Faith couldn't help but be impressed.
She had always believed the church's teaching, that alphas lived crude, primitive lives in hovels and caves without creature comforts. But this was a real house…a home.
It wasn't fancy by any stretch of the imagination. There was no electricity or television. No crystal chandeliers or expensive furniture. But there was grace and even elegance in the house's simplicity. The walls were sturdy and beautifully plastered. The fireplace's huge stone hearth was imposing but also cozy. And while there few possessions on display, the open space made the place seem lighter and cheerier than her family's large home, which was crammed with heavy antiques and religious statuary and paintings.
But Faith hadn't hauled herself out of bed to evaluate the alpha's home decor. She supported herself with a hand against the wall as she crept slowly toward the front door.
When she put her hand on the doorknob, Faith heard voices outside. Troy's deep rumble instantly triggered her body's reaction, and Faith grimaced at the warmth that blossomed inside her and the dampness between her legs. How she wished she could convince her body that the alpha was a monster.
But it was the second, unfamiliar voice that had her heart pounding.
Troy wasn't alone. He was out there talking with someone—maybe someone who was looking for her.
Fresh hope surged in Faith's heart. Maybe God hadn't abandoned her completely, after all.
She threw open the door and instantly slipped on the icy boards, her body slamming against the hardwood porch rail. Faith grabbed wildly for the post, barely keeping herself from falling as cold air bit into her skin.
All the determination she'd mustered inside the house instantly vanished when she saw that Troy wasn't talking to her father, her pastor, or even a police officer.
Instead, he was standing with another alpha, one almost as tall and imposing as him. Troy was blond and held himself with icy reserve; the other alpha was dark and gave off a tense energy.
"Maddox," Troy said, after a charged moment in which neither alpha spoke. "Meet Faith, my omega."
Faith opened her mouth to protest that she wasn't his anything--but she stopped before the first syllable passed her lips.
Maddox?
She'd heard that name before. What's more, it had been before she'd felt Troy's touch, and everything had gone blurry.
She frantically searched her mind for its meaning.
Hope's at home with her alpha, Maddox.
Her eyes went wide with rage. Standing in front of her was the devil who had captured her sister.
Instantly, Faith forgot about the lingering ache in her muscles. The only thing she could think about was Hope…and rescuing her from this monster.
Faith launched herself off the railing, somehow keeping her balance as she skidded across the ice, then leapt over the stairs to the fresh snow on the ground. She nailed the landing and would have remained standing if one of her knees hadn't buckled, still recovering from her body's marathon.
She found herself lurching forward and probably would have hit the ground if Troy hadn't rushed to catch her.
Faith didn't even try to wrestle free of his hold. She knew from experience just how pointless such an effort would be.
Instead, she focused all of her anger on the dark alpha who was currently glaring at her from his position in front of Troy's garage.
"Where is my sister, you bastard?"
The alpha didn't flinch. He didn't even blink.
"None of your business," he said.
"You won't get away with taking her from us," she spat.
"Taking her?" The alpha gave a dark laugh. "You call yourself her sister, but where the hell have you been the last five years of her life? You're the people who threw her out."
Faith's top lip curled in disgust. She didn't need to explain herself to anyone in the Boundarylands--especially not the alpha who had stolen Hope and was keeping her captive.
And apparently, she wasn't the only one feeling protective.
"You're a guest on my land, Maddox," Troy said warningly. "So mind your mouth when you speak to my omega."
The dark alpha flashed a dangerous-looking glare at Troy. "Wouldn't need to if you'd muzzle your omega."
Troy gave a growl so deep it rumbled the earth beneath Faith's feet. "Last warning, brother."
The line of Maddox's jaw tightened, but he eventually let out a long slow breath of capitulation.
"Hope was still in bed when I left," he said, giving Troy an apologetic look. "I didn't mean to offend your omega, brother."
Faith stiffened. "I'm not his anything. My name is Faith Johansen, and I'm here to find my sister Hope and bring her home."
"Stop now, Faith," Troy muttered.
"Stop what?" she spat. "Do you devils really think that just because you managed to capture and bed us that you own us?"
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Maddox grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Hope said you might act like this. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you can't take your sister home. She's already there. She's my mate, she's pregnant with my pup, and she's not going anywhere."
Faith froze as the shock of the alpha's words slowly sank in. But it couldn't be true—he had to be lying.
Hope would never do what he was accusing her of. Not willingly. If it was true, then things were worse than Faith had imagined—her poor sister had become an alpha's brood mare.
Her sister may have been misguided when she'd walked out on their family and the church, but she'd done it because she wanted to be independent and live a life free of chains. Hope would never give up that dream to be bound to an alpha.
"You are a liar." Faith spat the last word.
Maddox growled warningly, glaring at Troy, who pulled her slightly behind him. "I'm trying here, brother."
"It’s true, Faith," Troy said tightly, never taking his eyes off the other alpha. "I told you that night at Evander's."
No. He'd only told her that her poor sister was imprisoned in that animal's house—not that she was pregnant with his child.
Faith started
