Page 70 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
Shaking my head, I draw my mind back to the feel of her in my arms, the scent of her, and how it calms me. I see Jarrod’s bright smile and his glowing amber eyes, just like mine.
“What do we do now, boss?” Cody asks.
As I turn around, I hear the drumming sound of paws and hard combat boots—reinforcement troops from WS entering the town in massive numbers. I look towards the south, my rage and fear combining with the love I have for my family, and I suddenly feel completely calm.
I know exactly what I have to do. Anger and fear can’t cloud my judgment, because my love is too strong.
“We’re going to organize the men, and then we’re going to kill Azarian and any wolf that dares stand with him.”
“Okay,” Cody says. “But do you have a plan?”
Around me, hundreds of black-clad Shadows swarm through the buildings, some wearing armor and carrying guns, others in dark shrouds, and still more in their wolf shapes. Behind Cody, I see the Rose Hollow warriors beginning to arrive.
“Yes,” I reply. “I have a plan.”
Chapter 23 - Scarlett
The attack happens so fast, none of us has time to react. The ground heaves beneath my feet as the crackling sound of broken concrete hammers around me, and I’m thrown to the floor of the hall. Desperately, I reach for Jarrod’s hand, and as he grabs it, I see a flash of his fear-filled eyes.
Malcolm roars and charges at the doors, where three wolves are racing to meet him. Even with the floor bucking under us like an untamed mustang, I manage to signal to Mrs. Florence, and we start crawling towards the nearest exit.
The sounds of the fight behind us are brutal. Enemy wolves growl and bark as they attack Malcolm, and he howls in pain as they set upon him. I try as hard as I can not to look back, focusing only on the door ahead of us and Jarrod’s hand in mine.
As we get near the door and I can see the playground ahead, I pull myself up and run towards it shakily, Jarrod’s hand still in mine. Freedom is close enough to taste when two men leap into our path.
They smell strange, almost like wolves, but not quite. Dark shadows seem to hang across their faces, and all I can see clearly are their glowing, acid-yellow eyes.
I reach down and grab Jarrod, holding him against my chest. One of the men grins and snaps his fingers.
Behind me, the other children begin to scream as bright tongues of flame bloom around the edges of the hall. The floor heaves again, cracking in the center. I cling to Jarrod, trembling with the need to run, but having nowhere to go.
The two men rush me, and a thick wave of darkness floods across my vision. I struggle against it, but it’s likedrowning in an ice-cold river, the force of the current stealing breath, sight, and sound.
Several times, I try to wake up. My need to protect Jarrod gives me strength, and when I try to break free of the dark poison, I see flashes of light and hear the men talking. At one point, I hear the crying of a child, and my need for release becomes frantic. This time, I feel a sharp blow, and true unconsciousness takes over me.
Terrible heat awakens me, the complete opposite of the poison spell that took me down back in the school hall. Sharp pains lance through my skull, and my stomach lurches as if it’s trying to crawl out of my throat, but I manage to open my eyes and look up.
“Mom?” Jarrod says, tugging on my hand.
With a cry of relief, I wrap my arms around him, so happy to see him alive that for the moment, I can’t focus on anything else.
“Scarlett,” a terrified voice whimpers. I look towards it and see Mrs. Florence huddled next to me with the rest of the children.
“Are you alright?” I ask, knowing it’s a stupid question. Instead of answering me, she looks up, and I turn to follow her gaze.
“Uncle Azarian,” I mutter, seeing him standing over us.
“Yes, my dear. I’d like to say this is the big-reveal moment, but you already knew I was behind this, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” I growl, sitting up. “Everyone at Rose Hollow knows, and they are coming after you!”
He laughs softly, shaking his head.
“What’s so fucking funny?” I scream at him.
“Oh, it’s not funny,” a smooth female voice cuts in. “It’shilarious.”
Vanessa walks up behind my uncle, touching him on the shoulder. He leans back against her, and they kiss. The sight of it is so disgusting, I look around for the first time and realize where we are.
