Chapter 8

Blaide

He'd taken a risk dashing around the building instead of following the males, but without a crowd to cover his movements, he needed better protection. When he stepped out on the main street and didn't immediately see the group, his heart plunged, but it'd only taken a moment of sniffing to tell which direction they'd gone. Their voices led him across the last few steps.

The sight of six alphas crowded together sent a chill through his stomach before fire flooded his veins. He'd spent years fighting against males who thought they could take anything they wanted, and he knew what the aftermath would be if he didn't step in.

His poor Red had no chance without him. He couldn't see her through the bodies, but her milk and honey scent called to him.

The rage that had filled him when he saw the males following the little omega melted away as his training took over. There was no room for emotion facing six alphas alone, especially when he had to prevent the female from getting hurt. He had to keep his head clear.

"Put her down."

Six heads turned to look at him, their surprise turning to disbelief when they realized he was alone.

Blaide eyed each of his opponents, their cocky assurance written across their faces as they sidled closer. The narrow alley would work to his advantage—it would prevent them from rushing him without getting in each other's way.

The closest two took a few more steps, puffing their chests like they'd intimidate him into leaving, but the alpha who'd first approached the omega slipped around them. Brow raised, his body relaxed, the man acted as though he hadn't a care in the world.

"She's an omega. There's enough of her to go around. Why don't we work out a deal? One more won't make a difference."

A red haze tried to overtake Blaide's vision, but he pushed it away.

Calm. Detached.

He needed his head clear to save his little Red. These scumbags gave all alphas a horrible reputation. They had no honor. Blaide would enjoy serving them the pain and humiliation they deserved.

"You're not worthy of a single sniff of her, and I'm not in the mood to give second chances. Let her go before I annihilate each and every one of you."

They scoffed. Blaide sighed and rolled his shoulders. It had been too long since he'd enjoyed a decent brawl. Part of him was looking forward to this fight, while the other recognized how dire it was for the tiny female.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.

The blond scowled, insulted by the question.

Blaide launched himself forward. Slamming one fist into the leader's nose, Blaide's shoulder smashed into the chest of the man on the right, causing him to stumble back into the wall behind him. Pushing off as his opponent wheezed for breath, Blaide took the second alpha who'd faced him from behind, locking one thick arm around the male's throat and twisting around to watch the others as he squeezed.

The blond male retreated behind another pair of alphas, nursing a bloody nose. The one Blaide had knocked into the wall recovered as the one in his arms went limp, so Blaide released his hold and tossed the male to the side.

"You're a fool," one of them growled, but Blaide only smiled and waited for the first to move.

With a glance at the two behind him, the alpha who'd recovered ran toward Blaide, his plan clear from the set of his shoulders. Blaide stepped aside at the last moment, hands shoving the charging man's shoulders down as he passed by, causing him to stumble and fall face first into the pavement.

Shaking his head at the amateur move, he didn't give the other two a chance to decide who was going to face him first. He was between them in the next breath, raining blows on them both until they lay crumpled on the ground. One of them tried to rise again, but a boot to the face kept him flat.

The scrape of boots on pavement alerted him to movement behind him. Dipping to the side, Blaide turned, too slow to miss the blow to his ribs, but fast enough to catch his attacker's arm. A quick twist and jerk upward, and the man's elbow bent in the wrong direction, the alpha letting out a scream that reverberated through the alley. Falling to the ground once again, he scrambled backward, cradling his injured arm and clearly uninterested in continuing the fight.

Blaide's attention turned to the last three males. One still held the omega pinned to his chest, a nasty sneer spreading across his face as she fought to free herself. The blond he'd bloodied glared, but it was the third who stepped forward to take the next beating.