Claimed By My Alpha Stepbrother.

37

Azriel

The base was even worse than I expected.

The corrugated metal buildings weren't much better than the huts in the village, and the security was even more lax.

Men moved between the buildings with the lazy confidence of predators in their own territory.

I set Seraphina down gently, keeping one arm around her waist as her legs found their strength. She swayed, fever-flushed and trembling, but her chin lifted with that defiant tilt I'd come to know too well.

"We should have a plan," she whispered, her breath hot against my ear.

"I have one." I pulled her closer, feeling her heartbeat race against my ribs. "Survive."

"That's not a plan, that's a—"

"Stop!"

Six figures emerged from the shadows of the nearest building. They wore mismatched military gear, civilian clothes layered with tactical vests, and every single one of them carried a weapon. AKs. Machetes. One heavyset man with a scar splitting his eyebrow cradled a shotgun like a sleeping child.

Seraphina stiffened, her fingers digging into my forearm. I felt the wolf stir in my chest, eager and hungry, wanting to show these clowns who really was the prey. But I pushed it down. I couldn't mess this up by acting.

The scarred man stepped forward, his shotgun tracking toward my head. "Hands up. Now."

I didn't move. "We're not armed."

"Hands. Up." He punctuated each word with a jab of the gun.

I raised one hand slowly, keeping the other wrapped protectively around Seraphina's shoulders. "We're here to see your commander."

Laughter rippled through the group—a harsh, broken sound. The man to Scar's left was young, barely more than a boy, with acne-scarred cheeks and eyes too old for his face. He wore a red bandana tied around his throat and held his rifle with the casual negligence of someone who'd never been taught proper discipline.

"You're here to see the commander?" The boy snorted, stepping closer. He smelled of cheap cigarettes and dried sweat. "You think this is a f*****g hotel?"

Another man circled behind us. He had a limp and reeked of medicine and chemicals.

"Turn around," the limping man said, his voice a gravelly rasp. "Slowly."

I turned, keeping Seraphina tucked against my side. His faded blue eyes drifted down Seraphina's body with an intensity that made my jaw tighten. Then he inhaled sharply through his nose, nostrils flaring, and a slow smile spread across his weathered features.

"Well," he murmured, almost to himself. "Well, well."

"What?" Scar lowered his shotgun slightly, glancing between us and the older man. "You know them, Doc?"

He stepped closer to us, his eyes dark with an obsession I couldn't name. "Search them and take them in." He turned from us, limping away with an unusual calmness. "They're special."

Hands grabbed me almost immediately, patting down my clothes and finding nothing. I wasn't foolish enough to bring weapons when turning myself in. Besides, I didn't need any. Just my hands were enough to rip their heads off ten times over in seconds.

They took the bag, searched through the blankets and dried meat and Maren's carefully wrapped parcels.

When they touched Seraphina, I growled. "Don't."

The bald, toad-looking guy flinched back.

"Don't touch her."

"Fine," he said, his voice rougher than before. "But you—" he nodded to two of his men, a pair of identical twins with matching nose rings and cruel, pretty faces, "—keep your weapons on them. Every step."

The twins fell in behind us, close enough to smell the mint they chewed to mask the rot of their teeth. The boy with the red bandana took point, glancing back every few seconds with a mixture of fear and fascination that made him look even younger.

I pulled Seraphina closer, wrapping my arm around her shoulders until she was half-hidden against my chest, her face pressed to my throat.

"Keep walking," Scar called from ahead, and I realized we'd stopped.

Dozens of curious, cold, lifeless eyes watched us as we passed through the open ground. A tall, skeletal figure with a burn scar melting half his face leaned against a water tank, picking his teeth with a combat knife. A heavy woman with arms like butcher's hams and a necklace of shell casings watched from a doorway, her expression unreadable. Children—actual children, dirty and thin and carrying weapons too big for their hands—scattered around, watching us walk like we were entertainment.

When we finally reached the main building, the twins pushed the door open.

The interior of the room was better than I expected. Clean and organized, with maps and monitors displaying feeds from cameras around the whole area. That meant he'd been watching us since we stepped into the place.

The commander sat in front of the monitors, dressed in designer clothes that didn't fit the setting. A simple black turtleneck and perfectly tailored trousers.

He was far younger than I'd expected. Probably between twenty-four and twenty-eight.

His green eyes scanned me from head to toe before drifting to Seraphina, then a small smile bloomed across his face.

He stood up and moved closer to us, extending a hand to me. "It's nice to meet the legend." His eyes flickered over to Seraphina. "Our wait has not been in vain." He stepped back a little, putting some distance between us. "I would like to make pleasantries, but I think you'll need a bath and warm food more than that."

Indeed, they knew about me. f**k! I was more pissed that I had now exposed Seraphina now.

He waved over to Scar. "Get them comfortable. We'll have plenty of time to discuss things on the way."

I looked up at him. "On the way?"

He clicked his tongue. "We'll be leaving for Millbrook first thing tomorrow. I assume you don't want to waste time talking while your..." He nodded toward Seraphina. "Lover is in pain."

I held onto Seraphina tightly as they led us away to a clean room.

I hesitated before eating the meal they provided in case they decided to be sly. But, I was valuable to them so they wouldn't want to make mistakes with me.

Watery soup and dry bread. I suddenly missed Maren's food. But this was better than wasting the resources we brought from the village when we had alternatives. It was better to keep those safe as backup.

I had no plans of sticking with these people for too long. And if anything got out of hand, we'd be able to get by for a while.

After downing the meal and washing Seraphina's legs and wiping her down, she was out in no time.

I watched her chest rise and fall in peaceful sleep, her hands clinging to me, and I knew I'd do anything to keep her peaceful.

My mind was troubled though. Tomorrow we will face my father after arriving at Millbrook. I hope I have the courage for that because seeing Seraphina this way, so help me God that I don't tear them into shreds if they fail to save her.