The Alpha's Rejected Mate

Chapter 11: The Road to War

The sun rose. Didn't bring warmth. Just light. Pale. Cold. Like the world was still scared of me.

I didn't sleep. Again. The throne was hard. Cold. But I stayed. Didn't move. Didn't eat. Just sat. Thinking about seven girls. Seven names I didn't know. Seven faces I never saw.

Ryder came in. Holding bread. Meat. Water.

"You need to eat," he said.

"No."

"You need to keep your strength."

I looked at him. His eyes were tired. Dark circles. He didn't sleep either.

"Did you know them?" I asked.

"Know who?"

"The girls. The Omegas. Did you know their names?"

He put the food down. Sat on the floor. Looked at his hands.

"One of them," he said. "Mira. She was 16. Used to feed the stray dogs behind the pack house. Kind girl. Quiet."

"What happened to her?"

"Damian said she was going to a better pack. Better life." He laughed. Mean. Bitter. "She was 16. And I believed him."

I felt the fire again. In my chest. Behind my eyes.

"We're going to Shadow Fang," I said.

"Lila..."

"I'm not asking."

Ryder stood up. Walked to the window. Looked outside.

"We need a plan," he said. "You can't just walk in there and kill everyone."

"Why not?"

"Because they have families. Kids. Omegas just like us. Not everyone there is evil."

I was quiet for a minute.

"Then we go at night," I said. "Find the camp. Take the girls. Get out."

"And if they catch us?"

"They won't."

"You sound sure."

"I am."

I stood up. Walked to the window. Stood next to Ryder. Looked at the trees. Dark. Tall. Hiding secrets.

"How many warriors can we take?" I asked.

"Fighting warriors? Maybe ten. The rest are scared of you. Or hate you. Or both."

"Ten is enough."

"Ten against Shadow Fang? Lila, they have fifty. Maybe more."

I looked at my hands. My knuckles still bloody from punching the wall.

"Then I'll kill fifty."

Ryder was quiet. Didn't laugh. Didn't argue. Just nodded.

"When?" he asked.

"Tomorrow night."

"That soon?"

"The girls don't have time. Every day they're there... every day Damian's friends use them..."

I didn't finish the sentence. Didn't need to.

"I'll get the warriors ready," Ryder said. "The ones who aren't cowards."

"Good."

He walked to the door. Stopped.

"Lila."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For caring. About the Omegas. About Mira. No Alpha ever did."

I didn't answer. Didn't know how.

He left.

I was alone again. The throne was still cold. The hall was still dark.

But something inside me was warm. Small. Quiet. Hope maybe. Or maybe just hunger for blood. Same thing.

I walked to the dungeon. The guards moved. Fast. Didn't look at me.

Damian was on the floor. Sleeping. Or pretending.

"Get up," I said.

He opened his eyes. Red. Tired.

"Back again?"

"Tomorrow night, I'm going to Shadow Fang."

He sat up. Fast. His face changed. Scared.

"You're insane."

"Maybe."

"They'll kill you."

"They'll try."

I leaned on the bars. Looked at him.

"You sold children, Damian. Sixteen year old girls. To men who use them like toys."

He didn't answer. Didn't deny it.

"I'm going to bring them back," I said. "Every single one. And then I'm coming for the Alphas who bought them. One by one."

"You can't. They're too powerful."

"Watch me."

I turned. Walked away.

"Lila," he called. "If you do this... there's no going back. The other packs will declare war on us. All of them."

I stopped. Didn't turn around.

"Then let them come."

I walked to the throne room. Sat down. Closed my eyes.

Tomorrow night. Shadow Fang. Seven girls. Maybe war.

But sitting there, in the dark, I felt something I hadn't felt in days.

Not fear.

Not anger.

Ready.