Page 71 of The Alpha's Fated Bond

“Since last night.” He gives me a surprised look. “I thought you told Nathan to turn them on.”

“Nathan turned them on?”

Jared shrugs. “How else would they be up and running? I didn’t ask for details. Didn’t have the time.”

Something’s bothering me, but I can’t put my finger on it. Shaking my head to clear it, I turn my attention back to the situation at hand.

“Where are we on the security footage?” I ask as we start heading toward my office.

“Everything was blacked out. Somebody spray-painted over each security camera as they went by. They knew exactly where they were located.”

“This is not good,” I say grimly. “I’m still holding out hope that it wasn’t an inside job, but it sure seems like it has to have been.”

Jared looks uncomfortable. “Do you want me to do a headcount of everyone in the village? Figure out who was there last night and who wasn’t?”

“No.” I sit down behind my desk. “We’ll just be wasting time that we don’t have.”

There’s a knock on the open door, and Patrick enters. “We had more volunteer sign up to stay back and fight. I want to run the list by you.”

He hands me a piece of paper, and I skim it. I see the names of most of the younger, able-bodied men.

“Looks good. Adjust the list of people leaving accordingly.”

Patrick hesitates as he takes the list back. “Alex, have you told Sophia the truth?”

“I haven’t seen her,” I reply, trying to avoid his question, but my friend is persistent.

“She’s going to expect that you’ll be joining her. If she finds out that you’re going after Karina by yourself—”

I give my lieutenant a sharp look. “I won’t be by myself. Our soldiers will be with us.”

“And you think that gives us an advantage?”

“I’ve already sent out messages to the other pack Alphas. If we can get them on our side—”

“Alex, we need Sophia,” Patrick says quietly. “We need her help. Otherwise, we’re taking too many risks. And if something happens to you, who is going to protect Sophia?”

That’s something else that has been worrying me. However, there is one idea I’ve considered. I need to have a chat with Lily about it.

“I’m handling it. Nobody breathe a word of the plan to Sophia. I won’t have her following after us.”

My tone is harsh, but it reflects my desperation to keep my mate safe. Everyone in this room is fully aware of how cruel Karina can be. No matter what happens, I can never leave Sophia at her mercy. Even if I have to die for it.

I get to my feet. “We don’t have a lot of time. I’m going to go check on Sophia. I need to have a word with Nathan, as well. You guys go do what you’re supposed to. I want evacuations to begin as soon as possible.”

Jared gives me a startled look. “I thought you said we had four days, roughly.”

“That’s the best-case scenario,” I respond coldly. “We need to act as if we have no time left.”

I wait for the others to leave before I send out the messages to the other packs. I know that going after Karina with the resources we currently have is nothing short of a death sentence. But even if I die, the other pack leaders might seize this opportunity to start a rebellion. Faced with the entire North Alliance, even Karina won’t stand a chance.

Every step we’re taking at this point has risks attached to it, risks that will impact the woman I love. My wolf and I are both anxious to see Sophia. It might be the last time we ever see her.

I’m about to walk out of the office when Lily approaches the building. I open the door for her. “Come on in.”

She hurries inside, casting an anxious look around. “What’s going on, Alex? Sophia woke me up, but she wasn’t making any sense. Nobody’s making any sense. It’s four in the morning. Why is everybody running around like the village is on fire?”

“Sit down.” I offer her the visitor chair. “We need to talk.”

---