Page 13 of Alpha Fate

“My sister,” she tells him. Her throat works as she swallows. “You saw my twin sister,” she says to me.

“You have a twin sister?” Jagger gapes at her. Others have gathered around us, and they’re muttering among themselves.

She nods. “We’re all twins. All of my line. It’s why we’re…wanted.”

“You never knew this?” Callum has joined us, and he’s addressing Jagger.

Jagger rubs his face with both hands. “We haven’t had time, dammit. With all that’s happened…” He draws in a breath, then reaches for Sierra’s shoulder and gently turns her to face him. “Let’s start this from the top. Rack abducted you from your pack; you escaped and ended up here. With me.” He leans forward and brushes his lips over her forehead.

“Yes.”

“But your twin sister was taken too.”

“I didn’t know.” She takes in a stuttering breath. “I’d hoped that… I’d prayed…” When she raises a hand to her eyes, it’s shaking. “I just prayed that the others had gotten away. Sometimes, some of us get away.”

“Sometimes?” Jagger’s eyes narrow. “You mean this happens a lot?”

“Every few years. They wait for us to be…to be of breeding age. Then they take us.”

Fuck. Is she serious?

“Who does, Sierra?” Jagger lifts her chin with his fingertip. “Who takes you?”

Her head jerks from side to side, tears beginning to trickle. “I don’t know. We’ve never known. Just that they always come…if they find out where we are,” she whispers.

“Because you birth twins,” Callum interjects.

She doesn’t look at him when she answers. I suspect she’s focusing on Jagger to find her strength. “Yes. We’re descended from a line of omegas, but we don’t carry all of those characteristics anymore. Except we’re highly fertile. We can bear young for any male who claims us. And we always give them twins. Always with a girl child. Sometimes, both are girls. Like Savannah and me.” Her voice hitches. “I’m so sorry, Jagger. I couldn’t tell you. Couldn’t tell anyone. We’re sworn not to because if they find us…if they find us…” She stops, then forges on, “Now it’s too late.” Her shoulders are beginning to shake.

“Jesus.” Jagger pulls her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. He looks at me. “You’re sure you saw her there? This woman?”

“Yes. I was sure it washer,” I glance at Sierra, “but…” I pull in a breath, trying to make sense of this.

“Where was she?” Callum breaks in again.

“In the cells at Leadmills,” I tell him. The words bring a fresh wave of sobs from the woman in Jagger’s arms. “I’m so sorry,” I mutter.

“Was she unharmed?” Jagger asks. He’s stroking his hand over the back of her head.

“From what I could tell, she was pretty out of it. But she didn’t seem injured. She was chained to the wall, but they’d left her water and what looked like bedding.”

“Oh, God!” Sierra chokes out, pulling her head away from her mate’s chest. “It’s what they did to me.” She tips her face to look up into his. “You have to get her out, Jagger! Please!” More sobs are bubbling up.

“We will, my love. I swear it.” He raises both her hands to his lips and kisses her fingertips. It’s so damn sweet my stomach churns. Or maybe it’s jealousy. I’ve never had that sort of connection with anyone.

You don’t need it, Gage.

“Could you tell us how to get back in?” he asks me.

“I’ll do better than that. I’ll lead the team that gets her out,” I hear myself saying.

What the fuck are you doing?

Mad. I’m clearly mad. I just got out of the place, for God’s sake, and barely with my life. But when Sierra turns her tear-soaked eyes to me, I’m lost.

“You will?” she says.

“Yes.” My voice is steady. Because who could say no to a face like that? “Yes, I will.”

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