Page 73 of The Alpha's Fated Bond

I straighten up. “If it wasn’t you, then who—”

I don’t get to finish my question because I suddenly hear loud howling. Throwing open the door, I hurry outside, only to see black wolves pouring out of the trees.

Horror fills me. No! How is this possible? We had time! At worst, we had a day!

“Move!” I shout, running back inside and grabbing Sophia, but she shakes me off.

“Two minutes!” she says desperately. I can feel how cool her body is as she works on, trying to unlink the child. “Just two more minutes. Please!”

She has pushed herself to the limit.

“Sophia, we don’t have time!”

She pushes my hand away. “I can finish this! I know it.”

Frustrated, I look to Nathan. “Sound the alarm. Start the evacuations.”

Nathan runs off. There’s no need for the alarm because the pack has realized we’re under attack. Those who plan to stick around and fight have already shifted and are facing off against the enemy. Patrick and the others are sending the women and children down to the tunnels.

Sophia gasps. “Done. It’s done!”

The child’s mother, who has been standing a few feet away from us, snatches the little boy from her and holds him to her chest. She hurries over to where her husband and mother are waiting by the door.

“Go!” I tell them, pointing at the house across the street. Then, I grab Sophia’s hand. “Come on!”

Lily follows behind us. The tunnel that Sophia and Lily will go through is in my office building. I get them inside; Jared is already helping people down through the trap door. Lily goes first, and as Sophia is about to follow, she looks at me. “When will I see you again?”

I hold her gaze for what seems like a lifetime before leaning down and kissing her fiercely.

“I don’t know. I’ll find you. Be safe. Know that I love you. More than anything.”

She’s about to say something when the front door flies open. I see Hilda standing there. She stares at the two of us, then takes a step back before looking over her shoulder to the right. There’s something odd about her behavior, something off about that almost excited look in her eyes.

“Hilda, what are you—”

“She’s here!” Hilda shrieks. “The Silver Wolf is here!”

My blood goes cold.

“What are you doing?” I shove Sophia down into the tunnel and run toward Hilda to stop her, but she dances away from me, shouting toward the wolves running in our direction. She points into the building. “She’s in the tunnel! Get her!”

I don’t know how to react. Shock fills me, along with an indescribable rage. One of the wolves tries to get past me, and without hesitation, I grab his neck in the crook of my arm and throw him over my shoulder, breaking his back instantly. Notmissing a beat, I shift into my animal form and begin defending the entrance to the tunnel.

Jared leaps out and stands shoulder to shoulder with me.

“There’s a back door!” Hilda shouts to the enemy wolves. “Use that!”

Jared rushes her, smacks her with his paw, and sends her flying down the street. She lands awkwardly and rolls several times, but she jumps to her feet, undeterred.

More and more of our people are realizing that we are in trouble, and they’re surrounding the enemy, blocking all entrances to the building. Karina’s soldiers are seasoned fighters, but then, so are we. Patrick and the others have a handle on the situation.

Hilda tries to slip past us and head to the tunnel, but I push her aside, slamming her into a wall. I shift back and grab her by the front of her shirt with one hand. Lifting her up, I roar, “What the fuck are you doing?”

She wraps her hands around my wrist, her tone edged with desperation and conviction. “She isn’t the one for you! She can’t have you! You should be with me, Alex! I’m the only one who can love you!”

“Have you lost your mind, Hilda?!” I can’t even identify the emotions burning within me. There are so many: rage, confusion, bewilderment, hurt. “I love her! She’s my mate! Why are you trying to hurt me?”

“I’m not trying to hurt you!” she shouts passionately. “You don’t know what’s good for you. She is not good for you! I’m the only one who can look after you. I’m the only one who can make youhappy. Now that Julia is dead, there’s nobody who can stop us, Alex. You don’t have to pretend to want that abomination. You can have me!”

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