Page 38 of Bullied By the Alpha Wolf

“I’m fine, Kaiden,” Grayson offered, standing up from the couch where he’d been lying back against several pillows. “It was a little scuffle. That’s all. I’m sure Lupe’s all good to go, too.”

At the back of the room, Lupe stood up from a blanket that had been laid across the floor and walked over, looking tired and haggard but offering a smirk, just like Grayson.

“Good to go, Alpha. What do you need?”

Sunny scoffed, and I glanced over at her as she rolled her eyes and went to sit by River, who was nursing a dislocated shoulder. “I swear. You can have these two. They’ve been nothing but pains in the ass.”

Grayson and Lupe barked out a laugh, and I couldn’t help my own chuckle from slipping free. I knew what stubborn male wolves could be like.

“She’s exaggerating, Kaiden. Worrying over just a few bumps and bruises. You can tell Sunny,” Lupe called over his shoulder, “that she’s an excellent doctor.”

My beta leaned in toward me, putting a hand to the side of his mouth and whispering. “But she’s got to tone down the mothering.”

Grayson did his best to hold back the grin, and now it was my turn to roll my eyes. Dumb, stubborn wolves. I knew they were trying to ease the tension, that subtle note of sympathy playing through Lupe’s pack bond.

They knew I was upset, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the fact that we all knew my plan had failed last night. Kit was a prisoner because I had failed.

“I’ll keep it in mind, Lupe.” I cleared my throat, noticing the burnt tinge to my own scent. “If you’re both up for it, then assemble the Alphas' representatives. I’ll be sending out a text to the alphas to join us here. There’s more at play than just Eli’s drug ring. I can feel it.”

With a frown, Grayson stepped forward, and I could smell the char in his scent as well.

“We’ll get her back, Kaiden.” He nodded once. “We will. I…I do think you’re right, though. I think…fuck, I don’t know if I’m imagining it, but I swear…I swear I scented Leon at the Williams compound.”

My stomach clenched as my pulse shot up. “Leon? Are you sure?”

Grayson lowered his stare to the floor and then met my eyes—hard.

“I know that smell, Kaiden. I’ve been tracking the asshole for months. He’s got to be working with Eli or something. Maybe just using the drugs, too?”

Memories of Leon’s betrayal of Jet’s pack stirred, and I knew I had to call him in, too. He wasn’t going to like it. Senna would like it less. But if this had to do with the pack member who’d sold them out to Terrance, then he deserved to be involved.

“I doubt we’re that lucky. Call Jet. Tell him to come.”

His eyes flared for a moment, but then Gray nodded. “Done.”

I turned to Lupe. “Let’s get this meeting going. Find Willow. See if anything from the attacked wolves here can help her make an antidote or something.”

He looked around the room at the small handful of wolves who’d gone in with us last night. Aside from River’s shoulder, Bolt had a massive gash across his chest that was keeping him immobile, and Cirrus had lost too much blood when one of Eli’s men had bit through his leg. They were down for the count, but maybe something from the wounds could be used to help us.

Lupe put a hand on my shoulder. “I’m on it, Alpha.”

I nodded back, swallowing down the need to tear off into the forest after Kit. Gray said we’d get her back, and we fucking had to. I didn’t know what I might do otherwise, and that thought was scarier than I wanted to admit.

Chapter 18 - Kit

The room was cold and smelled distinctly damp and stuffy. It was a basement, after all, and that lingering mildew and stone scent was everywhere. My wrists ached where they hung from the cuffs, and I stared at the hook that had been drilled into the wall and held my manacles.

I’d been down here since I woke up, alone and freezing. I knew Eli had this dungeon on the bottom floor, but I’d actually never been to it before. I wasn’t like he needed the place cleaned, and when he’d been furious with me before, I’d been locked in a room in the attic.

I wasn’t sure which one was worse.

Probably a tie.

A heavy sigh escaped me, and my head still swam. Eli must have drugged me or something, because I couldn’t seem to keep a straight thought for long, and I kept falling asleep. Hell, I’d just woken up again from another little siesta into nightmare land because the loud sounds of voices pulled me into consciousness.

“The supplies are just a few hours out. You’ll be able to drug every fucking member of your pack and take down Kaiden for good. Goddamn, won’t that be just delicious?”

I recognized the voice as Leon’s now, and it sounded like they were having this conversation just down the hall from this cell. The thick, rusty bars were about seven or eight feet away from where I was chained to the wall, and they didn’t block out any sound.

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