14. Mai

Chapter fourteen

Mai

T he basement hallway was eerily quiet, the kind of stillness that seeped into your bones and made every whisper seem like a shout. I stood there, numb, the phone call with Brock still replaying in my mind.

Jem was alive. I'd spoken to him, his voice a mixture of pain and defiance. The relief was overwhelming, yet it mingled with fear and uncertainty.

Ryan and Derek came out of the cage room. Ryan's eyes met mine. He could read the turmoil on my face and through our bond as easily as if I'd shouted it.

"What happened?" Ryan demanded.

I drew in a shaky breath. "It was Brock. He called..." The words felt like shards of glass in my mouth. "Jem's alive. I talked to him. He's alive, Ryan."

The news hit Ryan like a physical blow. Before he could respond, the pounding of footsteps echoed down the hallway .

Mason appeared, his face etched with urgency. "Korrin's attacking," he said, his voice strained, "He's gone after Bottley Bar. Sofia's there."

Without a word, Derek sprinted up the stairs.

My stomach dropped. Korrin. Seth's father. He wanted revenge on me and Ryan for killing his son. And now, Sofia, my best friend and someone I considered a sister, was in danger because of us, because of me.

"Korrin's trying to draw you out," Mason said, his jaw clenched. "He wants you away from the compound."

I gritted my teeth. Korrin was using our own people as bait to lure us into his trap.

"We need to go," I said, determination steeling my voice. Ryan, standing nearby, nodded in agreement, his eyes dark with resolve.

Mason hesitated. "No. That's what he wants. You should stay here. Let me, Derek, and Sam handle this."

I shook my head. "We're Alphas, Mason. This is the job. We can't hide in here while the Pack is being attacked. Our place is out there, defending them."

"We lead from the front." Ryan growled, and I could feel his anger through our bond.

Mason gave a curt nod. "Let's move, then."

Urgency surged through us as Ryan, Mason, and I bolted upstairs, our footsteps resounding in the otherwise silent compound. At the front door, we ran into Evelyn, Jase, and Sam. Their faces were taut with the same mix of determination and dread that churned in my gut.

"Where's Amara?" I barked at Jase.

"She's with Thomas and Wally. Sam says Sofia's in danger? "

"Come," Ryan ordered, and Jase ran after us.

We climbed into two SUVs parked in the driveway, the engines roaring to life as soon as we jumped in. Evelyn and Jase jumped in one car. Sam drove me, Ryan and Mason. Tension crackled in the confined space; every muscle in my body tensed for the impending confrontation.

As we sped through the streets, Mason's phone buzzed incessantly with updates, his fingers flying over the screen as he relayed the information.

"They're inside the bar," Mason's voice cut through the thick silence, his eyes fixed on the glowing screen. "Korrin and his crew. He has eight people with him. Sofia and some of the customers are fighting back. It's chaos in there."

My heart hammered against my ribcage. Guilt gnawed at me; my past had spilled over, endangering those I cared about.

Ryan's hand found mine, squeezing tightly.

"Kara called me earlier. Her and Ajak banished Korrin and his crew from the Cocrane Pack."

I swung my head toward Ryan. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't keep it from you intentionally. Kara called when we were at Brock's property. I was going to tell you after we'd talked to Greta. I didn't think Korrin would attack so soon."

If Kara banished Korrin, then she had to know that Korrin would head straight here. She had cut his leash, and now there was nothing holding Korrin back.

"She wanted to ally the Cocrane Pack with the Three Rivers under a no-hostilities pact. "

I snorted. "Yeah, right. She was covering her ass more like it. Telling us she'd set Korrin loose, and then offering the pact to make sure there were no repercussions for her."

"I thought the same thing."

"We'll take it, though. We'd be fools not to. It could come in handy in the future."

Ryan looked at me. "You're getting the hang of this Alpha gig."

"We're almost there," Sam said, his voice steady.

Ryan squeezed my hand. "When we get in there, stay behind me, Mai."

I opened my mouth to argue, but a green sheen flared in his eyes as he cut me off. "I mean it. You said if this was going to work between us, then I had to let you be in danger. I'm trying, Mai, but it isn't going to happen overnight. Stay behind me, or I'll pick you up and run you out of there myself."

I sat back, my frustration mounting. Korrin was here because of me, and Ryan was telling me to let others handle it.

Mason's phone buzzed. "Derek's arrived."

