Chapter 183

Alyx

He wiped a hand across his mud-splattered face, leaving a trail of blood. Alyx hardly noticed or cared. He was too intent on reaching his brother. Ronan would want to hear how the mission went, and what he’d learned about their enemies. There wasn’t time to waste cleaning himself up, making himself presentable.

Eye tracked him as he wove through the camp. Men and women bent their heads together and whispered. Most looked weary as he strode past, some downright scared. He liked it that way. They should fear him. The entire world should fear him.

He’d lost the one person in his life who understood him, who really meant something to him. His best friend. His brother. Nothing in this world, or in any other, could stop him from getting his vengeance. He didn’t even really care if they won this war, not anymore. As long as he made them suffer. As long as he got to see the look on Celeste’s face when he took what she loved away from her, the way she stole his brother from him.

“You’re back,” Beck said, falling into step beside him. “Ronan’s been asking for you.”

“Where is he?”

“I’ll take you,” he answered in a small voice.

If it were up to Alyx, he would have left Beck and Noah at home. The last thing he wanted to worry about was his younger brothers getting hurt, too. He knew the twins could handle themselves, but Beck and Noah were still too young, too untested.

But Beck was still ashamed about what happened at the compound. He blamed himself for what Celeste did on his watch, and he blamed himself for Jeremy’s death. No matter how much Alyx and the rest of them tried to comfort him, Alyx could see it eating his younger brother alive.

He stopped, forcing Beck to come to a halt beside him. “Are you okay?” he asked, forcing his thoughts to clear. He was still wrapped in bloodlust, but he needed to check in on his little brother.

“Fine,” Beck said, not meeting his eyes. “Come on, we shouldn’t keep Ronan waiting.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Alyx said, grabbing his brother’s arm. He was worried Beck might do something stupid to make up for what happened.

A muscle ticked in Beck’s jaw. He couldn’t look Alyx in the eye.

“It was her fault,” Alyx reiterated. He didn’t care how many times he had to say it. He’d repeat himself until Beck finally understood.

Beck pulled his arm free. “Come on,” he said again. He started walking and Alyx had no choice but to follow him.

The mud squashed beneath his combat boots, a loud squelching sound following every step. It had rained a bit the night before, soaking those not sleeping in tents. Everyone else camped out in their wolf forms, huddled together to stay warm.

“There you are,” Kai said, taking a step forward. He was standing outside a campervan. One of those old ones from the 70s. Ronan was using it as a makeshift command zone.

“Here I am,” Alyx answered.

“You look gross.”

Alyx just shrugged. His hands were still coated in her blood, and it stained bits of his uniform as well, but he didn’t care. He’d change later.

“I’ll go get him,” Kai said, blocking his path to the caravan door. “I don’t think he’d appreciate you tracking mud inside.”

“Okay.”

“Beck, go help your brothers with dinner.”

Beck just gave a subdued nod and jogged off. Kai watched him go with furrowed brows.

“Is he getting any better?”

Alyx shook his head. “No. He still blames himself.”

Kai sighed. “He just needs time.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have much time.”

Before Kai could respond, the caravan door swung open, and Ronan jumped down. He wore black fatigues and thick black combat boots. A scowl sat heavy on his face as he surveyed Alyx.

“Is it done?”

They were all shocked when they found out the truth about Zoe. She disappeared from her unit for a few days, appearing back at the compound with a vague excuse about being separated from them. Unfortunately for her, one of her men trailed her right to the Peacekeeper’s compound. He observed as they spoke with them, then came right back to Ronan to break the news. She was a traitor.

“It’s done,” Alyx said. They’d drugged her one night at dinner, using her self-assurance against her. Then Alyx and a small unit of soldiers transported her to Huntsville, traveling only at night, and only in their human forms. The Peacekeepers never even saw them coming.

Alyx gutted her and disemboweled her when she was still alive, her screams muffled by the basement they camped out in. Then two of their human allies took her and strung her up in town, leaving only their scents behind. They wrote the word traitor in blood. Alyx watched it all from a distance, using a pair of binoculars.

The Peacekeepers thought they were so clever going to Huntsville, but they were transparent.

“Did she suffer?” Ronan asked.

Alyx smiled. “Greatly.”

“Good.”

The door opened again, and another figure jumped down from the caravan, followed by a girl with glasses and blue hair. Alyx scowled at the newcomers, fighting the urge to shift and tear into them.

Freddy Schreiber just gave him a mean smile. “Are we all set for tomorrow?” he asked, turning his attention to Ronan.

“Yes.”

Working with the Schreibers was a bad idea, but they offered more resources, more fighters. The main thing was to take out the Peacekeepers. They’d deal with the Schreibers after.

“I want the girl,” Freddy said, leveling Ronan with a hard stare.

Ronan waved his hand. “I’ve already agreed to your terms.”

Freddy nodded. Apparently, their attempted raid on the Peacekeeper’s compound didn’t exactly go as planned. They lost way more soldiers, only managing to get a few good hits in before they had to retreat. They never even got their hands on Celeste.

Alyx planned to one up them in that regard. He didn’t care what their deal with the Schreibers was. He wanted Celeste for himself, and he wouldn’t stop for Freddy. He wouldn’t stop for anyone.

Freddy sneered at him before stalking off, a few of his people falling into step behind him as he moved through the trees.

“Making deals with the devil, I see,” Alyx muttered.

Ronan narrowed his eyes. “We need the extra manpower.”

“Right.”

Ronan took a step forward. He was a few inches taller than Alyx, and quite a bit wider. Alyx averted his gaze.

“Are you questioning my judgment?”

“No, sir. I just don’t trust them.”

He snorted and took a step back. Alyx let out a breath. “We don’t need to trust them. We need to use them. We can’t afford to let a single Peacekeeper get out of this alive. They must pay for what they’ve done to our family. Nina and Enzo Rivers need to pay. Matt needs to pay.”

“And Celeste,” Alyx added.

Ronan nodded. “Her too. They’re going to learn that they shouldn’t fuck with the Crescent wolves. We’re going to put them in their place.”

His face contorted into a stiff grin. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Good,” Ronan said, “because we attack at dawn. By the time the sun has risen in the sky tomorrow, they’ll all be dead.”