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“Dupek,” I echo. “That’s fitting, too.”
Aleks actually smiles. It’s the tiniest curve to his lips, but with him trapped in this hellish space, it’s something, at least.
“I know how they caught you. Walker told me his scouts caught you poking around their territory. I don’t get it, Aleks. What were you even doing here?”
I haven’t seen him since the night I told him I was bonding myself to Ryker. He wasn’t in the apartment when I went to visit him, and even if he picked up my scent on his return, that doesn’t explain how he just so happened to stumble upon the Wolf District while I was its unwilling guest.
“Your wolf came to see me.”
I don’t think I could’ve been more shocked if Aleks said he sprouted a pair of wings and flew from Muncie to the Wolf District.
“Ryker?”
He nods. “He’s smarter than he looks. He requested a meet through Roman, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to refuse. I was out of town, visiting an old friend, but when Roman calls, you come. Your wolf wasted his time, though. When he told me what he wanted, I would’ve agreed even without the Cadre getting involved.”
“What did he want?”
His pale eyes lock on me. “Wolfson didn’t trust this Alpha, and he had good reason not to. He wasn’t able to leave his pack, but with Roman’s blessing, we all decided I would come watch over you.”
Okay. That makes a little more sense. I don’t have to like it—and I can save that argument for when we’re out of this crazy place—but that sounds exactly like something Ryker would do.
He must’ve been desperate to keep my safe if he went to Aleks of all people to ask for help. If I didn’t know he loved me already, that right there would’ve proved it.
Luna, I need to get back to him.
Later. No matter what it takes, I’ll be with Ryker soon. I’m not worried about that. No. I’m worried about Aleks.
“How long have you been here?”
“I took the next flight out after you and the other wolves left. I was only a couple of hours behind you when they first gunned me down.” Aleks snorts. “Silver bullets. Those were banned after the last great war. I suppose it’s my fault for believing the dogs would stand by their word.”
Though it’s one of the worst insults a vamp could use against a wolf shifter, I ignore the way he called the Western Pack dogs. If they caught him the same day I landed here, that means he’s been in this silver-lined cell for two full days now.
Hell, yeah, I think they’re dogs, too.
Dupek dogs who use silver bullets.
I shake my head, my claws getting caught in my hair as I shove it angrily out of my face. “This is crazy. I can’t believe he kept you in here for so long before he threw you in my face. And, shit, Aleks… I’m so sorry.” There’s no reason to say what for because we both know he wouldn’t be in this mess if it wasn’t for me. “I’m so, so fucking sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” I wish it wasn’t. “Besides, he miscalculated. He wanted me thirsty. Before tonight, I haven’t had a sip of blood since I left Muncie. Either he thought I’d be weak or my thirst would rule me. He never counted on me being in complete control.”
I believe him. Aleks might have looked a little out of it when he saw me, and he looked a lot out of it when he noticed Elizabeth on the platform, but he was totally in control—up until Christian started shooting him again.
“Why would he do that, though?” I’m speaking more to myself than to Aleks. “I don’t get it.”
“It’s like you said, Gem. He wants another Claws and Fangs war.”
My puzzled expression must give me away because Aleks drops his voice before adding, “Roman’s only one leader. Muncie, one Cadre. But I’ve been alive a long time. I have friends. Contacts. If anything happens to me, he could very easily get the war he craves.”
It takes a lot for me to admit to any kind of weakness, but the idea of anything happening to Aleks scares me. There are only a few feet between us, but because of the silver bars and the huge lock, it might as well be a world away.
That doesn’t stop me from impulsively shoving one hand past the narrow bars. I get too close to the bar on my left side, the silver burning a raw strip down my entire forearm, but if it means I can touch Aleks, that I can prove to myself that my friend is still okay, it’s worth the pain.
“I’ll get you out of here,” I swear. My fingers graze his hard chest. “I promise you.”
Aleks takes my hand. For a split second, I think he’s going to bring my fingers to his chilled lips and, I don’t know, kiss them or something. But he doesn’t. He gives them a gentle squeeze before carefully, carefully guiding them through the bars again.
“Don’t you worry about me. I’ve been through worse, and I’m not about to let some mangy wolf take me down. Not now that—”
Aleks stops talking.
I wait a second before prodding, “Now that what?”
He shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter. The only thing that does is that you keep your head. You hear me, Gem? We’ll get out of this together.”
Yes.
Yes, we will.
