Page 28 of Alpha Fate

We descend crumbling concrete steps to a lower level. The air grows damp, laden with the odor of stagnant water. Our footfalls echo eerily through the space.

Gage’s grip tightens on me. “How much farther?” His voice resonates off the walls.

“Just ahead. The access tunnel is—”

Edirn stops abruptly. We’ve entered a cavernous room, empty except for massive rusted chains hanging from the ceiling. Across the room is a dark opening. Our escape route.

And between us and it, six heavyset shifters.

“Fuck!” Gage hisses. He swings me down, pushing me behind him.

The men fan out, muscles flexing as fur begins to sprout. Snarls erupt from the wolf behind us. Gage and Edirn place themselves in front, shielding me.

“Well, whaddya know? Nice work, Alpen, you’ve delivered them straight into our hands,” one man sneers.

Oh my God!

He betrayed us!

My heart hammers. We’re trapped. And the male I’d put my faith in seems to have led us right into it. I feel a low rumble from Gage, and I can sense his own rage at this new development. I can even feel how he’s angry with himself for being fooled. It’s a strange sensation…as if I’m awash with his emotions. Only I can’t think about it now because the males are advancing.

Unexpectedly, Edirn steps forward, hands raised. “Let them pass. The girl isn’t worth dying for.”

The man laughs harshly. “Rack wants her. And Rack gets what he wants.”

They advance, forming a half-circle around us. Gage braces, ready to fight.

Suddenly, Edirn lunges sideways, slamming into two half-shifted wolves. They go down hard as he lays into them, a one-man army.

“Go!” Edirn roars. “I’ll hold them off!” I’m not quite sure what’s going on, but it doesn’t look like he planned this.

“No!” I yell. There are too many of them for him to face alone. But he fights on undaunted, his limbs beginning to rope and thicken as dark fur starts to coat his skin. Within seconds, a slavering sable-colored wolf has ripped off someone’s arm and is standing over it, bloody drool hanging from his gaping jaw.

Gage sweeps me up, sprinting for the tunnel, the silver wolf on our heels. Behind us, growls and shouts ring out as Edirn battles with the rogues.

Guilt twists my gut. We’re leaving him to die. But then we’re plunging into darkness, racing down a narrow passage. The sounds of fighting fade.

Moments later, we spill out into moonlit ruins. Gage sets me down, breathing hard. His eyes meet mine, filled with relief and something more potent.

The silver wolf scans the shadows warily. I shudder, feeling exposed out here.

Then, yet another wolf steps from the ruins, followed by two others. Gage tenses, stepping in front of me, then almost immediately relaxes.

The lead wolf shifts, becoming a powerfully built man with flinty eyes. Shock glimmers in their depths as his gaze settles on me.

“Holy shit!” Disbelief colors his gravelly voice. “She’s a carbon copy.”

Gage nods. “Identical, right? It’s only the eyes that are different.” The man stares at me, stunned. Then his expression hardens.

“Let’s move. We need to get out of here.” His tone brokers no argument.

Gage turns to me, eyes bright with promise. “Time to go home.”

I nod mutely. Home. I can hardly grasp the concept. But looking into his eyes, I feel hope stirring. There’s a long road ahead and probably dangers along it, but for the first time in weeks, I’m free.

Chapter 10

Gage

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