5: The

inning to

ms wrapped tightly around my knees. I kept glancing at the iron door, trying not to. But the silence in this place played tricks on the mind, mad

ual heavy stomps of those beasts Viper cal

the small rectangul

ock c

inside-draped from head to toe in black, fa

ing is worth it," she m

art j

et up. "We don't have time. I knocked a guard out two cells down, but

otion, but I nodded fiercel

ucy a hundred times in my mind. Just being able to talk to

d into th

d. Just as we turned the corner, a blar

ghts f

" the wom

before he could aim, the woman in black charged forward, dodging with a speed that blurred her f

ttered acro

and scooped it up

n!" she

r

th came in short gasps, the sharp sting of a

e your name," I man

r short," she said,

ce. That kind of speed, agility... it w

a we

ent, hunger, stress. We burst into a larger corridor, this one lined with

s!" I

head. I pushed myself ha

us. The guards had

ming against metal. My visio

n three. My legs qui

ed my arm and yanked

ed if we go hig

colder, the lights fewer. I didn't know

rms buzzed throug

ng a narrow maintenance tunnel. She let me go in first,

the tunnel wa

ough the damp space. Pipes ran above and aroun

lly, sh

teadying myself

did you get

" she said simply.

ore. Her tone

opped us beneat

ase, slid it open, and pulled herself u

abbe

ss. We emerged into a dusty, low-lit room

. "But from here, we can see

not trusti

brief and crooked-and then

as freedom. Or the nex

gettin

time in weeks... I

y cell. I took a deep breath, my ribs aching slightly from the sprint. Alex reached into her suit a

nd to a concrete pipe and the other to the bui

Wind rushed against my face as the city blurred beneath me. My feet slammed against the gravel

look," she murmured, her

o the driver's seat and I dove into the passenger side. She yanked off her black mask as the engine

st

behind us. A black SUV surged after

ded, but we didn't stop. My hand reached instinctively for the gun I'd t

my seat, aimed through the broken window, and fire

mn, girl! Where did you

road behind us. "I'v

alleys, and service roads until we lost them. Finally, Alex slowed down and pul

y inside. She tossed me a bundle of c

ody. I stared at the mirror for a long time. My face was bruised and pale, but

ggings and a loose black tee-Alex was

got qu

ho are you really? How

s orders-no questions until

y legs trembled beneath me from exhaustion, an

fore I could fin

ake stirs m

o," Alex s

. I blink, pulling myself out of the warm cocoon of sheets. There's a strange com

worn off, but the memory of what happened hasn't. I head to the bathroom and take a quick s

my hips. I dress quickly and walk over to the small mirror above the dresser. My reflection looks

oment longer. Then I lower my gaze to my belly, placing a hand

ortable-it's almost like a shared agreement that words aren't needed yet. The drive is l

ughts

Lucy help

exactly is this Alpha A

ike something out of an old fairytale, with tall spires, heavy stone walls, and iron gates that

if you need," she says over her shoulder

y stomach. My heart pounds against my ribs, every beat echoing with quest

ping around me like a cloak. My boots crunch over the grave

tension. I hear voices-raised, harsh, and then l

ow the

nce first. "You don't get to make th

e reply-a deep, bass voice that

ath ca

that

into a grand room. High ceilings. Polished floors. Men

ly see o

iercing gray eyes that lock o

z

rt stu

tilts just

s E