Page 94 of Alphas Never Hide

Whyhadn’t teleportation been invented yet soIcould zapHaydenout of there?

“He’llwin,”Ashsaid, rubbing my back.

Jeremynodded. “Ithink if he was truly in danger, my magic would try to shield him in my personal brand of magical bubble wrap.”

I’dhave believed him more if his words hadn’t sounded so tremulous.Andbased on how wonky his magic had been in the mage competition earlier,Iwasn’t ready to trust his magic to do what he wanted either.

Haydenswiped at his brother, slicing alongRobbie’sbelly, butRobbierolled away before the thick, razor-sharp claws went too deep.Robbiewhimpered and shook his head.

“Surrender,”Haydengrowled. “Wedon’t have to do this.”

Robbie’sfrantic gaze bounced around the people surrounding him, as if noticing them for the first time.Allof us were there forHayden.Everysingle one of us.

“WhenIwin,”Robbiechoked out between panting breaths, “you’ll all answer to me.You’llbe mine to do with whatIwant.”

“Itdoesn’t work that way,”Haydensaid. “TheSCwill never allow you to have a pack again.”

“FucktheSC.”Hiswords were full of bravado, but his quick gasps took on a panicked rhythm.

HaydenandRobbiecircled one another.Whydidn’tGageorVanoranyonejump in and grabRobbienow?Fuckit.Icouldn’t take it anymore.Ihad to act.Ishifted into my faun form and waited for an opportunity.

Myplan wasn’t a plan at all.Ijust wanted to distractRobbielong enough that others could pin him down.Ifit involved kicking the jerk beetle in the nuts, well, that shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.WhenRobbieturned so his tail was right in front of me,Istepped forward.JeremyandAshtugged me back.

“Letme go,”Ishouted at them.

Atthe commotion,Haydentook his eyes offRobbieto look at me.Robbieseized the opportunity and lunged.Iscreamed.Everythingwas a blur of motion and limbs and fur.

Whenthings settled,Robbiewas sprawled across thedirt.Hewas limp.Hiseyes were closed.Hischest barely moved.

Haydenstood over him with his teeth clamped on his brother’s neck.Thenhe whimpered, like he just realized what’d happened.Hetore his bloody mouth away.Hisshift rolled over him faster than my eyes could track.Onemoment he was a massive badass wolf and the next he was human.

Hedropped to his knees beside his brother and pulled him into his arms.

“Robbie,” he sobbed and pressed his face into the bloody fur at his brother’s injured throat. “Whydidn’t you surrender?”

Irushed forward and wrapped my arms aroundHayden.Ididn’t know what to say, soIsimply held him.

“IsXanderhere?Teague?Someone, help!”Haydenshouted at his pack.

Thenmy brother was there with us. “WhereisGretchen?Wakehim up.Please.Hehas to tell me whereGretchenis.Don’tlet him die.Hecan’t die.”Connyleaned over and put his face right up toRobbie’s. “WhereisGretchen?”

Robbie’seyelashes fluttered, almost like he was opening them just enough to see through his lashes.WasIimagining that?Thenhis mouth twitched.Almostlike he was fighting off a smile.Thatsweaty piece of toe lint was up to something.

“Don’tget too close,Conny, he’s?—”

Robbiewhipped his head around beforeIcould finish.IyankedHaydenback, but not fast enough.Robbie’steeth grazedHayden’sjaw.

“No!”Ishouted.

BeforeRobbiecould try again, my chest exploded with fiery heat, almost likeIwas shifting, but it was so much more.Greenburst through the yellowy leaves around us as shrubs and trees shot to life, knocking us to our asses.Ina flurry of rustling leaves, a bunch of twigs, branches, and roots descended uponRobbie.Whenthe whirl of activity slowed,Robbiewas gone.Hadthe forest consumed him?HadIkilledHayden’sbrother?Iscrambled forward and pushed at the leaves.There, encased in a cage of twigs and roots, wasRobbie.Hewas unconscious, but alive.

Onlythen did the heat inside me ebb away.Ifell back on my ass.WhathadIdone?

“Howdid that happen?”Connygaped at me for a moment, then he crawled towardRobbie. “Ishe alive?Hecan’t die.Pleasesay he’s alive.”

Vanstepped forward.Fromone step to the next, he shed his fiery hellhound form to take on his human one. “He’sstill alive.Ican hear him breathing.Wemight need a hacksaw to get him out, though.”Heglanced at me. “Unlessyou can back this up a little?”

“Thatwasn’t…Ididn’t…”Istared at the tangled cage. “Faunscan’t…”