Page 68 of Alpha Hunger

I jump away, catching the throne’s back at the last second before toppling over.

Terror stands next to me, red cape fastened around his neck. His eyes are on the fighting pile as he talks, “Funny looking when he was a kid. Bulky. He didn’t know how to retract his armor, so he wobbled more than he walked.” Terror laughs.

More Horde males enter the room. They line the walls and watch.

“Why is everyone standing around? Help him out!”

“Quiet, female.” Terror sits on the throne’s arm. “The enemy captured his Omega. It is an insult to his ability to protect one.”

“But he couldn’t move.”

Terror shakes his head. “No excuses. When a single Alpha claims an Omega, he must defend her solo. Should he need help, he must form a pack and share. Raven cannot share. He will either live or die.”

“That’s horrible.”

“It is simple. Only nine more to go. Did he mention how many males?”

“Fifty-four.”

He turns to the Horde. “New record!”

They cheer.

I look over at the pile of bodies. The ones on the bottom aren’t moving. The ones on the top are still alive and pulling, trying to get something from under the weight of the dead ones. They yank as one, and Raven jumps out with a snarl. He’s covered in blood, one arm tucked near his body, the other swinging at the males.

They take him down, bite, maim. Their rattles are menacing, disturbing, and I wipe my face. I’m crying. I mean, I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m not made for this horror. “Make it stop, make it stop, make it stop!”

Next to me, Terror purrs. “Four more. Keep watching.”

Raven barely stands on his feet. He’s leaning on the wall for support and clawing at the four males that are trying to get him, one arm still tucked near his body. He’s injured, clearly exhausted, though he’d hate for me say it. A male swings. Raven moves, uses the male’s motion to catch his wrist and pull. The male bangs his head into the wall. Raven grabs him by the back of his neck and pounds the wall. A crack sounds, and Raven drops the male.

I clap.Yes!

Raven hears me.

His eyes find mine, and he snarls. Venom shoots out of his teeth, and he grabs a male, rips out his neck plate, and bites down. He moves to kill two more. The last male wobbles on his feet, keeps glancing toward the window, probably debating if he should flee or continue. Raven makes the decision for him. He kicks out, and the male bends forward. Raven grabs his hair and pulls him to the throne, where the male kneels before me.

Okay. I sit down, unsure if I should do something.

Raven snaps the male’s neck and rips off his head.

I close my eyes.Jesus.

“Watch, Omega,” Terror whispers and purrs. I think he’s trying to comfort me.

I open my eyes and pinch my lips, or I fear I will vomit. Raven kicks the male to the side, sways on his feet, then drops to one knee and bends his head. His forehead touches my knee. He heaves breaths, his rattle uneven.

All the Horde stares at me. I’m supposed to do something. I look up at Terror, who’s smiling like he’s seen his firstborn baby.

I touch Raven’s bald head. My hand trembles. He’s covered in blood. I turn up my palm and stare at it, then swipe the blood across my face. The Horde cheers.

It’s over.

Chapter 24

Raven

Venom drips from my fangs. My dislocated shoulder throbs. Maybe one of those abominations—because that’s all they are—twisted my ankle. It pulses with its own heartbeat. I get up and sway on my feet, barely make out the male standing in front of me.

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