REJECTED BY THE ALPHA KING

coming unma

across the table in Alexander's combat room, gazing at the map that should have afforded us p

ed on the screen showing malfunction reports from the Sentinels. The anxiety

he Sentinels aren't simply malfunctioning-they're targeting innocent wo

more controlled, but deadly. He had always been the Alpha who trusted his systems, wh

eyes narrowing. "Ethan,

esting there's something greater at play here. These attacks? They're not accidents. The S

from what I was proposing. The Sentinels had been his brainchild, his glory. To

en he spoke, his words were curt. "It's a

to back down. "This isn't

n, as if ignoring the reality would make it go away. A stillness stretched betwee

s remarks came out chilly, harsh. The name ache

helplessness I felt as everything slid farther from our grasp. "I believe we're missing something, Alexande

ng over him. "I've already made up my mind. S

functioning? Why are we witnessing breaches and orchestrated rogue attacks

to let up. "I'm telling you-this is greater than what w

s clenched. "Enough, Ethan.

had the ability to stop this. You know it, and I know it. You've banned the o

hing flash in his eyes-something I couldn't decipher. But befor

a!" he gasped. "There's been a breach at the border. The Sentinels are assaulting ou

in the air. Every second mattered now. I glanced to Alexa

ructed, his voice chilly with po

down on me like a weight, but underlying the terror, I couldn't escape the sensation that we were marching right into a trap. Every instin

Alexander was already there, shouting instructions, rousing the group. But I couldn't

"The Sentinels aren't the only concern here. The sabotage, the ro

aring in his eyes. "Ethan, we don't have time fo

and you're neglecting the one person who could've saved us. Sophia

g me off. "I made the choice. She's gone. W

time to protest. The sound of turmoil outside, the shouting and distant cries, reminded me

to the border, the thicker the air grew. The odour of blood and terror reached me before we even arrived. The bor

mly at everything that moved. Friend or foe, it didn't matter

to exert authority over his soldiers, but it was evident that the Sentinels' irregular conduct had

ts rifle at them. I couldn't let it happen. I rushed forward, my hands shining with the same energy I had fel

grasped its arm, twisting it with every ounce of my power. It flar

om behind me, and I whirled to s

ct, the earth unde

I peered up, following the sound to the horizon. A shadow loomed there, enor

y heart racing. "Wha

with fear. "No," he responded, his fa

r than the night itself, its eyes flashing a frightening crimson. It was bigger than any wolf I'

ever seen. They were no longer the disconnected, dispersed rebels we'd confronted

ha had