“Ready?” Kyson asks.
“Ready,” I confirm, my voice barely above a whisper.
I approach the entrance, trying to clear my thoughts. What if Paige isn’t here? Or worse, what if she is, but we can’t save her? No, I can’t afford to think like that. We’ve come too far to give up now.
I lift my hand to knock, but it opens before I have the chance.
“Damian,” comes a sneering voice from within. Alpha Brock stands in the doorway, looking out of it, the smell of alcohol heavy on his breath. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I’ve come to talk about Paige,” I answer by shoving into his house. He stumbles as I let myself in.
“Paige?” He feigns ignorance, crossing his arms over his chest. “Who?”
“Paige. Tandi’s daughter.” I refuse to let him play games with me. “I know she’s here, Brock. And I want her back.”
“I have no idea who this Tandi is or who Paige is,” Brock sneers while Kyson leans against the door frame. He sighs heavily, but I shake my head at him. I don’t want him barging in if the girl is here. This Alpha may be a piece of shit, but he is Paige’s father, and I don’t want to scare her unless absolutely necessary.
“Enough of your lies, Brock.” My voice comes out like ice, and I can’t help the anger that simmers beneath my skin. “Where is Paige?”
“I told you," he says. “I have no idea who you’re talking about.”
I’ve had enough. In one swift motion, I grab his collar and drag him out onto the front porch for everyone to see. My fists fly, connecting with his face again and again as I demand answers. The scent of blood fills my nostrils, but it only fuels my rage as he stumbles down the steps, tripping over his own feet.
“Where is she?” I roar, punctuating each word with a punch. Alpha Brock remains defiant, refusing to give up any information.
“Damian!” I hear Azalea call from the car. She steps out, her aura shimmering brilliantly around her. She’s never looked more powerful, and I am honored to have her as my Queen. And right now, she looks every bit like the Queen she is.
“Looks like you’re fucked now,” I laugh as she approaches. I step back, leaving a battered and bloody Alpha Brock on the ground.
“Tell us where Paige is, or suffer the consequences,” Azalea warns, her voice steady and confident.
Brock glares at her, his pride wounded, but still unwilling to yield. I can feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating, as the standoff continues.
The scent of fear permeates the air as Azalea’s command rolls over her old alpha effortlessly. Brock stammers, forced lower to the ground under the pressure of it.
“Where is Katrina?” Azalea asks Alpha Brock, her voice cold and unforgiving.
“Away picking up supplies,” Alpha Dean answers for Brock, coming out to stand on the porch, his eyes darting between his son and Azalea. She nods, acknowledging his answer, but her focus remains on Brock.
“Now, let’s try this again. Where is Paige?” she muses, her words laced with a deadly calm.
Brock grits his teeth, fighting against her command. His stubbornness only lasts a moment before he pisses himself, the dark stain spreading across his pants. I can’t help but smirk at his humiliation.
Azalea laughs, the sound chilling and filled with power. “I’m not even using my full command yet; that’s just a taste. Did youknow the Landeena command can kill? How about I start with your father?”
As if on cue, Alpha Dean drops to his knees, gasping and clutching his chest. He looks up at Azalea, pleading for mercy, but she remains unmoved.
“Where is Paige?” she asks again, her voice unwavering. Brock grits his teeth, and Azalea sighs heavily before Alpha Dean starts wailing and thrashing on the ground.
“Just fucking tell her Brock!” Alpha Dean screams.
“Alright!” Brock panics, his voice cracking under the pressure. “She’s next door with my mother.”
“Thank you,” Azalea replies, releasing her grip on both alphas. She turns to me, a victorious glint in her eyes. “Let’s go find Paige.”
With renewed hope, we make our way next door only to find Alpha Dean’s wife, who instantly rushes out to run to her husband. As we enter and climb the stairs, I can’t help but think about the power Azalea wields and how it changes everything. I wonder what it would be like to have such a gift, but then I remember the responsibility that comes with it.
We approach a door with the name Paige written in block letters, the door covered in butterflies.