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Cole turns back to the boys, clearly waiting for more information.

“They are the sacred property of our King-boss!” the head boy snaps, furious again as he points a finger at all the girls. “You can’t take them! They are the future of our religion and very sacred and untouchable! We would never gonearthem except to keep you fromtakingthem away!”

Some of the boys nod, clearly believing this to be the utter truth.

“Well, they’re mine now,” Cole says, shaking his head at the boys.

“No, we’re not!” my fierce little Diana snaps, getting to her knees and pointing at me. “We follow theGoddess! The Alpha Tamer!”

The boys stare at her in undisguised shock as Cole glances back and shakes his head at her before turning back to the boys. Some of the boys stare at me now, shocked and perhaps a little frightened.

I bare my teeth at them for good measure, letting them believe me an Alpha-tamer if it keeps them from stabbing me. Several gasp and one falls over, skittering away from me in fear.

I work very hard not to laugh.

“All right,” Cole barks out, spreading his hands wide and glaring around at all the children, boys and girls alike. “Everyone sit quietly and listen! I’m going to tell you the plan.”

I look up at him curiously, just as quiet as the kids, wondering what the hell we’re going to do next.

“Now,” Cole says, frowning at the boys in particular. “You recognize that I am your Alpha now, yes? And that to disobey me is death?”

My eyes widen as the boys begin to nod, some more sullenly than others.

“Then you will do as Isay,” Cole snaps. “I am taking you back to my camp, where we will give you good food and a place to rest. You will be treated well and given a good life if you are obedient.”

Some of the boys’ faces brighten at the mention of food, breaking into smiles even at the idea of a good life.

“You mean…you’renotgoing to kill us?” the little black-haired boy whispers, staring up at Cole.

Chapter 57 – A Good Life

Nadia

Cole frowns down at the boys. “No, I’m not going to kill you,” he says, steady and strong. “I don’t come from a world where wekillchildren. We raise them and educate them in warm and happy homes. If you obey, you will be given food and warm clothing, you’ll be sent to school. You’ll be safe and protected – and you won’t have to work until you’re much older and can decide what jobs you’d like.”

A confused little hum starts in the children, the girls looking at me, clearly wondering if this promise extends to them as well. I slowly nod, dedicating myself inwardly to ensuring that that promise is kept.

“But it allstartswith you all falling into line under my command,” Cole says, steady and unyielding. “Can you do that?”

Most of the little boys immediately nod, great smiles breaking out on their faces. Only the boy in the lead truly hesitates. Cole raises an eyebrow at Johnny, who glances around at his friends before he nods too, his head hanging. I watch them, wondering if their loyalty can be so easily bought, suspicious that they’re tricking us. These children - don’t they have stronger ties to the Children of Solace? Aren’t they…secretly loyal?

Or are their lives really so terrible that they’re eager to drop it all for such a meager promise - the absolutebasicsof what children should receive in this world?

I sigh, not fully trusting the boys yet. The girls I knowranfrom Slaken – hid from him, looking for a way out. These boys…I need to learn more before I can trust them not to turn on us.

Things move quickly after the boys accept Cole’s promise. He orders all the children to shift and then, to my surprise, he deputizes some of the taller girls to keep the boys in line.

At Cole’s order, the twelve boys sort themselves into two lines of six, and the girls ring around them in a big pack. Cole turns to me, eyebrow raised, clearly asking if I’m ready. But I just scoff at him, Janine up in my arms, becauseobviouslyI’m ready.I want to getback– back to camp where we canfeedthese children, and get them clean, and ensure that they’re healthy and warm.

Cole laughs as he shifts, but he obligingly lowers himself so I can climb up onto his shoulders with Janine in front of me.

“Will we go fast?” Janine asks, looking up at me with worry in her eyes.

“Nottoofast,” I whisper, dropping a kiss to her hair as Cole stands and I knot my fingers in his fur. “Don’t worry, kiddo – I’ll keep you safe. And if my Alpha runstoofast, I’ll justkickhim.”

Janine laughs as Cole shoots a playful glare at me over his shoulder. Then he lets out a loud bark, and all the pups startforward as one. I’m surprised to see that none of the boys take the opportunity of their fast little wolf bodies to make a break for it, each of them staying solidly in line.

But then again, considering the world in which they grew up, perhaps order is second nature to them – familiar and comforting as they enter a new era of their lives. Still, I keep my eyes on them the entire time we run.