Page 52 of Alpha's Hated Mate

“After I show you our little army,” Nadia continues as we walk down a flight of stairs and into a short hallway, “we’ll need to discuss strategy. You’ll command the Scarlets once they’re under our control.”

“And what’s our first target?” I ask, playing along.

“Moonhelm, obviously.” She throws a conspiratorial glance over her shoulder. “It’s only a matter of time before Dean Fowler and his security team discover this facility. If we can take over the academy, its location and resources make it the perfect staging ground.”

Stay calm. Play along. Find Saffron and the others.My heart pounds against my ribs as we approach another door at the end of the corridor.

“My brother, the Alpha Commander of Claymore, leading an army of Scarlets.” Nadia sighs dreamily. “Father would be so proud.”

No,I think, clenching my jaw.He wouldn’t. And neither am I.

She opens the door and turns on the light. We walk into what looks like a small office. The same white floors and cement walls, a desk in the corner of the room with a computer and notebooks. Father’s photo is here, too, looking at us from the desk with his stern glare. On the other side of the room is a cell. Iron bars split the room in two.

But there’s no one on the other side.

Nadia’s smile drops as she sees the empty cell. “Where . . . where did they go?”

Chapter Twenty-Two—Saffron

Ifigure that we’re only going to have seconds of confusion once Nadia comes back. She’s no fool, after all. In fact, given her knowledge about wolf biology and probably Scarlet biology, too, she’ll probably realize what’s happened faster than any other wolf.

Just looking for a miracle here.

The lights come on, and we’re all hidden. Camouflage is more than just hiding for a Scarlet. Our fur can absorb the elements of our surroundings and make us seem to disappear completely, even in full lighting.

And I think that’s the part that’s caught her off guard. It’s why the lights are so damned bright in here when she turns them on. I’m counting on her thinking that if there are no shadows, we can’t hide.

She walks in slowly, the wheels turning behind her eyes. I just need her confused long enough to open the gate. Just a few seconds of acting instead of thinking.

And then Aydan walks in behind her. I have a moment of joy at seeing him, but then doubt seeps in. He’s not restrained, and he’s not being dragged in.What if he . . . ?

No time to wonder. She’s moving toward the gate.

“No,” she mutters as she pulls out the key. “They can’t be. They can’t . . .”

She stops, key in hand, her eyes slowly searching for us.Shit.

“Look like you’ve got a hitch in your plan,” Aydan says. “No army. No new world order.”

She shushes him, and her eyes narrow. “It’s a trick,” she hisses. “I don’t understand how. There aren’t any shadows.”

Aydan crosses his arms. “Looks to me like your captives have escaped.”

“No!” she shouts. “Don’t you understand yet? They’re tricksters!”

“We don’t have time for this, Nadia.”

“They are fooling us!” She turns to him, her face turning bright red. “How blind can you be?”

He walks up to her and snatches the key out of her hand. I could laugh with relief. I mind-link to the others around me,Get ready.

“Stop!” Nadia reaches for the key, but Aydan’s at least a foot taller than she is. He holds it out of her reach with a childish smirk on his face. “Aydan,” she growls. “Do not open that door.”

He crosses his arms, the key securely in his grip. “I think it’s time we face the music, little sister. If we head back now, I can convince the dean to give you some leniency for breaking curfew.”

“Curfew?Have you been listening to anything I’ve said?” She reaches for the key again, but he steps out of her way.

“They can’t hide in bright light,” he says to her. “Everybody knows that. That means they’re not here.”

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