Page 32 of Betrayed By the Alpha

"Okay, I'll be there."

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When Zach arrived, he spotted another car in the driveway. It wasn't fancy or expensive, so he instantly knew it wasn't Bruce's car. However, the second of Hayley's slippers was beside it, so he assumed it was the car Hayley was abducted in. The house was in darkness except for one room at the top of the house. He suspected it was the attic. He proceeded straight through the front door, not bothering to try and sneak in through the back, but his eyes and ears were on high alert.

He knew Hayley was there because her scent was strong in the house, but there was something unexpected. He could only pick out one heartbeat, and that was Hayley's. There wasno one else around, no one in the house—but it might also mean that they were using a charm to hide from him. Bruce was a wizard, after all. Zach knew he could still be in the house.

Zach traced Hayley's scent till he found himself climbing up the stairs to what he assumed was the attic. Though the rest of the house was dark, the light in the room was so bright that the light that peeked out under the door and was enough to brighten the hallway. Zach pressed his ear to the door. She was there. He could hear her breathing slowly. "Hayley," he called. "Hayley!"

"Zach?" she called his name in a tired voice. Zach sighed in relief when he heard her voice. He was grateful he had listened to his friends and decided to apologize. Tomorrow might have been too late. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"That doesn't matter. I'm here to get you out, and after that, I'm going to kill that wizard." He tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. "Hayley, step back. I'm going to kick the door open."

"It's fine. I'm tied to a chair. I’m not close to the door."

Zach counted to three, then stepped back and delivered a heavy kick to the door. It gave way quickly, and something strange happened. The light in the room went off, and the lights in the rest of the house came on immediately. He didn't rush inside immediately, afraid it might be a trap.

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" he asked Hayley, still standing outside. He searched for a switch, but he couldn't find one.

"No, I'm fine. Can you untie me, Zach? I'm hurt."

There was something about Hayley's voice. It was too bright and airy, like a facade. When he tried to use his night vision, the room remained pitch black, confirming his gut feeling that it wasn't really Hayley speaking at all. He detected a strange scent in the air, mixed with her own. Whatever it was, he didn't like it. "Bruce, I know it's you in there. Stop your party tricks and face me." Zach spoke while reaching into his shirt pocket, remembering there was a pencil torchlight when the man hiding in the shadows spoke.

"I knew you were smart," Bruce spoke in his real voice, already done pretending. "That was quick, though. I was hoping to have some fun with you first."

Zach heard a strange noise coming from the room, and the light came on. The warlock was standing at the center of the room, dressed in all black.

"Is that all you've got?"

"Why don't you come in? Let’s talk."

"I'm not here to talk to you, Bruce," Zach said, walking into the room. "You can either surrender yourself, or I'm going to make you."

"Really?" Bruce chuckled. "Oh, what horrible things are you going to do to me? I'm so scared." He shivered in mockery at Zach's words.

"Where is Hayley?" Zach asked. The two men were now moving around in circles.

Instead of answering Zach's question, Bruce let out a light yawn and arched his back. "Oh, that feels good." He took off his jacket and flung it away. "Hayley is somewhere in this house. Monroe is taking very good care of her, don't worry." He winked.

Zach knew Bruce was trying to get in his head, just to provoke a reaction from him, but he didn't fall for it. Bruce sighed. "Let's end this. You see, unlike your father, I won't give you the honor of suicide. I'll make it seem like maybe you died from...masturbating."

"Unlike my father?" A smirk grew on Bruce's face as it finally got Zach. "You bastard!" Zach tore into the man, but Bruce disappeared just when he was about to grab him. Zach managed to catch his balance before he fell headfirst.

Bruce appeared behind him and kicked him down to the floor. "Shouldn't you be faster than shadows?"

Zach growled, getting to his feet. He was too angry at himself for not calculating Bruce's moves. Zach was consumed with rage. He had taken his anger out on the wrong person and had to live with the pain and regret of rejecting his mate for years, while the monster behind his father's death walked around freely. He snapped his claws on, his eyes burning red.

"Oh, what? Are you going to turn into the big bad wolf? Should I run away in fear?"

"No. I'd rather you stay." Zach pounced on him. His claws got a good amount of Bruce's face just before the wizard disappeared, coming behind him to deliver another kick to the side of Zach's ribs with his heavy boot, which Zach swore was made of steel.

Bruce stumbled back, holding onto his face. "You bastard! You've ruined my face! Do you know how much my skincare routine costs?" He looked down at the blood in his hands, then back at Zach.

"I haven't done enough."

"Are you angry? Just because I killed your father? The entire world should feel sorry for me. What about me, huh? Your father and Albert Green knew all I have ever wanted to be was Mayor. But what did they do? They didn’t care about my desires. Your stupid bitch down at the basement thought to call me selfish.Selfish!"

"You're a psychopath. Nobody chose you. Nobody wanted you. The people are suffering because of you." Zach pushed himself up.

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