Chapter Nineteen
Axion
T o confirm my suspicions, I sniffed the air again. I already knew what I’d find, but I didn’t want to believe it. I hadn’t wanted Grey to worry. He looked like death warmed over and couldn’t do anything about it anyway, but Saphyra’s unbonded pheromones were heavy in the air, luring every unmated alpha to her side.
Her sweet honey fragrance was thick as I made my way through the halls, tracing the source. She had scent negating soap, which wasn’t infallible, but it should be doing more than this. It wouldn’t matter much in the residential zone with the betas, but if Valyx were going to his quarters, it could be a problem.
He must have noticed.
He must be taking her back to her room…
To safety. Right?
I tried his comms, but he didn’t respond as I bounded up the clanging metal stairs two at a time. If he took her in the lift, they’d already be safe in the royal wing. If not, I might be able to hear… aw fuck.
From an indecipherable number of floors above me, I heard shouting ring out.
My heart gave a sickening thud, and I increased my pace as every bit of my alpha nature kicked into gear. I practically flew up those steps, the gleam of the polished banister not even registering in my periphery. A series of bangs that sounded like doors slamming echoed down the deep stairwell, and I saw a flash of black fabric a few levels away.
Almost there.
By the time I reached the place where I’d seen movement, the hall was empty. The acrid odor of agitated alphas was strong, but a thread of honey was laced through it all. Stark gray walls stared back at me mockingly. There were only two places they could’ve gone. Into the military ward, or up. There was no commotion above me and not many floors left that way, either. So, I took a risk.
The click of the latch was as loud as a gunshot before I pushed through the steel door.
The sight that greeted me was admittedly not great. Down the wide, metal-clad corridor, Valyx had Saphyra tucked behind him, backed into a corner by a group of seething alphas.
Why the fuck were there so many new recruits in this random corner of the military ward? They should all be at their assigned posts. The scent of an unmated omega was an intense draw, especially to alphas that had been denied, but where had they even come from? A couple on the way back to their quarters, I could understand, but there were at least ten, and none of them lived in this quadrant.
What I hadn’t realized at first glance, was that between Valyx and the snarling hoard, stood Dani, Albion, and Elinor. Together, the three women were blocking the advancing males as Valyx and Saphyra worked their way down the hall toward the lift, not letting anyone pass them.
Saphyra had a brave face on, but as I waded through the shuffling mob, I noticed a slight tremble in her clenched fist.
My mind blanked. The only thing left was the need to protect my mate.
Fiery rage shot through my veins like a bolt of electricity. As soon as the next alpha took a step, I found my hand circling their throat. Then, their body was sailing through the air. The heavy impact of flesh against the metal wall was deafening over the sudden silence that fell around me.
The recruits turned their eyes to me.
I lost control.
Bodies went flying, bones cracked under my bare hands. A vicious growl ripped from my chest. I didn’t stop until everyone was on the ground, with the exception of the three female alphas, Valyx, and Saphyra.
The smell of blood and viscera coated my lungs. Too many people were still barring the way to my mate, and the burning haze of fury had yet to fade from my vision. I took a step, intending to tear them apart, but a tiny ball of softness slammed into me.
“No!” Saphyra’s big gold eyes looked up at me. “You will not hurt them.”
My rolling growl turned into a purr, and I lifted her into my arms.
She poked me in the sternum. “Stupid alphas and their stupid control issues.”
I barely heard her words, but she wasn’t wrong. She was still trembling though, and I didn’t like that at all. My attention was split between her and the other alphas left standing in the corridor.
Valyx was thanking the women for stepping in, ignoring my simmering rage.
Albion gave me an understanding smile. “Don’t worry, big guy. She smells nice, but not my type.” She walked past me, giving us plenty of space. The other two women followed, hugging the side of the hall, and watching me as if they expected me to pounce.
Valyx glared at me with his arms folded across his chest. “Are you going to attack me now, too? Or are you done?”
My attention slammed back into my teammate. Saphyra was calming in my embrace, her rapid breathing subsiding with every inhalation.
“Somewhat.” I was still on edge, but with my omega cuddled up against me, my anger seeped away. Her warm presence helped after having been forced to keep my distance all day. We couldn’t keep staying away from her. The effects of denying the bond were too strong.
Valyx smirked as if I was overreacting, but I saw a hint of unease in his eyes, as if he was dangerously close to losing control as well. “We had that under control, you know. You didn’t have to break them all. We were taking her to the lift to move to a secure level.”
Maybe I had overreacted. Not being able to complete the bond with my mate and having her threatened set me off like nothing before. If we didn’t find a solution soon, I was worried about what might happen. Alphas can be volatile, but it’d never been this bad. There had never been an incomplete mate bond before, either.
Grey’s words came back to me. It was affecting all of us, and until Saphyra was safe, everyone was at risk for so many more reasons than just my rage. The other alphas had less control than I did, even on a good day.
“We should go.” I glanced over my shoulder at the groaning alphas that lay strewn like broken dolls across the floor. They’d heal soon enough, and I wanted my mate far away from them when they did.