Frowning at the lack of urgency or empathy that this male seemed to have for their plight, Alex held in the growl that wanted to escape his throat. “I just told you that he kidnapped my girlfriend and her family and you want to know about the damn crown?”
Knox refocused on him, not bothering to respond. Alex lost the battle of swallowing the growl as the big male put his hands casually in his pocket, seeming to be waiting for an answer.
“It’s passed down, yeah. But Damen killed Jason’s father and stole the crown.”
“And the pack allowed it?”
“I wasn’t fucking there, alright? I don’t have all the answers,” Alex snapped, but Michael reached out to squeeze his arm, warning him not to antagonize the only man who could help them.
“We don’t know how he did it,” Michael said quietly. “We think he has to have access to some kind of dark magic that we don’t understand. It’s the only way he could brainwash an entire family.”
“Dark magic, you say?” Knox asked, an eyebrow winging up.
“It’s the only possible way he could twist my Selene the way he has. You don’t know her, but I do. He’s brainwashed her,” Alex insisted, clenching his fists as the urge to clock this smug bastard across his face filled his body.
He felt his wolf rising with his anger, but when Knox’s eyes swung his way, flaring slightly, his wolf retreated, hunkering down quietly. The urge to bare his throat submissively almost overwhelmed him, but he fought it until he was able to focus his thoughts once more.
“I don’t know about this dark magic,” Knox said, calmly, his eyes traveling between them, “But I’ll also not deny the fact that you are Vin and Elisa’s sons. The resemblance is uncanny.” He folded his arms across his chest now. “That means you’re a part of our pack.”
Alex felt shock down to his bones. Were they actually going to be able to get him on their side?
“This female,” Knox intoned, turning his attention to Alex. He felt himself wanting to flinch under the intensity, but he didn’t, holding strong. “Is she your mate?”
Not hesitating, Alex nodded.
“Then this will not go unanswered,” Knox murmured, nodding to him. “We will get her back for you. I’ve brough a contingent of warriors. How much information do you have on this pack?”
“We know everything,” Alex said, hope soaring in his chest. “Jason told us everything.”
Knox folded his arms across his broad chest. “Good. We’ll help you get her and her family back. I hoped to have peace if we found another pack, but we cannot show weakness if they’ve stolen from us.”
“We need to get her as soon as possible,” Alex insisted, taking a step toward him. “Can we go tonight?”
Knox’s eyebrow quirked and he narrowed his eyes at him. “I don’t have a battle plan in place.”
“You already have so many more wolves than they do,” Alex insisted, pointing back to the cabin. “And we know where they are! Please. Please.” For the first time in his life, Alex didn’t care if he begged or not. “I need to make sure she’s safe.”
Knox took a moment to think before giving an expressionless nod. “Come with me. We need to meet with my strategists. We’ll hunt at nightfall.”
Elation and relief crashed through Alex. He almost rushed forward to give this stranger a hug but held himself in check. Knox didn’t look receptive in any way, his expression still blank and unfeeling.
Hippolyta left the house as the sun set, changing into her wolf’s form as she went, knowing that she needed to go for a run to clear her head before she found Cole. She had to find the words that could fix the wound that she created.
Hurrying into the forest, she found herself connecting with the other wolves that were currently hunting. They were spread out, searching for any Bloodthirsty they could find.
Rushing forward, she ran straight out, ignoring the other wolves who tried to engage her with a playful shoves. She needed to be alone to figure out how she should approach her mate. For years, she pushed aside her feelings, ignoring her wolf’s instincts, and it was time that she melded them as one.
When she crashed across a stream, uncaring that she was going too far, traveling too fast, even further than Miles, their scout, she slowed, her sides heaving with exertion. An odd scent entered her senses, immediately confusing her and she gave the air a sniff before her eyes went wide with shock.
Werewolves.
What seemed like dozens of Werewolves were on their way toward them. Shock and disbelief warred inside Hippolyta along with the need to protect their territory. She shook herself, turning back toward her pack and sprinting again, her pelt crashing against the trees as she ran.
She sent up a howl, receiving an answer immediately. Ares, who was in charge of the hunt, sent her a questioning probe through their pack-bond and she shoved as much information as she could toward him. Shock spread across their pack, confusion and concern running through them all.
Miles sensed Hippolyta running past him, not worrying or caring that she was heading in the direction of Alex and Michael’s cabin. They wouldn’t be there. They were looking for the pack that he had heard rumors about.
His hope was that they would be able to find evidence of them soon. All he needed was to talk to the leader. He was sure he would be able to convince them to see things his way.