Page 151 of The Wolf and the Chimera
Melanie’s eyes grew even rounder, and Kieran’s expression darkened. As he spoke, he didn’t take his eyes off his brother. Beyond both Lyall and my mate, enemy wolves lurked. Glowering at us, the paced the perimeter of the challenge and searched for a way through the frenzy.
“We should get you out of here,” Kieran murmured. “Ryder would want me to get you out of here.”
Rage tore through my fear, and I gripped the dagger in my hand tighter.
“Like hell,” I spat. “I’m not leaving here without my mate.”
As I spoke, one of the guards dove through the chaos of the challenge. He wore a hazmat suit and a mask that covered his face. Another guard quickly followed, only to be body-slammed by my mate. The move cost Ryder, and Lyall landed a punch to his ribs that mademybreath catch.
Ryder merely embraced the impact, twisted, and raked his claws across Lyall’s bloodied back.
As the guard reached us, claws descended from Kieran’s fingers, and Melanie leaped in front of me. I raised the silver dagger a fraction higher and braced myself.
While the guard before us hesitated to attack, a guard with bright red hair slipped past Ryder and Lyall.
The masked guard twisted and punched the red-haired werewolf so hard in the face, the wolf collapsed. Turning back to face us, the guard removed his mask and revealed dark, angular eyes, and a tan, earnest face.
“I’m here to help,” Bo promised.
Growling with rage I had never heard from him, Kieran swiped his claws at his former friend’s face. Bo dodged the attack, and Melanie cursed.
“Kieran,” she snapped. “Kieran, wait!”
She hesitated to leave my side, but I nudged her.
“Stop him,” I ordered.
Though I was wary of Bo, hehadjust knocked out an enemy in our defense. If he could do anything to help us—to help Ryder—we needed him alive and unwounded.
Melanie grabbed Kieran’s right wrist and twisted it behind his back. He snarled and raged, but he didn’t fight the she-wolf. Tears swam in his green eyes, and guilt marred Bo’s face. Throughout the fight, Bo had only dodged Kieran’s attacks. He hadn’t attacked.
“Traitor,” Kieran snarled.
Bo’s tortured expression crumpled further, and his voice was soft. “I know.”
Silence stretched between us, interrupted only by the grunts and snarls of the battling Sovereigns.
“You have five seconds to help us,” I snapped, “or we will finish what Kieran started.”
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “Elle, I didn’t know what they would try to do—I’m so sorry.”
“Bullshit,” Kieran growled. “You knew exactly what Lyall planned! We all did.”
As he realized what I hadn’t yet divulged to the others—what I wasn’t sure I would ever want to talk about—Bo swallowed a sob.
“He had my family,” he whispered. “He said he’d kill them unless I flipped on you. He would’ve killed my baby sister.” His voice broke on the last word.
“Then why are you helping us now?” Melanie asked.
Hope and sorrow warred in her watery gaze.
Bo cleared his throat. “They escaped in the evacuation.”
“You should’ve come to us,” Kieran argued. “When Lyall threatened your family, you should’ve come tome.”
Kieran had been skipped over by the dominance in his blood, but he had earned the loyalty of his trio. He wastheirAlpha.
“I’m here now,” Bo said.
