"I'm here!" I called out. "Alpha Sera Nightshade. You wanted me, you have me. Let the hostages go."
A wolf emerged from the main building. Tall, scarred, with the dead eyes of someone who'd killed before and would again.
"The famous Alpha who thinks she can rewrite centuries of tradition." His voice was mocking. "You're smaller than I expected."
"I get that a lot. Right before, I surprised people." I kept my tone light. "You have a name?"
"You can call me Garrett. Not that it matters. You won't be alive long enough for names to matter."
"Garrett. Okay. So here's the thing, Garrett. I came alone, as you demanded. Now release the hostages."
"Not until you make your public statement. Rescinding the omega laws, apologizing, stepping down."
"Can't do that."
He laughed. "Then I started k
