Page 50 of Heroes & Hitmen (Windy City Wolfpack #1)

Ares

The silvery light of the full moon spills through the treetops of Forest Glen preserve, casting ominous shadows over the parking lot.

I arrived about ten minutes ago, but I’m still behind the wheel of my truck in the back corner with the headlights off, engine idling while I watch the slow procession of people shuffling from their cars to gather near the wooded entrance.

Even from here, I swear I can feel the excited pulse of the rapidly forming crowd.

They’re delighted to be present tonight, energized by the full moon and eager for the upcoming ceremony and run.

Too bad I’m about to kill the vibe when I rock up to this party alone.

I’ve gone over the script in my head at least a dozen times to prepare myself for the performance I’ll need to deliver. Not that it’ll be hard to play up the grief of losing Miley. The story I’m selling may be fake, but the goodbye was all too real, and it’s still haunting me.

I glance at Miley’s note on the passenger seat, the carefully folded piece of paper resting there like a loaded gun.

I’ve read it twice more since arriving here just to torture myself.

It’s filled with apologies and excuses conveying just enough truth to hurt– that the pressure got to her, that even the call of fate couldn’t overcome her trust issues, that the thought of forever was just too much.

The last line is the real kicker, though, where she says she loves me and always will.

I’m choosing to believe that part’s real.

I reach over to pick it up, slipping the note into the pocket of my jeans. She should be long gone by now, riding down the highway with Jordan, safe and free and– most importantly– far away from the shitshow that’s about to unfold here.

Killing the engine, I finally step out of my truck, the slam of the door reverberating across the parking lot like a gunshot.

Heads turn. Whispers ripple. I pretend I don’t hear them as I start forward, walking slowly and deliberately in their direction like I’ve got nothing to hide and nothing left to lose.

The closer I get, the more the whispering increases.

The members of the Chicago pack who were deemed important enough to witness this ceremony are all clocking the obvious– that the girl I’m supposed to mate tonight isn’t here with me.

They came for the spectacle of our bonding, but what they’re about to witness is another thing entirely.

I keep my head down, boots thudding against the pavement, heart beating a riot in my chest.

Nothing to see here. Just a poor bastard who got dumped by the Alpha’s daughter right before their big moment.

I feel the energy of the crowd shift from curious to confused, from ecstatic to restless.

Lifting my gaze, I scan the sea of faces for Alpha Gage, but I don’t spot him amongst them.

Strange, since he’s the type of man who thrives on the attention of an audience.

I expected him to be waiting front and center, ready to deliver his own Oscar-worthy performance.

The fact that he’s not feels like a bad omen.

Before I can even contemplate whether something’s gone wrong, I hear the crunch of tires against the asphalt behind me, glancing over my shoulder to see a sleek black town car rolling up.

I pause at the edge of the pavement, pivoting around and bracing myself to face Gage Morgan’s wrath.

The murmurs quiet, tension thickens in the air.

The note in my pocket feels like it’s burning a hole through the denim as I prepare to act my ass off and sell the story of Miley abandoning fate.

The assembly at my back draws a collective inhale as the car comes to a stop, the whole world seemingly falling still. Alpha Gage steps out in a dark designer suit, then reaches back inside for something.

Someone.

My worst nightmare unfolds before my eyes when he hauls Miley out of the car by her arm, the silk bow in her hair hanging loose, eyes bright with panic. They find mine instantly and my whole body locks up, pulse roaring in my ears.

I can’t move, can’t even fucking breathe as I watch her stumble along at her father’s side, Elias Burke and Jordan exiting the vehicle behind them.

No.

No, no, no, no, no.

I step forward instinctively, but two enforcers close in on either side of me like a trap. Their hands land hard on my arms and shoulders, gripping tight to hold me back as my vision tunnels, my inner wolf surging to the surface.

“There’s been a change of plans,” Gage announces, shoving Miley aside and into the arms of a waiting enforcer.

It just so happens to be Ross, the asshole from the gala last night who nearly pissed himself when I staked my claim.

He locks a thick arm around her waist and I commit his face to memory, already visualizing his murder in exquisite detail.

He’ll bleed for touching what’s mine.

