Page 77 of Sold to the Alphas

And waited.

But then, his growls softened. His jaws loosened, and the lifeless alpha dropped to the floor with a heavy thud. His head turned toward me, his eyes wild and unfocused but searching.

His nose brushed against my fur as he inhaled deeply. The change was almost imperceptible, but I felt it—the moment he recognized me and began to return to himself.

He whined softly, his massive head lowering to nuzzle against my neck. I pressed closer, letting my scent envelop him, cutting through the chaos and anchoring him.

You’re okay. I’ve got you.

He whined and hesitated before licking my neck. I closed my eyes as a wave of relief crashed over me, but the moment was fleeting. A distant growl echoed through the hall, reminding us of the danger we were in—and that August and Finn were in.

We have to go, I said.

Marshall hesitated, his gaze flickering between me and the carnage around us.

Come on. We have to find the others.

He growled softly and fell into step beside me, his presence steadying and reassuring as we moved through the room. Every step was a reminder of the madness that had consumed the neutral grounds. I knew I would never forget the sights and smells of the absolute chaos surrounding us.

We kept moving through the carnage, searching for my other mates.

44

Elisabed

The chaos and destruction had made the building a maze. Blood made the floors slippery and stained my paws as I made my way through the debris behind Marshall. I could feel his silent urgency pressing against my mind, urging me to keep moving, to focus. Finn was close.

Every instinct in me screamed to turn around, to go back to my sister and my family, but I couldn’t. Not when I knew Finn was somewhere in this hell, possibly lost to the same bloodlust that had claimed so many others. He needed me. They all needed me.

I followed Marshall through shattered doorways and ruined hallways, my heart pounding in time with the heavy thuds of his paws against the floor. We searched room after room filled with dead and dying wolves.

Finn, where are you? I desperately tried to reach him.

There was no answer. Marshall growled, his ears swiveling as he caught a sound I couldn’t hear. He glanced back at me with urgency in his eyes before taking off in a blur of fur and muscle.

I sprinted after him, my legs aching but refusing to stop. I couldn’t lose him. The sound of snarls and growls grew louder as we approached a set of double doors, one of them hanging off its hinges.

Marshall pushed through first, his body tense and ready to strike. I followed, my breath catching as I took in the scene before me.

The room was large, its opulence now marred by destruction. Overturned furniture and shattered glass littered the floor, and Finn was in the center of it all.

He was locked in a brutal fight with Leonard, one of the high-ranking alphas from the council. Blood coated Finn’s fur, and his eyes glowed with a feral light as he tore into Leonard’s flesh.

Leonard tried to fight back, but it was clear who was winning. Leonard wouldn’t walk out of this alive. Marshall didn’t move to intervene, and I understood why—getting between two feral wolves in the throes of a fight was a death sentence.

I took a cautious step forward, my paws slipping slightly on the blood-slicked floor.Finn, it’s me. Please, come back.

He let out a guttural growl, his jaws clamping down on Leonard’s neck. Leonard struggled, his claws raking across Finn’s side, but it wasn’t enough. With a final, bone-crunching twist, Finn ended the fight.

Leonard’s body collapsed to the floor, lifeless, and Finn stood over him, panting heavily. His chest heaved with every breath, his glowing eyes scanning the room for his next target.

And then his gaze landed on Marshall.

My heart stopped as Finn’s growls deepened, his body lowering into a predatory stance. Marshall bristled, his own growls rumbling like thunder as he prepared to defend himself.

No,I thought desperately, stepping forward before I could stop myself.

Marshall’s head snapped toward me, his growl briefly faltering, but he didn’t stop me.

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