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Damon and Sam both looked like they had a million questions, but now wasn’t really the time. River jumped in before we could get off track, and brought us back to the problem at hand, the way he was good at.
“What’s your plan, Ghost? I assume it’s more than kicking him?” he asked dryly.
“The alphas outside are waking up from the mass knockout you guys delivered. I don’t know how the hell you knocked a hundred alphas unconscious, but I’m impressed.”
“Pack strength,” Wolf said simply.
Ghost looked between us all, intrigued. “Huh,” was all he said, though.
“How does the alphas waking up help us figure out what to do with these assholes, rather than create another problem?” Ryder asked, sounding frustrated.
Ghost grinned, and there was carnage in his eyes.
“Most of the hired mercenaries have left. I talked to them before the small team you have guarding the front entrance and the helicopter let them go. The mercenaries weren’t interested in a second dance with you lot. The alphas that are left out front are mostly from abandoned military units or were lured from the city. Maven promised them food and safety for their families to come here and defend this place, but hasn’t exactly been forthcoming with the goods.
“I explained to them the role Maven played in the Crash, and who they’re really working for. Maven has screwed too many people, and crossed too many lines. Their payment is due. There’s power here, and food stashed in the basements. Some of them want to stay and bring their families out of hiding nearby. After they’ve taken out the trash.”
There were a lot of glances between everyone in the room. I understood where Ghost was coming from, but I didn’t want more blood tainting River and Ryder’s conscience if we could avoid it. They’d borne too much already.
“Wolf,” Damon said, “technically, this is your house. Max found documents in his research naming you as the heir to Maven. What do you want to do?”
Wolf shrugged. “I want a home, and that’s never going to be here. I don’t plan on ever coming back. If families can use this place, or anything in it, they’re welcome to it. I’d like knowing there are kids here, sliding down the staircase and drawing on the walls. The place needs it. As for Maven, whatever happens to them is no longer my concern, as long as they’re not a threat to my pack. I have no loyalty to them. As a dynasty, Maven is done.”
I moved back into Wolf’s arms and caressed his face. “Let’s go make a home,” I said, and he smiled at me.
“Don’t be rash, son. There are generations of tradition at stake here. Plus billions of dollars,” Arthur started, and Hunter laughed.
“Nice try, Dad,” he said as he shook his head. “You really don’t get it. Money doesn’t mean shit anymore. Not to us, and not to anyone out there. Family is what people care about, and their ability to provide for them. And you’ve taken both from far too many. Ghost is right, payment is due.”
He turned his back on his dad and walked over to us, before he clapped Wolf on the back. “You both already have a home. With us. So let’s get going,” Hunter added.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Phillip grab a small decorative box from inside his jacket while everyone’s attention was diverted. He opened it and flicked a switch inside before I could call out. Instantly, a tone blared from hidden speakers.
“What the fuck did you do?” Damon’s dad screamed. “We’re not in the panic room. You’ll kill us all.”
“Everybody dies eventually. Nobody takes what’s ours,” Phillip screamed back at him before he started laughing. He’d completely lost the plot and slipped into mania.
“That’s a detonation countdown,” Max yelled, lunging forward and pressing Maia into Leif’s waiting arms. They all turned and ran.
“Everyone out,” Wolf roared as he picked me up. His energy drove through everyone, galvanizing us into action. Even our friends. They moved faster than I’d ever seen, as they practically flew out the door. I glanced briefly over his shoulder as we went through to see Damon’s dad, trying to wrestle the device from Phillip. While the rest of Maven frantically tried to topple the bookcase and reach the panic room, believing their technology would save them.
Wolf charged down the stairs, with River keeping pace with us. Cary and Nick were already out the door with Angel, having had a head start, Ryder hot on their heels. My heart beat in my throat, half strangling me with fear, as Wolf’s energy pushed them harder. I expected a boom at any moment as the tone sped up. We were halfway across the lawn when it finally came. It was deafening, and the ground vibrated beneath us.
We were thrown to the ground as glass and shrapnel flew past us. Wolf and River covered me with their bodies, pushing me into the ground as I screamed. I reached through the bond and felt my mates shaken, but alive. I couldn’t feel Angel, though. We didn’t have a bond.
“Angel,” I yelled, as I twisted and tried to scrabble out from under Wolf, desperate to get to her. I couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to her after we’d just saved her. The world couldn’t be so cruel. I spied a tangle of limbs a few metres in front of us.
“She’s fine,” Ryder called out, holding his head as he rolled off Cary and Nick, and I saw her clutched between them.
She reached her arms out towards me, and Wolf rolled off me so I could crawl to her. “You’re okay. You’re okay,” I reassured her as she cried and snuggled into me. My pack settled in around us, arms twisting and gripping each other, needing the contact as we each tried to slow our breathing.
“Is everyone okay?” I asked, now that I had Angel back in my arms. They reassured me they were fine, with only minor scrapes, as hands stroked over Angel and me, checking us over. I looked at Ryder, who had blood trickling down his face.
River checked the shrapnel wound. “He’s had much worse. He’ll be fine.”
“Lexie? Maia?” I called out. I heard two voices call back, but it was hard to make them out over the ringing in my ears.
“They’re fine. So are their packs. Only Ghost is missing, but I saw him make it out the door and disappear into the darkness,” River said as he scanned our surroundings and did a head count. He stilled for a moment as he pulled his attention back to us. “You saved us all, Wolf. I don’t even know how you did that. Pushed us all. It felt as if we were flying, but it got us far enough away. We wouldn’t have made it out without you.”