"Tell me he hasn't stormed in there. Tell me he's waiting for us to arrive so we can make a plan and hit it together?"

Mason's phone buzzed again. "I'd love to tell you that, bro. But Derek is going to be Derek."

"Fuck!"

The streets were empty as we neared Bottley Bar; the Three Rivers folk knew to run if there was an attack. Our two SUVs skidded to a halt in a cloud of dust beside the building. The sounds of the ongoing battle were immediate and intense—the snarling of wolves, the clash of bodies, the shouts and cries of pain and rage .

We jumped out of the car. I could feel my wolf, close to the surface, responding to the scent of blood and the sounds of our Pack in danger.

"Mai—" Ryan started.

"Don't. I'll keep behind you, but I'm not staying out here. Sofia's my best friend. I'm the Alpha, Ryan, just like you. My place is in there."

Ryan nodded once, but I didn't need our bond to tell me how unhappy he or his wolf were about this.

"We've sent the call out," Mason said. "Our enforcers will be here in five minutes."

"Too long," Ryan replied, his eyes scanning the Bar. "Evelyn, Jase, stay out here. Mop up any of Korrin's crew that tries to escape. Help any of ours that come out and send in the other enforcers when they get here. The rest of us, we go in now. Sam, head for the back exit. Mason, try to get as many of our people out as possible. We hit them hard. Aim for Korrin. He's the one driving this."

Jase scowled at the ground. I knew he was angry he was being made to stay out here with his sister inside, but he didn't complain.

We burst through the doors of Bottley Bar, the scene before us a maelstrom of snarls, blood, and chaos.

Shattered glass crunched under my feet, the acrid scent of smoke filling my nostrils. Ryan surged forward, flinging bodies left and right, clearing the way for the rest of us. A wolf lunged towards me, teeth bared, but I sidestepped and delivered a swift kick to its ribs. It yelped in pain and stumbled away, only to be met with Mason's fist as he came charging in behind me .

We fought our way through the throngs of Korrin's men. In front of me and to the left, Sam, full of rage, rammed his fist into the nose of one of Korrin's crew. The nose broke and blood splattered over my face and dripped from my forehead.

Lovely.

I strode forward, trying to see Korrin. The further in we went, the more the bar was in chaos, furniture broken and upturned, games, books, broken bottles spilled across the room. The scent of alcohol and blood was everywhere. Bodies lay crumpled on the ground, some twitching in agony, others still. Julie, the waitress who worked with Sofia, lay on the ground, her side torn open. A teenage boy huddled under a table that was still standing, whimpering and cradling an arm that was hanging at an odd angle.

Two of ours, a male middle-aged werewolf with two-day stubble and tattoos up his arms, and a pretty twenty-something woman that I thought I recognized from high school, were taking on one of Korrin's crew in wolf form. The wolf was snapping at them, driving them back toward the wall. The woman picked up a broken bottle from the floor and swung it at the wolf. It shied away, and the man took advantage and drove his knee into the wolf's head, knocking it out.

A roar to my left spun me round. Korrin was standing in the center of the room, his face twisted into a snarl as he fought with Sofia and Derek.

For a moment I paused, just watching the beauty of them fighting together. Derek was trying to fend off Korrin and protect Sofia at the same time. He moved with a beautiful grace, his army training on full display. Sofia was trying to help Derek, kicking out at Korrin, then dancing back .

I ran forward. Sofia looked up, relief and terror warring in her gaze when she saw me. Derek, perhaps alerted by the change in her scent, turned to see if I was a new threat. Korrin darted past him and jabbed his fist into Sofia's throat. She staggered back, choking, gasping for breath and clutching her neck.

Derek slammed into Korrin, flying across the ground.

"Protect Sofia," I barked at him.

Derek didn't hesitate; he ran toward Sofia.

Korrin rolled to his feet and saw me. I bared my teeth, every fiber of my being thrumming with rage. I could sense Ryan behind me; his presence felt more than seen.

Korrin turned towards us, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he took us in. "Finally, the Alphas themselves have graced us with their presence," he sneered.

My wolf growled within me, demanding that I tear him limb from limb.

Okay then.

I launching myself at Korrin. Ryan was quicker, though. He collided with Korrin with a sickening thud, the force of his blow sending them both spinning. Ryan landed furthest from me. Seeing this, Korrin stepped back, and before I could block him, he punched me in my gut. I managed to twist into it and the blow landed on my hip. It felt like a jackhammer. I staggered back, falling into an upturned table.

