Page 41 of Forgotten Arcane (Broken Ashes #6)

My eyebrows rise, the blue fucker has cut ties? Why isn’t he showing up here? How did he know that they hadn’t managed to capture us? All questions that are going to have to wait.

Derek looks around at the wolves surrounding us. Spittle flies from his mouth as he screams, “What the fuck are you doing! Attack them. I want their heads.”

The wolves around us growl and prepare to attack.

“Stand down,” River says calmly, not needing to raise his voice, even over the sounds of the growls. The command is so strong that they all immediately stop.

As I look around at the now calm wolves, most of them have shifted back into their human forms. I see heartbreaking hope fill their eyes as they realize that we might actually be able to help them.

Derek’s eyes widen in shock, and he screams again, “Fucking end them!”

His alpha voice is so weak compared to River’s that it’s laughable.

None of the wolves move.

River’s alpha command easily overrides Derek’s.

Before Derek can react, River calls out another order.

“All of those who are loyal to Derek, step forward,” the order snaps out over the crowd of wolves.

Several of them step forward, and my eyebrows rise in shock as some that were clearly hiding in the surrounding trees, all walk forward so that we can see them.

There is betrayal and disbelief on some of the other wolves' faces, and I would be willing to bet that some of these wolves who are loyal to Derek have been playing some of the other wolves to get information out of them.

Without needing to be asked, Ransom clicks his fingers again, and cuffs appear on all of them.

“How dare you!” Derek growls.

He runs at full speed toward River and me, moving so fast that he’s just a blur.

I don’t move. I don’t even twitch. I know that River has this handled, and I know that it’s really important that I stay where I am and don’t flinch. Once again, I have no idea how I know that, but it’s really not hard to do.

Trusting River is easy, and I don’t trust easily.

Everyone around us starts to panic, especially when River doesn’t move. Just before Derek gets to us, he shifts and then lunges, his jaws open as he aims for River’s throat.

River is still calm as he catches the wolf by its neck. River growls, “Shift!”

A shiver runs down my spine, not because of fear, but because of the complete opposite.

“How?” Derek asks, completely shocked and looking scared for the first time since we showed up.

I think he’s finally getting how much shit he’s in.

River is still holding him by his neck, Derek’s fingers digging into his hand in an attempt to force him to let go, and having absolutely no effect.

“Where are the women and pups?” River asks, no command in his voice this time.

Derek’s eyes fill with malice, “You’ll never find them, and even if you were able to. They’re guarded by some of my most vicious wolves. If I don’t check in by midnight at the end of each day, then they will kill them all.”

The wolves around us shift uneasily, but none of them question River or try to step in.

River’s growl is dark and threatening, and I feel his magic grow. The wolves around us drop to the floor, and I’m shocked when the guys do the same. I briefly consider doing it too, even though I don’t feel the need to, but I immediately dismiss the idea.

I’m supposed to stand beside River, not kneel at his feet.

River’s claws lengthen, piercing Derek’s skin and causing blood to drip down his neck.

Derek’s eyes widen in panic.

“Okay, okay,” he begs. “I’ll tell you the coordinates, just don’t kill me.”

River shrugs, “Okay.”

Derek obviously decides that’s as good as he’s going to get from River because he quickly reels off the coordinates.

River nods, and using his alpha voice, asks, “Are the coordinates you just gave me, correct?”

Derek tries to nod and then winces, “Yes, they are. Now put me down.”

“Not just yet I have a couple more questions, and then I’ll let you go,” River starts. “How many of your wolves are guarding them?”

“Twenty,” Derek replies, through gritted teeth.

River nods and says teasingly, “There’s a good little wolf. Where were you planning to go to replace the women that you were going to kill? I want names, as well as a location.”

Derek’s eyes widen as he tries to shake his head and then realizes he can’t without causing more damage to himself, “I can’t tell you that. If I do, they’ll kill me.”

River’s laughter is dark as he asks, “And what do you think I’m going to do if you don’t tell me?

Actually, that’s not strictly true. I won’t just kill you, I’ll torture you until you’re begging for death, even if you do tell me.

I will make your death as long and drawn out as I possibly can, and trust me, I can make it last for months.

Torture is kind of my thing. Unless, of course, you tell me now? ”

Fear floods Derek’s expression, as the smell of urine fills the air. He swallows thickly, “You won’t kill me if I tell you?”

River shrugs again, “Nope.”

“There’s a place that moves around the country. It’s like a traveling store for she-wolves. You can either buy or sell to them. The owner is called Patrick. The next sale is in Lakerton.”

River’s face is full of disgust as once again he uses his alpha voice, “Is what you just told me true?”

Derek tries to nod again, “Yes.”