Page 66 of Alpha's Redemption

“Inside, Luna! Now!” he roars before shifting as they run at him. My eyes widen, and I rush through the door, slamming it shut and locking it. Turning around, I see the kid's frightened faces peering back at me.

“Tatum?” Taylor says, her eyes on the door, where vicious growls and banging come through.

“He's okay. He’ll be okay,” I tell Taylor while turning her and pushing her up the stairs. Ava stares at me. I nod to her and her eyes turn glassy, but she nods once, pushing Mom up the stairs. We’re locked in the stairwell, all the doors are locked as we climb the levels.

‘Valen, we can't get inside!’I call through the link. I get no answer, meaning he’s blocking me out of whatever is happening outside. We’re halfway up the stairwell when we hear desperate banging on the door below.

“Tatum!” Taylor squeals, rushing back down. I just manage to grab her before she gets past me when I hear the door burst open below. Ava looks over the side of the railing and the blood drains from her face. I follow her gaze over to see forsaken rushing up the steps.

“Run!” I scream. Ava grabs Valarian and Mom, who’s struggling to climb the stairs—she’s exhausted after being given the inhibitor.

“Get to the roof!” I scream while grabbing Casey and Taylor.

Mom rips her hand from Ava.

“I'm slowing you down. Get the kids up!” she growls at Ava, who looks at me. I place Taylor on the ground and Ava's hand locks around her wrist.

“Valarian, like we practiced at training,” I tell him. “Don't look back. Don't stop.”

“Mom,” Valarian stammers with tear-filled eyes, and his lip quivers.

“Don't look back. Don't stop,” I repeat, and he nods. Seeing the fear on his face makes me want to hug him, but he listens and takes off running up the steps while Ava hauls the girls up behind him.

“Three more flights, Mom,” I tell her. She keeps trying to pull my hand from hers, but I snarl at her before Commanding her.

“Move faster! Now!” I order. I hear my sister and the kids make it to the roof while vicious snarls come from below, but the Command works, and she’s forced to move quickly. Only, they’re gaining ground fast. We’re one set of steps away from the roof when I hear a snarl behind me.

Mom freezes and so do I. Turning, I find the two forsaken on the steps prowling, stalking up the steps toward us. My mother's hand grips the back of my shirt.

“You're gonna run for me now, baby girl,” she murmurs as we both walk backward up the stairs as they hunt us. Their fur is falling out and what’s left is matted; blood drips from their muzzles as they snap their teeth and snarl while creeping ever closer up the steps.

I shake my head.

“I'm proud of you, baby. But I need you to do this for me,” she says. I hear her bones start snapping just as she whips me backward behind her, and I only just catch myself.

“Tell your father and sister I love them,” she says just before shifting completely. I scream as she leaps at them and they begin tearing her apart.

I go to take a step toward her when I look down at my stomach. Tears burn my eyes, but I tear my gaze from the bloodshed and run for safety.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

Everly

My hands hit the door, jarring them with the force as I burst onto the roof. Ava screams and shoves the kids behind her body, using herself as a shield, and I twist, slamming the door shut. The racket coming from the stairwell is deafening and I stare at the door where I had just abandoned my mother. Ava rushes over, jamming a piece of a broken pipe she ripped off from somewhere through the handle and pipeline that runs to the vents on the roof above it, and I finally pull my gaze from the door.

All I can think is,I left her in there. I ran and left her behind.

Ava whimpers as she secures the bar; I don't have to tell her. She knows because Mom didn't come out behind me. As she turns to look at me, I can see her heartbreak.

My entire body shakes with adrenaline and shock.

I left her.

My thoughts are consumed with that thought when a tiny hand slips into mine. Looking down, I find Valarian looking at me.

“Grandma will be okay,” he says, only I know she won't be. I swallow and blink back tears before turning to him and picking him up.

“Yep. She found another open door,” I tell him while walking over to the girls. I place him beside them where they’re huddled on the ground by the air-conditioner vent.

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