Page 2 of Fall of the Alpha

2

UNSAFE

They both left the Zones.

Both of them?

They came together.

How very foolish.

What do you want to do?

Take them.

Zadia

Following the progeny of the Wolf’s enemies to their stayplace, Zadia hung back so as not to draw too much attention. Most of the visiting Zonians didn’t realize there were female Alphas as well as males. Most of what they were taught about the territories and Alphas and Omegas was pure fiction, all designed to make them easier to control. Zadia had made it a point to talk to visiting Zonians, wanting to know what they thought.

What they were being told.

She’d tried to tell a few of them the truth, but that had only resulted in her being mocked… which had ended violently. After breaking a few Betas’ bones, she’d stopped bothering to try.

One day, they’d know the truth.

Sooner rather than later, if the Wolf had his way.

They’d been watching the walls of Zone One for close to two decades now.

Watching.

Waiting.

Lulling the Zonians into complacency. Letting Grigori think that he’d been forgotten. Letting Paldon think they believed his lies.

And now their children were in the territories.

Fools.

Zadia watched the four Betas enter their stayplace.

Waited.

As she was used to doing.

It didn’t take long before they came back out, appearing eager to go exploring. She smirked. Little did they know, two of them were going to get a much closer look at the territories than they bargained for. They were going to be guests of the Wolf.

Strolling along behind them, she watched them carefully. Occasionally she glimpsed Marek, who was doing the same. The Alpha Male was prowling through the shadows, careful to stay out of sight of the Betas, who were out for a thrill. Eventually, he would make a fine distraction.

The littlest one, Paldon’s daughter, was small enough to be an Omega. Curvy with ample breasts and ass, she was the type to draw the eye of any Alpha. Zadia was no exception. Grigori’s son, on the other hand, was big enough to be an Alpha. Perhaps that was why Grigori thought it would be safe enough to let the male enter the territories.

She wondered if the son knew where his father had come from and why it was dangerous for him to enter the territories. Perhaps Grigori thought that after all this time, the murder of Tatiana would be forgotten. Surely, he would realize it would never be forgiven.

Or maybe he thought he’d done a good enough job hiding his past that no one knew of his family.

Zadia could only guess. Grigori had never made much sense to her.

Sliding into the shadows, she sidled alongside Marek. They both watched as the foursome stopped at an eatery, taking a table outside where they’d be able to see everything. Out of all of them, only Grigori’s son appeared alert to possible dangers, keeping his head up as he looked around, eyes constantly scanning those around him.

Perhaps he did know something.

Then again, considering where they’d chosen to eat, he might know nothing at all.

“How fortuitous,” Marek murmured. “Do you think it’s chance they chose Martina’s restaurant?”

It didn’t matter that it had been nearly twenty years and that the feisty Beta had found her own mate and had her own children. She had not forgotten Grigory and the way he’d used her.

“If it’s not, then he’s more foolish than his sire.” Zadia shook her head. Though Grigori had never been foolish exactly. Only blind to anything other than his own goals. His own wants and desires. “Perhaps he knows nothing.”

“You think his father would let him come here in ignorance?” Marek voiced her own thoughts back to her. The big Alpha raked his fingers through his dark hair, the hint of a growl deepening his voice when he mentioned Grigori, even though it wasn’t by name.

“I don’t know.” Zadia considered it again for a moment. “It doesn’t matter either way. This is too good a chance not to take it. I’ll go speak with Marina.” Her hand automatically patted against the pouch on her hip, checking to make sure everything was accounted for.

“I’ll keep watch.”

That was for the best. Marek would have had to cross several open spaces to get to Martina’s eatery. Zadia drew some attention, being such a tall female, but not the same kind of attention he would. The females would flock to him the moment he stepped out of the shadows and could be seen.

They wouldn’t get too close, most of them, but he could hardly walk unnoticed into the eatery. For discretion, Zadia was the obvious choice.

Bella

Sitting quietly next to Kenet, Bella peeked out from behind her curtain of hair to look around. Now that they were in a quieter space, she could see much more. The colors here seemed brighter than in Zone One, the decorations gaudier, yet everything was cruder as well.

It was certainly louder. A cacophony of excited visitors surrounded them. At least, she assumed they were visitors by their excitement.

A Beta came out of the eatery to take their order, completely lacking in excitement, which marked them as a native to the territory. Bella wished she had the courage to ask the Beta why they chose to be here rather than in Zone One.

Of course, her father said they couldn’t accommodate every Beta who lived in the territories. That’s why they needed to eventually expand outward if they were going to keep rescuing those unfortunate souls who were trapped under cruel Alpha rule. He’d been very upset to find out that she was going into Alpha Territory, but since Kenet was going, as well as Liana and Alek, he’d come around. She was fairly certain her mother had also interceded on her behalf.

“Ooooh, do you think that’s an Alpha?” Liana asked, bouncing in her seat as she pointed to a male passing by. Bella jerked her head up to see who the other female was looking at.

A tall male, broad-shouldered but thin, sauntered past.

“No, look, he has knives on his belt.” Kenet shook his head. “An Alpha wouldn’t need knives. They’re killing machines with their bare hands.” He sounded excited, as if that was a good thing.

Bella shivered. She felt as though she was the only one who didn’t want to see an Alpha. Across the table from her, Alek sent her a sympathetic look. Well, perhaps she wasn’t the only one, though Alek didn’t seem fearful of possibly seeing one. Then again, he was a big, strong male. So was Kenet.

So many people had remarked upon Bella’s stature her entire life that she was worried, despite her curves, that without her suppressors, she might prove to be an Omega. Her mother was also worried, which was why she’d sent Bella with extra for the trip—just in case. She hadn’t wanted to hold Bella back, not like her father, who kept her hemmed in with rule after rule. She understood why, even though she didn’t like it.

Perhaps that was why this sudden freedom felt so strange. She’d never had it before.

She needed to relax and enjoy it. In several days, she would be back in Zone One and following her father’s strictures again. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders, determined to have fun while she could.