Magnus. We’ve got this.”
My eyes flick to Opal. She smiles at me just as sadly as Reed writhes in his chains, and I have no idea what they’re planning to do.
But Reed isn't the enemy here.
So, I rush after the squad.
A few Alphas stay behind. Theo and Kellen remain with Ella and Brody, acting as backup in case Reed breaks out of those chains and goes rogue.
Jeremy stops to check on Belle, but her Alpha, Leo, stays behind and wraps his arms around her.
Oliver leaves his sister at last, and now he and Jeremy pursue the warden with the rest.
Yet Troy stops, taking Belle’s chin in his hand, and they communicate through their bond.
He's promising her that this time, they will catch the warden.
The Alpha leans down and kisses his Omega, then joins my side. Alastor breaks away from his pack and follows us.
I speak to him. “Why don't you remain with your pack?”
Alastor glances back at Ella. “One of us needs to go after that prick. Ella’s counting on it. Theo, Kellen, and Brody can have her back while she has Zayden’s and Opal’s.”
I get it, and I appreciate his pack’s help.
Opal and Zayden are going to need all the help they can get with Reed.
He’s a strong Alpha.
The warden leads us all on a wild goose chase, but we soon corner him.
We find him at a dead end, and it appears he’s trapped here.
He was a fool to underestimate us.
The Alpha is covering a stab wound, his fingers red and bloody as he gasps on the floor.
Gryphon points his gun at his head. “Get up.”
The warden laughs, meeting his eyes. “Hello, governor.”
Gryphon’s eyes burn red-hot, and that‘s not a face I would want to see before my demise.
Yet the warden merely looks amused by the governor as he continues to laugh. “A shame my puppet didn’t finish you off like I wanted… No… she only went and killed me in the end...”
Wait. Opal was the one who stabbed him?
Damn.
“You must have realized where this was going to end, right?” Oliver asks, his own gun pointed at the enemy.
Mila points her gun too, and the warden gazes at her for a moment. "I don't think we've been formally introduced."
Her gun cocks as she smiles. "Well, now we have."
The warden sneers at her, then looks at the rest of the squad.
A chorus of growls follows, and my hair rises on end.
“It’s over, warden,” Gryphon hisses. “Any last words?”
The warden grimaces, and it looks as if he’s losing a lot of blood.
I don’t think so.
We won’t let him die just yet.
The fucker needs to suffer first.
“Fuck you,” he growls.
I roll my eyes, glancing at Troy. His electric blue eyes are burning as he grinds his teeth, and his words earlier run through my head.
He wanted first dibs.
That’s when his gaze finds mine, and then he nods.
We’ll both get our revenge, and that’s when I crack my knuckles, getting them ready.
This is going to feel good.