Page 92 of Never Submit

With a yip, I pounce on a nearby wolf and bury my claws in his chest.

Meanwhile, Dax is a whirlwind of death. He’s already taken down two others, their lifeless forms lying in pools of blood, and he doesn’t slow. He is driven by instinct and power, snapping jaws and slashing claws, his movements almost too quick to track.

His giant golden wolf turns to me, blood dripping from his muzzle, and he lets out a low growl that almost sounds like a laugh. Then he dives back into the fray.

Yes, he’s enjoying this, and I’m not about to muzzle him anytime soon.

“Mathis.” Torin appears at my side. He’s covered in blood, his usually pristine hair a mess. “We’re caged-in here. Trapped. They’ll kill us all. Which is what I suspect they want.”

He’s right. The entire point of bringing my pack here was to keep them safe in a place Andras had no access to. And now that his men have breached the walls, we’re like fish in a barrel. Easy pickings.

I made a mistake.

They took Flora. Carried her off, and despite the way Owen gave chase, I know she’s not coming back. Just like I know Flora isn’t the only female Andras stole with this ambush.

Andras. This is his game. Death, fear, taking what doesn’t belong to him.

Flora’s screams echo in my head.

“We have to find a way out,” I grunt. “Now.”

Torin’s shout slices through the chaos like a whip. “Code Crimson!”

The words jolt every Steel Claws into action, their movements immediate and purposeful. A few of them break off, heading for the edges of the room, securing the perimeter or setting up for something I can’t quite see yet.

Noble remains vigilant, standing over Ren, physically blocking her from the carnage with his body.

Torin spins toward me and his face looks carved from stone. “Mathis, call your wolves. We need to retreat.”

Retreat? My animal roars at the mere suggestion and I shift back into human form, my muscles weakening in pain. “You want torun?” My vocal cords aren’t all the way changed and the words rumble through me.

“Trust me, damn it!” Torin snaps. His eyes burn with an intensity I can’t ignore. “Get your wolves to follow mine!”

For a moment, I hesitate, every instinct warring against the idea of backing down. But something in his expression—the urgency, the sheer determination—cuts through my resistance. He has a plan.

I give a sharp whistle, and bark out the command: “Fall back! All of you, follow the Steel Claws!”

My wolves hesitate, their growls vibrating through the room, but loyalty overrides instinct.

Torin moves to another alarm panel on the wall, his fingers flying over the buttons. A low rumble echoes through the room as part of the wall shifts, sliding backward to reveal a dark tunnel hidden behind reinforced steel.

A damn escape hatch.

The fucker has this entire building outfitted in case of an attack. Okay, so maybe I’m not thecomplete failure I think I am. Because he certainly has a better setup than I do, yet his building was just as easy to penetrate.

However they did it…we’ll figure it out once we’re all safe.

My stomach twists, the bitter taste of retreat burning in my throat, but there’s no time to dwell on it. I shove my wolves toward the opening, my voice a harsh growl. “Go! Move!”

Dax and Noble are already at the rear, covering the retreat with sharp efficiency. Ren lingers for a moment, her gaze darting toward the fight still raging behind us.

“Ren, move!” I bark.

Noble, in human form now, grabs her arm, guiding her toward the tunnel. “Come on, baby, we’ve got to go.”

One by one, my wolves disappear into the darkness, their movements quick but reluctant. Torin’s pack follows suit, though a handful of his deltas remain behind, forming a defensive line.

As the hidden door begins to slide closed, Torin and I step inside. Just before it shuts completely, a thunderous bang echoes from the other side and a barrage of lights flash.

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