Page 109 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"For every minute you choose to hide in the shadows, Elyon," I warn, crushing the man's windpipe until he no longer puts up a fight. "I pick off another one of you."

Watching the dust kick up as he hits the ground, every citizen around us takes a step back.

Shaking his head, Aaron draws his weapon, aiming it at the next closest Official.

"We are following orders," the Officials yell, clearly foreign to an ambush as sudden as this.

"So are we," Aaron hisses. "That's all war really is-"

"Quite wise words, Mason," her voice pipes in, her lips barely grazing my ear. "I thought I warned all of you to stay the hell away."

Unable to retain control of my body, my back skids across the ground, forcefully shoved away by the force of her Hold.

Scrambling to stand up, her golden bright eyes lock with mine, giving me a look I never thought I'd see directed toward me.

The look of a hunter, ready to kill its prey.

"Forest?" I question, holding my hand out as I stand.

Wearing a cloak, something protrudes from her torso, putting strain on the cloak.

"Why are you here?" she questions as if the answer to that is not obvious.

"Where are Kai and Xavier?" I question, countering her question with one of my own.

"Well, well, well, now we have a party," an annoying voice pipes in, forcing my focus behind me.

Atticus.

Walking with his hands tucked in his pockets, the smirk the man carries tells me all that I need to know.

They knew we were coming.

"Atticus," I snap, acknowledging the little pest.

"Shifter," he grins, making a conscious effort to avoid using my name.

He wants to piss me off.

He wants me to snap.

"Forest," Aaron pleads, her eyes barely looking his way. "Where are they-"

"That's enough."

Xavier.

Approaching the tense group, the Officials clear the way for Xavier, giving him a direct path to Forest. Kissing her on the head, his hand passes over her stomach, rubbing the strain.

No.

No, no, no.

Closing my eyes, I focus on the noise around me, listening to the numerous thundering heartbeats.

Hearing one far smaller and faster than all the rest, clarity washes over me.

She's pregnant.

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