Page 48 of Betrayed By the Alpha Wolf

Turning away from Rowan and Brooks was thewrongthing to do, and the loud thud of their massive paws hitting the floor boomed from behind me. I looked over my shoulder for just a second, noting how much more quickly they were moving.

“Over the railing! Jump!”

I struggled to help Forrest to his feet and get us both down to the lower floor before Brooks and Rowan reached us.

“Kenzie!” Grayson shouted, rushing toward the banister with his arms open.

Jet and Kaiden were there to help with Forrest’s landing, and then we threw ourselves over, Brooks and Rowan hot on our tails. The loud snap of their jaws cracked loudly, and I could just imagine how close they’d both gotten to sinking their teeth into us.

Still, Forrest and I jumped down to the lower floor, and sure enough, Kaiden and Jet were there to be sure Forrest didn’t smash into the ground. Grayson was right beneath me as I closed the distance to the ground, and I landed in his arms with a solid impact.

“Are you all right?”

Grayson’s eyes were grave as he looked at me, his brows knitted so tightly together. I nodded, stepping back from him and facing the stairs where Rowan and Brooks growled louder.

“I’m fine. How do we snap them out of this?”

“We get them cured. Is Willow—”

“Back in the lab. She wanted us to fetch any more injured.” I circled around behind Grayson, who kept an eye onthe wolves upstairs who’d started to attack each other. “Senna, do you need medical care?”

She shook her head, and Jet was there helping her up with a hand beneath her elbow.

“No, I’m fine. But I can’t do that again. I need to rest. Brooks and Rowan have to get downstairs to the cells so that we can administer the antidote.”

Jet nodded just as the whines and snaps from above us halted. The drugged wolves had found the stairs down and were rushing in our direction. Grabbing Senna, Jet held her as her legs were still unstable, and then he looked at me.

“Get her to Willow regardless. It’ll be safer there.”

Glaring, Senna pulled her arm out of Jet’s grip, and I hurried to take up a spot on her right flank.

“I’m not useless, Jet. You know that. Let’s get these wolves contained.”

Jet stood stunned for a moment, but then a smirk touched his cheek, and the other wolves were filling in around us as Rowan and Brooks sprinted down the steps.

“And here I thought I couldn’t love you any more than I already do. How foolish of me.”

Senna smiled at her mate, and I couldn’t stop myself from glancing over at Grayson. He was already looking at me when I did, and our connection was nearly palpable as he held my stare. We didn’t say anything, however, and Grayson moved to stand just in front of me.

Grrr!

The feverish growl Rowan released shook the hall, and we snapped to attention as he leaped off the stairs and right towardJet. The Alpha caught the wolf as he crashed into him, both of them tumbling to the ground. Senna was quick to run to her mate, working to pull Rowan off Jet.

Brooks came flying off the stairs next, and he headed straight for Forrest. The guy was clearly not a fighter, as much as he was still a wolf, and he froze as the frenzied wolf took off after him.

“Forrest!” I ran toward him, but he wasn’t looking at me, still gripped by fear. “Forrest!”

Brooks tackled him hard, but I was there in a flash, yanking the larger wolf off by his fur. Forrest’s skin was marred by a handful of scratches, but they didn’t look too deep. I pulled him to his feet, Forrest hissing in response, and then pointed to the corner just around the stairs.

“Go!”

Forrest took off, and I spun on my heel to see Brooks shaking off his impact with the wall. He growled at me, and I sunk down.

“Brooks! Wake up, asshole! Snap out of it!”

But he wasn’t listening. The wolf just snarled and then rushed for me. I was able to catch most of the weight, but I skidded backward across the floor until I hit the wall. Teeth and claws snapped and slashed at me as I fought to keep Brooks back.

“Brooks! Ugh!”

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