Page 22 of The Alpha's Bullied Mate

He rushed from the house. Hayden took the chance. He quickly repelled from the apartment rooftop then slippedthrough the homes until he got to the Alpha’s home. He left Kai watching at the entrance while he and the others slipped in. A maid caught sight of them as they made their way through the hallway. She screamed, but Ryder dove, knocking her down, and covered her mouth.

It was too late.

“What are you screaming about?” asked a grumpy voice from a nearby room—Spencer.

Hayden jerked his chin. Blayke and Finn broke away and dashed into the room where Spencer was. They were quick and efficient. The sound of fists hitting Spencer’s beefy frame echoed from the room. Hayden rushed up the stairs. His wolf snarled, wanting a part of the fight.

Not yet,he told it.We’ll get our chance when Monroe faces me.

He soon reached the attic door. The paint was chipped around the edges, but the deadbolt was shiny and new. No doubt it was installed overnight to ensure that Elin stayed in place. Hayden threw his weight against it. The frame splintered. With another shove, the door popped open.

Elin was pressed against the far wall as he strode in. Her eyes were wide, but relief flickered through her features when she saw him. “Are you here to kill me?”

“No.”

“Please,” Elin burst out. She dropped to her knees. “Please, don’t let him take me as his mate. Kill me; it will be kinder!”

Hayden strode across the room and grabbed her arm. He yanked her to her feet, though he noted her words. So Monroe hadn’t gone through the ceremony yet. That was good.

“I’m not going to kill you,” he growled. “I’m here to rescue you, and you have Mica to thank for it.”

“Mica? You came for me… because Mica?” Elin gasped as he pulled her toward the door. Her face went white.

Hayden frowned. “Can you walk?”

Elin shook her head. “I tried to run away. Monroe… I think he broke my leg.”

And yet she had still been pacing around this room. Hayden grabbed her, throwing her over his shoulder. She cried out in pain, but he ignored it. Downstairs, the sounds of fighting had tapered off. Spencer sprawled in the hallway, out cold. The maid now stood with Maverick and Kai, who must have gotten back while Hayden was upstairs.

“It won’t be long before Monroe is back,” Kai warned.

Hayden passed Elin off to Finn. Her face was ashen, but Finn cradled her bride-style in his arms. She put an arm around his neck and turned her face away like she could hide the sheer pain she was in. Ryder put a hand on the maid’s shoulder and guided her with them. Her eyes were wide, but she didn’t seem interested in sticking around to face Monroe’s wrath.

“Let’s move quickly,” Hayden said, leading the way from Monroe’s house. They went to where they had left the car and were gone before anyone—other than Spencer—knew they were there.

Finn kept a firm hold on Elin as they headed back to home base. Hayden didn’t relax until he had parked in the driveway. It had been a quick, clean mission.

Finn passed Elin to Maverick. “Put her in my room. I’ll bunk with Kai until she’s healed.”

“Sure,” Maverick snickered.

Elin bit her lip, but whether because she had something she wanted to say or because of the pain, Hayden didn’t know.

“We’re going to need to fortify the house,” Hayden said. “Monroe won’t be happy that we stole his mate-to-be right from under his nose.”

“Your mate has already started, I think,” Finn grimaced. “Something’s changed. It’s uncomfortable for me to be here. Feels like… salt.” His expression changed, a growl rising in his throat. “There’s more, though. There’s a demon here.”

Ryder stiffened. “My mother?”

Hayden stopped him from racing to the house. “Gather everyone up so Finn can take a closer look at them. I’ll find Mica and check on Echo.”

Ryder opened his mouth, but Hayden gave him a stern look with narrowed eyes. His Beta dropped his shoulders and nodded. Hayden then headed for the house as Ryder called for all the wolves to gather. His wolf snarled in his chest; he sensed a change, too, that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

He found Mica in Echo’s room, and Tess was with her. They both had handbells as they clumsily spoke Latin, ringing the bells toward Echo. She’d changed drastically from the time when Hayden last saw her. No longer slouched and weak-looking, she sat primly on a chair, legs crossed and with an annoyed grimace on her face.

“Ah, good,” Echo drawled, standing. “Will you tell these two bitches that all they’re doing is pissing me off with their noise?”

Hayden glanced at the rough circle of salt around Echo’s feet. His heart sank.

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