Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 188: Chapter 188

Elara POV

Braden and I are slowly moving towards the border. I know I sounded confident and ready, but my heart is racing, and fear is lying thick in my throat. What I am doing does not scare me as much as the thought of the test subjects possibly on the loose. The danger factor just went up all the way with them here, but I refuse to turn around and leave Mindy here to rot one day longer.

“We’re getting close,” Braden whispers. “Take my hand.”

I take his hand, and he disappears right in front of my eyes. The only reason I know he is still beside me is because I can feel his hand around mine. We continue forward in silence until we reach the border behind the dungeons.

Braden pulls me behind a bush, and we wait until two guards pass us. I move, making the leaves rustle and peeking out just enough to be noticed.

“You!” A guard shouts, pointing at me. “Show yourself.”

Slowly, I rise and step around with my hands up.

“Don’t move!” He snaps when I want to move forward, and I stay put.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” he growls, pulling up his nose. “Why are you covered in shit?”

“It’s to conceal her scent,” the other guard whispers.

“I know that, dumbass,” the guard grunts. “I want to know why.”

“I got lost,” I lie blatantly. “So, I covered myself for safety reasons.”

“Bullshit!” The other one exclaims, slapping me across the face, and I fall to my knees. “You’re a spy."

“Don’t be an idiot,” the guard snaps. “It’s a rogue trying to sneak in.”

“To do what?” The guard frowns. “Rendezvous with a lover or gathering information?”

“Good question,” the other one nods, looking at me thoughtfully. “Where are you from and what are you doing here?”

“I told you, I got lost,” I whimper, and the guard slaps me again. frёeωebɳovel.com

“Fuck, now your hand stinks,” his companion complains. “Grab her and take her to the dungeons.”

“Why don’t you do it?” The guard frowns.

“Because your hand already stinks, and mine doesn’t,” he replies, rolling his eyes.

“I’ll make you a deal,” I say softly, slowly standing up. “I’ll walk there without resistance if you don’t slap me again.”

“Do we look like idiots?” The guard asks through narrowed eyes. “The second we ...”

“I won’t run,” I cut him off, and force myself to sniff as if I want to cry. “I’m just a girl, and it ... it hurts. I’m not a spy; I trespassed by accident. Please allow me a chance to prove my innocence.”

There is an awkward silence as they study me, and for a moment I fear that they will deny my request.

“Let’s do it,” one mutters to his friend. “Our shift is about over, and I don’t want to deal with this shit. Let’s lock her up and leave it to the Zeta team.”

“Fine,” the other one exhales deeply, and glares back at me. “Move! And no funny business.”

I nod solemnly and walk in front of them. I do not say a word as I follow their directions to the dungeons. The whole time, I keep my eyes and ears open for any sign of the test subjects, but I do not see anything other than Constantine guards. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Anxiety builds up as we enter the dungeons. What if Mindy and her mates are not here? Worse, what if they have been killed?

“Here you go,” the guard sneers, and kicks me into a cell.

I fall onto my hands and knees, and I glare at him, memorising his face. He will pay for this. In contrast with my thoughts, I silently stand up and walk to the tiny basin in the corner to clean up.

“Like that’s going to help,” he laughs, looking at me as they walk away.

“Braden?” I whisper urgently. I have not heard or felt him since we were hiding in the bushes, and we do not have much time. We must be out of here before the well-rested Zeta team takes over for their shift.

“I’m here,” he replies softly. “Don’t worry, I have the keys and will unlock your cell.”

“Have you seen Mindy?” I whisper desperately.

“Yes,” he replies, and my cell’s lock clicks. “She seems okay.”

“Show me,” I say and step outside the second my cell door opens.

“Second last to the right,” he answers. “I’ll start unlocking, while you get her out.”

The dirty dungeon floor is cold under my feet as I run to Mindy’s cell, and my heart skips a beat when I see her. She is dirty, poorly clothed, and has lost weight.

“Mindy,” I whisper, kneeling beside her, and gently touch her shoulder.

Her eyes fly open, and I quickly cover her mouth with my hand just in time before she screams.

“It’s me,” I whisper harshly. “Elara. Be quiet. I’m getting you out of here.”

“B ... but, how and ... where ...”

“We can talk later,” I cut off her incoherent stuttering. “We must go.”

“I’m not going without Maxim and Monroe,” she protests weakly, but does stand up.

“And I didn’t say you have to,” I smile softly, pushing her dirty blonde hair out of her face. “But I need you to listen, okay? I’ll answer all your questions once it’s safe.”

“Okay,” she nods, clinging to my hand.

“Elara,” Braden whispers. “All the cells are unlocked. As soon as you’re ready, I’ll start the chaos.”

“Who’s that?” Mindy asks, looking around frantically, her face distorted in fear.

“It’s Braden, and you can’t see him,” I reply quickly. “Just, don’t worry about it, okay?”

With Mindy’s hand in mine, I lead her out to Monroe’s cell. He looks at us with big eyes, and I place my finger against my lips to show him to be quiet, and he nods.

“Are you okay?” I ask, pushing open his cell’s door.

“Yeah,” he frowns, looking at the unlocked cell. “How ... when ...”

“Do now, ask later,” I sigh. I cannot fault them for asking. I would have done the same. One moment, you are locked up in a cage like an animal, and suddenly, you are free without hearing or seeing anything.

Mindy lets go of my hand and throws herself in Monroe’s embrace. His arms go tightly around her, and he gently kisses the top of her head.

“Let’s find Maxim,” I whisper, and Monroe points to a cell.

I quickly run forward but stop dead in my tracks when I see Maxim. He is shivering, and sweat is running down his face. He is bruised, beaten and has a disgusting wound on his thigh. I am not a pack doctor, but it is clear the wound is infected, and he has a dangerous fever.

“Kane, Axel,” I mind link him. “We have a problem. Maxim’s hurt, and there’s no way in hell he’s walking out here on his own.”