Then Ryan was there. His muscles rippling through his T-shirt as he delivered a sharp kick to Korrin's ribs. Korrin responded with a vicious uppercut. Ryan kept his movements fluid and precise, with a flurry of jabs and kicks. Blood glistened on both their faces as they exchanged blows, the sound of flesh hitting flesh filling the air. Korrin was a skilled fighter, but Ryan was faster, stronger, and an Alpha.

To my right, Sofia was on the floor, still gasping. Derek was crouched over her, protecting her from the battle around them. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a wolf launch itself at them. I dashed forward as Derek's hand darted out and caught the wolf by its neck. He swung the wolf with one hand and slammed it into the wall. The wolf snarled, tore itself free, and went for Derek. I reached Sofia just as a woman came out of the shadows, her foot aiming for my head. I leaned back just in time; her foot passing an inch from my nose. I pulled on the Pack bonds, five-inch claws extending from my fingers, and slashed into her back as she twisted away.

A body went flying past me, landing on his back on a nearby table. Korrin. Ryan had thrown him across half the bar. The table splintered beneath Korrin's weight. He rolled though, so quick, grabbed a broken whiskey bottle, and before I could blink, he slid over to Sofia, hauled her up and held the jagged edge to Sofia's throat.

"One more move and I'll slit her throat," he threatened.

My heart pounded as I stared at Sofia's terrified face. Ryan was at my side, his rage setting our bond afire as Derek stood over the unconscious body of the wolf he'd been fighting, his every muscle taut with the strain of holding himself back. It was the first time that I'd seen Derek look scared. We were stuck, unable to take action without endangering her life.

"This is the least I can do to pay you back for the pain you caused by murdering my son. I'm going to take everyone you care about before coming for you. "

Derek's vicious snarl sounded behind me, and I knew I had seconds before he launched himself at Korrin.

Korrin's grin widened as he saw our hesitation. "That's right," he said, pressing the broken bottle closer to Sofia's neck, breaking the skin. The scent of her blood filled the air as Sofia whimpered, and I knew we had to act. I couldn't just stand and watch. But any move we made would be too slow. Korrin would kill Sofia before we could get to them.

Talia fucking Johnson, the Wolf Council member, appeared out of nowhere behind Korrin. How the hell had she managed to get here so fast?

"You always were a coward, Korrin. Attacking a bar worker? Really? Not man enough to come for the Alphas?" I said, hoping to keep his attention on me until Ryan and Derek could get a bit closer.

"You fucking bitch! You've no idea what I'm capable of. I'm gonna make you watch as I remove her head, knowing that this is what I'm going to do to you, Mai."

Ryan and Derek were edging closer, then Talia moved, coming up fast behind Korrin. Suddenly aware of a new threat behind him, he loosened his grip as he turned.

I sprinted toward them as Sofia slipped her hands between her neck and the broken bottle and pushed. Korrin, realizing she was trying to break free, jabbed the bottle towards her, but it was too late. Ryan and Derek reached them at the same time. Ryan's claws extended, and he punched them into Korrin's throat. It was brutal and efficient and I knew without a doubt that Korrin wouldn't survive it .

Derek hauled Sofia away as Korrin grabbed at his neck, gargling blood, and sank to the floor. He lifted his arm, pointed at me, and tried to say something.

"Bitsssss."

Ryan bent down and snapped his neck in one twist.

I turned to see Derek gather Sofia up in his arms and kiss her.

Oh wow.

I think my jaw hit the floor.

Sofia was kissing him back. It was like they had completely forgotten everyone else here. I saw the moment that Sofia realized what she was doing. Her eyes flung open; she pushed Derek back and then punched him square on the jaw with her uninjured hand.

"Oof," Derek's head snapped back, and then he grinned at her. Sofia scowled at him, like really scowled, like she was trying to make his head explode just with her thoughts. Then she turned away, cradling her bloody hand.

Ryan was next to me in an instant.

"You okay?" he said, patting me all over, looking for injuries.

I nodded, touching a deep cut on the side of his face.

He took my hand and kissed it, the relief humming through the bond overwhelming me.

"You killed him." I expected to feel guilt and sadness about that, but all I felt was a grim satisfaction. He'd attacked our Pack and for that he had to pay.

"I'll kill everyone who's a threat to you."