Untamed - Book 2

Alpha Jordan

Once Darius’s men clear the room, I watch as Cora stands in front of Lady Laurent’s cell with an expression that is calm and collect, but through our bond I can feel the rage that she is struggling to hold back.

“Your father has fallen. Altier will soon fall. Tell me, were all the lies, deaths and manipulation worth it?” I take a few cautious steps forward, curious as to how this is going to play out.

“Fuck you! You murdered him! I hope you burn in hell!” Cora sighs as she continues to study the woman in the cell.

“I tried to let him go, but he chose to attack rather than run. He murdered thirty innocent men, women and children. He was a monster.” A sickeningly sinister laugh fills the air and I can hear the chains that are binding Lady Laurent jingling as she moves in her cell.

“Seems you know a thing or two about being a monster, don’t you? Do you remember the faces of every life you ended? Don’t come at me with warnings of my father’s sins when your own hands are covered in the blood of the innocent too.” I feel my heart clench and I am about to rush to my mate when she speaks in a smooth yet cold tone.

“While my reputation precedes me, it is highly exaggerated. Yes, innocent people have died by my hands, but many were freed, not that the council had ever taken the time to verify that I had completed my tasks. I have three covens here today who the council believes I had eradicated. You don’t know me as well as you think. You are right, however. I know a lot about being a monster and when this whole thing is over, I will introduce you to the monster your people helped to create.” She tosses something into the cell and I walk over just in time to see Jacob Laurents family signet ring lying on the ground in front of her.

“We should go prepare to leave.” She nods and walks out of the room and up the stairs. I manage to catch her just before she reaches the door, pulling her into my arms.

“Are you okay?” She pulls back and looks at me with a reassuring smile in place.

“I think so, as okay as I can be.” We walk through the door and my feet freeze in place at the sight of the entire field in front of the pack house, packed full with more than three hundred men and women. It seems the numbers multiplied exponentially while I was in the prison and more people are still coming out of the pack house in droves. A strange looking man walks toward us with a beaming smile.

“Cora! I’m sorry we were late. We didn’t miss the fun did we?” Cora laughs and throws her arms around the man’s neck, giving him a quick hug before stepping back.

“Not at all. Alpha Carlo, this is my mate, Alpha Jordan. Jordan, this is alpha Carlo of the High Crest Pack.” I am pretty sure I look like a deer caught in headlights as I stare at the man. Our ancestors told stories of the high Crest Pack, cautionary tales really. According to each one, they were massacred by an assassin witch working for the witch’s council. My eyes widen as realization strikes and I look at Cora who is smiling from ear to ear.

“You were the witch sent to kill them?” Both Cora and Carlo nod in unison.

“Yes, but what most don’t know I that it was the were council who gave me the orders. Carlo’s pack was more powerful than the others and the council felt they were a threat. I went in with every intention of completing my task, but when I scouted the pack, I found a peaceful pack who lived a simple life. I made the decision to tell Carlo of my orders and with Luca’s help, we were able to find them a new home. We used a hellfire spell to incinerate the entire pack grounds, leaving everyone to believe the people had burned with it.” She smiles proudly as she tells me of her actions.

“Cora, everyone is ready.” Alpha Michaels announces as he walks over to where we are standing.

“Our count so far is four hundred and eighty seven men and women.” Danny chimes in with a wide smile.

“Coralie, we are ready to follow you. Your father’s blood runs through your veins and your mother’s energy guides you.” Darius speaks in a soothing tone, something I did not realize the bloodsucker was capable of.

“Thank you, Darius. Thank you for everything.” She walks to the front of the field and I stay close by her, hoping to give her strength if she should need it.

“All of you here are creating a moment in history that will live on forever. Never have all races stood together to fight a common enemy, but today, we stand together, not as people divided by race, but as one people seeking freedom and the right to live our lives in peace. Some of us are all too familiar with the councils and the evil they are capable of. Many of you have faced their wrath for things you had no control over. Some were deemed too powerful to exist, some were found to be in possession of resources that the council wanted and some, well some were just in the wrong damn place at the wrong time. Sometimes the only way to find peace is through war. We have to spill blood to end the bloodshed. Sad contradictions, but they hold true. Thanks to a few of my most loyal friends, we know that when we charge into the Haven Crest pack today, we will be able to take on not only one of our enemies, but two. The witch’s council and Caleb Altier are both within the walls at Haven Crest and by the time the sun sets, both will fall!” The air fills with shouts, cheers and applause, the sound nearly deafening. Cora takes my hand and leads us toward the forest, an immense power radiating through our bond and pushing us both forward with strength and determination.