A growl rips from my throat as I wrestle to break free of the assholes holding me back, but their hands only clamp down tighter, keeping me locked in place.

“It has come to my attention that we’ve all been deceived,” Gage states as he paces before his audience like he’s warming up for the main event. “That our trust, our legacy, has been spat on by those who would manipulate our beliefs for their own selfish ends.”

The crowd draws a collective gasp, and I feel their attention swing to me like a punch. I meet it with a straight spine and clenched jaw, even as my insides twist with shock and rage.

How much does he know, and how the fuck did he find out?

“The union we were set to celebrate tonight was built on a foundation of lies by my own daughter and this outsider ,” Gage sneers, gesturing to me with open disgust. “It wasn’t fate that brought them together, but a concentrated effort to defraud the members of this pack and subvert the authority of its Alpha. ”

He’s choosing his words carefully to paint us as traitors, and it’s fucking working. The pack is eating it up, looking at him like he’s a saint and glaring at us like we’re criminals.

My pulse pounds in my ears as I look to Miley, mind scrambling for some way out of this mess.

Her face is schooled in a blank mask, violet-grey eyes distant and unfocused.

She’s seemingly withdrawn somewhere inside herself, and I can only imagine what kind of hell she’s been through since we said our goodbyes earlier.

Where did it all go wrong?

My gaze slides over to Jordan, who’s keeping her head down, shoulders shaking with silent emotion. Then to Elias, who’s grinning smugly, absolutely loving this.

How do the two of them fit into this trainwreck?

“This betrayal cannot go unpunished,” Gage intones, drawing every syllable out.

“Not when it threatens everything we stand for. Normally, this would be an internal matter, but since the traitors involved have made a public spectacle of themselves, it’s only fitting that the consequences be made just as public. ”

He lets the words hang for a beat, then gives a sharp nod which results in me being dropped to my knees by a brutal kick to the backs of my legs.

I grunt at the force of my knees hitting the pavement, the enforcers stepping back just enough to give the crowd a better view.

I jerk my gaze toward Miley and our eyes lock, everything fading from sight but her .

Her dark blonde hair is disheveled, bow askew, mascara smudged beneath her eyes. Even so, she’s still bravely standing tall and holding her own.

I swear she’s never looked more beautiful.

I’ve never loved her more.

Gage strides in my direction, cutting off my view of his daughter as his shadow falls over me. “Ares Raines, you’ve heard the charges. How do you plead?”

I glare up at him, jaw clenching with rage. “Not guilty,” I snarl.

He smiles, dead-eyed. “Is that so?” he mocks, as if he was hoping that’d be my answer.

“Miley’s my mate,” I grit out. “We didn’t–”

I don’t get to finish that sentence. Gage gives a signal and I’m cut off by a harsh kick to the ribs from one of his henchmen, my body folding in on itself with a strangled cough.

Miley shouts my name, struggling against Ross’ hold on her, and I lift my head, shaking it slightly when our gazes meet.

Stay still, sweetheart. Stay safe.

She heeds my signal, Ross’ grip slackening as she gives up the struggle. Meanwhile, Gage turns away from me to address the onlookers again like he’s starring in a damn stage play .

“Ares Raines will be confined to the Reaper block while he awaits his sentencing,” he declares.

Murmurs rise– shock, awe, approval.

“And as for Miles…” He cuts a glare her way, his lip curling.

“I expected better from you, but I suppose some lessons must be learned the hard way,” he grumbles, pivoting back toward his supporters to address them again.

“You came here for a ceremony, so we’ll proceed with Miles’ pairing to Elias Burke, as originally intended. Doctor?”

Miley pales as Dr. Aspen steps forward, and I feel the color drain from my own face at the sight of the man who performed my procedure this morning.

I swear the creep smiled while I was writhing in pain beneath his electrodes.

The moonlight glints off the metal case clasped in his hands and he opens it with a flourish, revealing four glass syringes filled with mating serum.

Four.

My heart trips over its valves as realization dawns. More than one pairing must’ve been planned for tonight– me and Miley… Elias and Jordan?

Is that how this whole thing went sideways?

“No!” Miley shrieks, launching herself at Dr. Aspen.