Page 66 of Alpha Hunt

“Good evening, wolf.” He looks at me without a shred of curiosity. “You don’t mind me calling you that, do you?”

I shrug, making it clear that I don’t give a fuck what he calls me. “What do you want?” I narrow my eyes at the man, examining his polished appearance and condescending demeanor. He regards me with a cool, appraising gaze. There’s no doubt about what he’s thinking. I’m nothing more than a piece of merchandise to be evaluated and sold.

“That’s easily answered, wolf.” His lips curl up. “We want you. You and all of your kind.”

We want all of your kind…

I feel ice form in my veins, but I guard my expression, merely cocking my head in a silent invitation for him to continue.

“You see, we provide a very specialized service here,” he says smoothly, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Our clients have deep pockets and an insatiable appetite for rare and exotic inventory. You and your breed are in high demand.”

My lips tingle as adrenaline floods me.

They’re dealing in us…like commodities. Sold to the highest bidder.

Memories of my own captivity and the silver collar that once chained me flash through my mind.

I have to get out of here. I have to end this!

But how?

I probe the man’s thoughts, catching glimpses of opulent homes, sleek private jets waiting on the tarmac, and shadowy figures examining captive wolves like livestock at an auction, prodding and appraising us as if we’re nothing more than objects.

Motherfuckers!

I feel sick, the burning rage and disgust churning in my gut.

“Yes…I think you’ll do nicely.” He taps his lip as he looks at me. “I’m seeing…a military application, perhaps? I have a general in Africa who’d pay top dollar for you.” He steps right up to the bars, ignoring Crag, who moves quickly aside.

When I look into this man’s eyes, there’s no fear there. Even knowing what I am, he’s cool and calm. Because he’s dealt with creatures like me for decades. I feel it in him. An entire dynasty founded on the lucrative sales of rare creatures. Pandas, Siberian tigers, gorillas…and us.

It’s all I can do to stop myself from flinging myself at the bars. It would do no good.

He turns to look at Crag. “Have you prepared the serum?”

What fucking serum?

Crag nods, then smirks at me. They must be talking about the meds the men had mentioned earlier.

“Good.” The man nods. “Get him ready.” His phone rings, and he steps away to take the call, speaking in hushed tones. I strain my ears to listen, picking up fragments of the conversation. “Yes, the new shipment will be ready; we’ve expedited the timeline thanks to a new development. Our associates will be pleased with the quality of the merchandise…”

New shipment. More wolves being brought in to satisfy the demand of their depraved clientele.

What wolves?

My heart races as I think of the Steel Lakes pack, so close to this den of evil.

They’re planning to take the pack.

My pack!

No fucking way I’m going to let that happen.

“We’re gonna hit the motherlode on this deal,” one of Crag’s men murmurs to another beside him. “Crag says it’s a juicy one.”

The well-dressed man nods, then ends the call, a satisfied smile on his face. He looks back at Crag, who’s smirking at me. “Do what needs to be done.” When the biker starts cracking his knuckles, he raises a hand. “Don’t damage the merchandise. Do you understand me?”

“Sure,” says Crag, as if he doesn’t understand at all.

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