Zara

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her comment and saw a deadly glare on her face. Carter pressed his hand to his heart, looking at Sophia with an offended expression. Apparently, Sophia’s comment elicited a chuckle from all of us, a welcome distraction to lighten the oppressive mood.

"How mean," Carter shook his head, casting a weary glance at Wade.

We headed for the front door; no one was around. I was filled with anticipation and anxiety. Would we get Ryan home safely? Would Ryan ever be the same after what happened to him?

"We’re not leaving here without Ryan," Sophia muttered next to me, linking her arm through mine. "We’ll bring him home, Zara."

"I hope so," I breathed out, speechless.

I adjusted my tight dress and smoothed my long hair. The low neckline accentuated my chest but hid the scarlet mark on my shoulder. A shiver ran through me, and for a moment I regretted not bringing a jacket. It wasn’t the air that chilled me, but the thought of what could go wrong.

"Put this around your neck," Alpha Kane muttered, handing me a red cord. His cologne hit my nose, calming the turmoil in my stomach a bit.

"Is this our entrance?" I frowned, confused why Sophia wasn’t wearing one.

"That’s how we get into underground cells," Alpha Kane continued, draping the cord over my head. "It’ll be in another part of the warehouse, I’m sure. Watch the exits; we don’t want to get blocked in."

"We’re going to have to cause a scene to get Ryan out of here, aren’t we?" I winced, my fists clenching. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

There was no way we could get Ryan out of the building, especially when he was supposed to be underground torture cell. This wasn’t a stealth mission, but a stealth one. We needed to find a way to free Ryan while saving our own skins.

"Yes," Alpha Kane nodded, biting his lower lip.

"You have a plan?" I fell silent, peering into his stern face.

"No," Alpha Kane shook his head. "Time was short."

"You don’t have a plan?" My lips pressed tightly together, an unwanted surprise gripping me, asshole Alpha.

Much to my disappointment, Alpha Kane’s lips curled into a smirk. His honey-colored eyes shone with amusement, despite the gravity of the situation.

"I thought we could learn from you." Alpha Kane chuckled softly, "Act first, think later. Improvise."

"You want to improvise when my brother’s life is on the line?" Really, asshole Alpha, I sighed, realizing my mistake for the first time.

"It’s not so much fun when someone else acts and thinks later, is it?" Nova’s smug voice echoed in my head.

"Now’s not the time for a life lesson, Nova," I snapped, turning my attention back to Alpha Kane. "There’s always time for a good life lesson." Nova shrugged and stepped back, sensing my irritation.

"As I said, time was short." Alpha Kane frowned, his voice turning into a hoarse mutter. "If we wait, there’s no telling when Ryan will show up again. He could be on the other side of the country if we wait."

I knew Alpha Kane was right, but that didn’t calm my jangled nerves. Nova infused small doses of power into my veins, enough to calm my pounding heart.

Silence fell over the parking lot, and I held my breath as Alpha Kane knocked on the large swinging doors. A second passed, then another, until one of the wide glass doors slid open. The windows were blackened, concealing what lay beyond.

A bald man opened the door, his body seemingly carved from rock. Even his head was rounded and uneven. He looked as if he were carved from the rock; his arms were covered in rippling muscles, larger than my head.

The man stood just inside the warehouse, in a small, pitch-black room, devoid of any furniture or decorations. A single light fixture hung from the ceiling, casting a yellow glow onto the dark walls.

Alpha Kane leisurely approached the man, with a calmness even I couldn’t match. The man didn’t move, even when Alpha Kane leaned over and muttered something to him.

With a slight grunt, the bouncer led us to another set of doors on the opposite side of the darkened room.

As soon as he opened the doors, deafening music and blissful laughter erupted. Flashing lights swarmed around the room, each time seeming to land on a different person.

The air was thick with the scent of se***x and alcohol, mingled with the blindingly sweet scent of werewolves.

We entered the club, the floor practically vibrating from the bass of the music. Red and white lights flashed in the air, blinding me every time they came into view. The entire club was bathed in a harsh red glow; even the scattered furniture was upholstered in red velvet.

The inside of the club was quite inviting. From the inside, you’d never guess this was an old warehouse. The interior... Completely renovated, the walls were freshly painted black, and the floor was covered with shiny oak planks.

At the back of the room was a long platform. It was lined with tables, chairs, and booths, seating just a few people. A thick red rope ran along the platform.

Platforms separated the club’s back half. A silver plaque engraved with the word "VIP" hung from a rope.

A long bar lined each wall of the club, with three bartenders on each side rushing to fill orders. A round bar sat in the center of the club, and two young men in the middle were preparing colorful drinks.

Despite the seriousness of our plans, the club had a pleasant atmosphere. Everyone was either dancing the night away or ordering colorful drinks. If it weren’t for the sickly sweet smell of "Wolves," I might have even liked the club.

"Speak through the mind link," Alpha Kane muttered to us. "I don’t want anyone overhearing."

"Where are you taking us, Alpha?" Carter asked through the mind link, scanning the room.

"I want you to split up, but stay close to the doors." Alpha Kane led me to one of the bars. His face was an impassive mask as he ordered a drink. He managed to order a drink and talk to the bartender, all the while communicating with us via mental link.

"Sophia, split up and head to the back of the club. Zara and I will go to the VIP area. Keep your eyes and ears open." Alpha Kane raised a glass of liqueur to his lips, calmly scanning the room.