*
“I’ll come quietly just please don’t hurt her,” Nicole cried.
“Oh it’s far too late for that.” Tynan replied. “My vision of peace will not be disrupted by a she-bitch. It won’t, I tell you!”
“Sir! On the right!”
The pilot called out just before Nicole yelped and covered her face as a body slammed into the side of the craft.
“Get us out. Go!” Tynan replied.
Nicole cringed as the person, a dark-haired girl, began pummelling the door with a fist, holding on with her other hand. Where she came from Nicole didn’t know. Her silver eyes were almost slits, concentrating her frantic effort to get Nicole out. She grunted and wheezed through her elongated fangs as the door bent inwards. Her strength was breaking it down. Her roar shook the cabin as Nicole felt it rise high in the air, but the girl didn’t stop. The height made no difference to her as she again struck the solid steel and Perspex again and again.
If Nicole could just reach her outstretched hand, she could be pulled through the gap...
“Oh Talia. I had such hopes for you. Goodnight my dear...” Tynan said before pointing the hose at the destroyed door. Nicole yelled and tried to push it away but it was too late.
“No!” Nicole screamed as Talia, who had tried so hard to free her, was engulfed in flames and screams as she slipped off and plummeted to the ground fifty feet below. Nicole didn’t see her land as the craft pivoted and launched itself forward, away from the chaos, the wind whipping her hair, yet she could hear Tynan’s voice clearly.
“I would’ve thought you’d be grateful. I’m taking you back to your boy.”
“So I can breed your wolves?”
“I am willing to renegotiate. It turns out you are more pivotal to my plan than I first thought. Your son is sick.”
“What?” Nicole lunged for him. “What have you done to my baby?!”
Tynan swatted her attempt away. “He needs his mother. A rare condition among infant Alphas in which a child without its pack close by can die. It also severely affects the pack members. Ah…I see by the look on your face this isn’t a surprise to you. Alicia has been feeling the effects no doubt. So, are we willing to play nice during the calm?”
“Calm? What calm?”
“There is always a calm leading to a war. A stillness across the battlefield as the armies march towards their fate. I’ve always said I do not want conflict, and it’s true. But I have spent years preparing for it. Crippling, destroying and ransacking those who do not share my vision. I can see them coming. Alicia is one of them. Completely outnumbered, totally outgunned. But she won’t care…” Tynan smiled to himself. “She will come. For you. For her grandson. With Talia, with any that can muster the courage or the stupidity. They will fall like so many others. There are none that can stand against me. I bring order to chaos as you will soon see, yet again. But, should you cooperate, I will grant you protection. You may not understand yet, but I am your best option at keeping your son alive. Need I remind you, if it wasn’t for me he would be dead.”
Nicole could’ve retaliated. Verbally or more. But one thought kept creeping into her mind that stopped her. She just wanted to hold her son. A way out, a way to help Alicia get in, might present itself. But for now, it was best to get to her baby.
“I haven’t forgotten.”
Chapter Sixteen
A New Plan
Alicia ran forward, watching in horror watching Talia fall. She tried to run as fast as could but she stumbled, blood seeping through her jeans. She couldn’t reach her in time. She crumbled to the ground, pain gripping her lower half, as Alistair sailed over her and came down with Talia in his arms. In the same movement, he laid her on the ground and patted down the flames. Alicia half crawled over to see Talia, whimpering heavily.
“You’ll be ok. You’ll heal soon.” Alicia said softly, stroking her sweat soaked, singed hair.
“I failed...” Talia said, scrunching her eyes and hiding her tears. “I tried to get her. I tried...”
“There was nothing else you could’ve done. We were trying to organise a rescue for you. It’s me who failed. I walked away from my house, my name. Now both lie in ruins.”
Talia turned her face slightly to the burning mansion, now in pieces. “I can’t do anything about the house, but we can about the name. We have to get your grandson back. And his mum.”
“I’ll let you recover first.”
“Are you both insane?” Alistair retorted, “You both are in no condition to fight anyone, least of all Ross’ Army.”
“What do you suggest?” Alicia winced.
“Stay out of sight. Save yourselves.”
“Not an option,” Alicia replied.
“Of course it is!” Alistair said, looking to Talia. “You cannot possibly go along with this?”
“And why not?” Talia asked, picking off the crusty black scabs and revealing pink skin underneath.
“Because you’re the Alpha. You’re supposed to lead with smarts, not guns blazing into anything that comes your way. Call me a coward all you want. It’s suicide.”
“Ok then, coward,” Talia shrugged. “If you’re that frightened, I’ll kamikaze that fortress by myself if I have to.”
“I’m not frightened. I’m tired. Of all this. You think you’re the only one that has wanted to take down Ross? That no one else had the bright idea he might be a bigger threat than most realise? Ross hasn’t touched this house for years, but Creed kept track of his
