Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 109: Patience

Chapter 109: Patience

Lucas didn’t even glance at him.

"Nolan, not now."

He brought the glass to his lips, downing the whiskey in one go.

But Nolan didn’t back down.

"It’s important, Alpha."

Lucas slammed the empty glass on the bar, his patience officially gone.

"What?!"

"Dorian knows."

Lucas’s heartbeat was suddenly a drum in his ears.

Slowly, he turned to face Nolan.

"Knows what?"

Nolan exhaled, taking a step closer. "I followed him tonight... following you."

Lucas’s eyes flashed.

"He was tracking you. And now, he knows you’ve been in contact with Ava and Dennis." He hesitated before adding, "I think he suspects something is brewing."

Lucas’s fingers tightened around the bottle of whiskey.

"And?"

Nolan’s expression darkened. "He’s AWOL."

Lucas let out a roar of frustration, hurling the whiskey bottle across the room. It shattered against the wall.

Dorian was smartm and vengeful. If he was missing, it means he was planning something.

And Lucas couldn’t afford to be one step behind.

He spun to face Nolan. "Disperse guards to Dennis’s borders. Both the back and the front. Keep Ava safe. No one can get in or out without permission." His voice was pure command, no room for argument. "Dorian might try to get to her."

Nolan nodded. "Alpha, the best place to keep her safe is here, in the fortress."

"I know."

Of course, he knew.

Here, she would be untouchable.

Here, she would be his again.

But... His fists clenched.

"She doesn’t want to come back."

Lucas had always thought of himself as unbreakable. As someone who could withstand anything.

But this? Losing Ava?

It wasn’t just a wound.

It was annihilation.

"Noted, sir."

Lucas exhaled slowly, trying to pull himself together, but the fire inside him was still raging. He needed to do something to regain control.

"One more thing. Take Sarah to the dungeons."

Nolan’s brows shot up. "Sarah?"

Lucas nodded. "I want to know everything she knows about Dorian’s plans. And I want to know it as soon as possible."

Nolan hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Yes, sir."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and left to carry out the orders.

Leaving Lucas alone with the scent of spilled whiskey.

*****

Sarah hung from the dungeon ceiling, her wrists chafing against the silver cuffs that dug into her flesh with a burning pain. Every slight movement sent fresh waves of agony racing up her arms, but she refused to give these bastards the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Her dark hair was tangled, damp with sweat, and her once-pristine clothes were ripped and stained from the struggle. She was livid.

"I will have your heads, you good-for-nothing wretches!!!" she screamed.

The Gammas stood at attention, blank-faced, utterly unfazed by her tantrum.

That only infuriated her more.

"The Alpha will hear of this!" she shrieked, her wrists jerking against the cuffs as she thrashed. "I am his concubine, Goddamn it!!! You cocksuckers!!!"

Sarah’s breathing was ragged with rage, her chest heaving as frustration mixed with the stinging pain in her wrists. This was a mistake.

A massive fucking mistake.

Where the hell was Dorian?!

Had he been captured too?

Her pulse pounded in her ears.

No. Dorian was smart. If they had caught him, she would have heard about it by now.

Wouldn’t she? Before she could spiral further into paranoia, a deliberate set of footsteps echoed through the dungeon. That must be the alpha.

Sarah’s eyes snapped toward the entrance.

The new Gamma Commander strolled into the dungeon with the bored confidence of a man who had already won the game. Sarah’s eyes fell in disappointment.

Nolan dragged a chair across the rough stone floor, the legs scraping loudly against the silence as he positioned it right in front of her.

Then, with all the patience of a man who had nowhere else to be, he sat down and crossed one leg over the other.

He didn’t speak immediately.

Just watched her.

Sarah glared at him, her teeth clenched. "Untie me, you idiot. Now."

Nolan tilted his head. "Hmm. No."

Sarah yanked at her restraints, seething. "Do you even know who I am?"

Nolan nodded, looking annoyingly unbothered. "Yep. Sarah. The Alpha’s concubine... or was." He squinted. "Honestly, I’m not sure of the dynamics there. I think I would describe what you guys have as a situationship?"

Sarah growled. "Fuck you."

"I’ll pass. But here’s the thing, sweetheart. You’re here on allegations of treason against the Luna."

Sarah was spiraling.

They knew. They fucking knew.

Still, she sneered. "There is no Luna."

Nolan clicked his tongue. "Officially, sure. But Ava is still the Alpha’s wife."

Sarah let out a bitter laugh. "A wife he threw away."

Nolan ignored her. "And we know she was set up." His eyes darkened. "By you. And Dorian."

Cold terror raced down Sarah’s spine.

She fought to keep her face blank, but her mind was spinning.

If they knew about Dorian...

If they knew about the setup...

Everything had gone to shit.

Where the fuck was Dorian?!

Sarah forced herself to scoff. "I have no idea what you’re talking about." She let out a mocking laugh. "I barely speak with Dorian."

"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. Don’t make this difficult," Nolan continued. "The Alpha has given us full permission to... persuade you. And by persuade, I mean torture."

Sarah’s blood ran ice cold.

Nolan smiled. "Now, me? I’m a nice guy."

Sarah nearly scoffed.

Sure, and she was the fucking Queen.

"So I’m giving you a chance." His voice dropped. "Tell us what we want to know."

Slowly, she leaned forward as much as the chains allowed and spat at his feet.

"Go to hell." Her voice was pure venom. "Get me the Alpha."

Nolan’s smile widened. "Oh, I’ll get you something alright."

He stood, rolling his shoulders. "I’ll give you a couple of hours to think through your response."

Sarah stayed silent.

But her heartbeat was thundering.

Dorian. Where the fuck are you?

Find me. Fix this.

Please.

Nolan adjusted his cuffs. "After that," he continued, "I apologize in advance, but I’ll be handling the torture myself." He smiled. "Alpha’s orders and whatnot."

Sarah’s stomach twisted.

This wasn’t happening.

This wasn’t fucking happening.

Nolan turned on his heel, striding toward the door.

As the heavy iron slammed shut behind him, Sarah was left alone in the dim, damp silence.

Sweating. Panicking.

*****

Dennis had always found peace in farm work.

Ava had joined in the harvesting, carefully plucking the tomatoes and placing them in a woven basket. She was quiet, lost in thought.

One of the girls, Anita, tripped over an exposed root, landing hard on the ground.

Ava rushed forward immediately.

"Are you okay?" she asked, reaching out her hand.