Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 169: Chaos

Chapter 169: Chaos

Lucas stared at her. His heart thudded hard in his chest, and he smiled. "You," he said, "will always be my formidable Luna."

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her recklessly. Lucas held Ava as though he could press all the things he couldn’t say into her lips. Her fingers curled into his hair, anchoring herself to this moment, grounding the chaos of everything around her in the only thing that felt real.

*****

Kade’s paws pounded against the ground, the scent of blood and danger sharp in his nostrils. He moved like liquid fury, driven by loyalty, by rage, and perhaps a touch of showmanship because if anyone was going to rescue Zoe, it had to look impressive as hell. The two guards hadn’t even finished blinking before Kade pounced on the first, claws slashing, teeth tearing. It wasn’t a fight; it was an annihilation. The second one, sensing death in the air, shifted into his wolf form, growling, crouching, ready to strike. But Kade was faster. He pivoted, let the idiot throw himself off balance, then lunged in for the kill, his fangs sinking deep. Within seconds, it was a canvas painted in fur and blood.

The scent of death hung thick in the air as Kade shifted back into his human form, panting, blood smeared across his chest. He glanced down, winced, then reached for one of the guard’s shirts. "No one wants to see all this glory right now," he muttered, yanking it over his head, his hair still wild and damp with sweat. Then, with newfound urgency, he approached the platform where Zoe hung, bound and still as a forgotten statue.

"Zoe?" he called gently. "Zoe, come on. Wake up. It’s me, Kade."

But Zoe wasn’t there. Not really. Her body was present, bruised and broken and barely breathing, but her mind had flown somewhere safer. Somewhere where Dennis was smiling at her in the sun, holding her hand. In that place, there were no chains, no whips, no guards, no agony. Just Dennis. Her tormentors had shattered her ribs, but her mind remained untouchable.

Kade turned at the sound of hurried footsteps, his eyes lighting up when he saw Dennis racing toward them. "Zoe?" Dennis gasped, slowing just enough to take her from Kade’s arms.

"She’s alive," Kade said, placing a steady hand on Dennis’s shoulder. "Just unconscious. You’ve got her now. I’ve got to rally the troops and get us inside before we lose ground."

Dennis nodded once, sharp and full of purpose. "Go. I’ll keep her safe."

As Kade turned to sprint away, Dennis cradled Zoe. "Zoe, it’s me," he whispered, brushing hair from her bloodied face. "You’re not alone anymore. I’m here now. You’re safe. It’s going to be okay. It has to be."

And though she didn’t respond, Dennis saw it—just the tiniest flutter of her eyelids.

In the foggy haze of her mind, a safe little corner where pain was something distant, Zoe heard it.

It wasn’t a dream. Or was it?

"Zoe, it’s me... Come on, baby. I’m here now."

She didn’t trust it. Not at first. Her heart knew that voice.

She opened her eyes. Slowly. As if the lids were weighted with a hundred years of sorrow. Her vision was blurry, her lashes sticky with dried blood. But when the fog lifted, she saw him.

"Dennis?" she rasped.

"Yes, baby! Yes, love. It’s me. It’s really me." Dennis was crying, though he didn’t realize it. His face was wrecked with emotion, a trembling smile lighting his features.

"You came," she breathed, as if it were the last secret she ever wanted to say out loud.

"I would move mountains to get to you," he whispered, brushing a blood-matted curl from her forehead. "I’d tear down this whole cursed kingdom, Zoe. Just hang in there, honey. You’re safe now. You’ll be fine soon. I promise."

Zoe smiled, barely, but it was enough to keep him from shattering.

*****

Dorian stood like a man watching the end of the world and somehow, loving every damn minute of it.

The entire area before the castle was filled with wolves and men. Chaos. Glorious chaos. Dorian whistled low under his breath.

"Lucas, you devious little bastard," he muttered to himself, grinning.

From the higher ground where he stood, Dorian could see it all. Wolves he had once trained, drilled until their paws bled were now using that training to absolutely annihilate the castle guards. Some of those guards were smart enough to flee. Others, shifted were being taken apart one after the other.

The so-called mighty Herod didn’t have his people’s love, just their fear. And fear burned away quickly under fire.

The castle gates groaned open, metal screaming against metal. A howl rang through the air. Loud. Commanding. Familiar.

He knew that sound.

Kade who Dorian thought Lucas had killed. The son who bore his blood, his fire, his anger. He was alive and leading the charge.

Kade walked through the castle gates, muscles slick with sweat. His chest heaved, eyes blazing, commanding the wolves behind him with a flick of his hand and a growl that left no room for disobedience.

Dorian stared.

"...I made that," he muttered in stunned disbelief. "I made that."

He didn’t even realize his feet had moved until he was halfway, a mad grin plastered across his face.

Toward the madness.

Toward the war.

Toward his son.

"Kade..." Dorian said it softly at first, as though tasting the name on his tongue. It felt foreign. His feet didn’t stop moving, even as the chaos of the battle roared around him. "Kade!" he called again, louder this time, slicing through the fracas.

Kade turned, mid-command. His eyes locked on the man moving toward him. "Dad," Kade said, cautious. Sceptical. He didn’t know yet if Dennis had succeeded in reaching Dorian’s heart or if this was just another tactical play, another performance in the theatre of war.

But Dorian didn’t speak again. He just grabbed his son, wrapped his arms around him in a bear hug that was half an apology, half gratitude.

Kade hugged him back, still stiff, still uncertain.

And then suddenly, Dorian went limp in his arms with a gasp.

He looked down and saw the silver dagger protruding from Dorian’s back, still humming with magic, sizzling as it touched his flesh. The scent of burning flesh filled the air. The glow of sorcery clung to it.

Kade’s head snapped up.

There, a few feet away, stood Alaric. His hand was still raised, magic pulsing at his fingertips.

Their eyes met.

Kade’s were blazing, pure rage. Alaric’s were cold, triumphant.

"Dad?" Kade whispered again, cradling Dorian gently to the ground, as though gentleness could undo violence.

Dorian’s lips twitched into a smile, blood foaming at the corners of his mouth. "Kade... take care of the baby."

"Dad!" Kade clutched him tighter.

But Dorian was already fading. He looked peaceful.

Kade didn’t scream. He didn’t howl. He just held him as the last flickers of light drained from Dorian’s eyes. It hurt more than he’d imagined. Even after all the betrayal, the bitterness, they were still bound. Blood to blood.

And Alaric would pay.

Oh, he would pay.

Kade looked back up, ready to charge at the sorcerer but he was gone.

*****

Herod had finally accepted what every villain eventually must: it was over. Well and truly over.

The once-proud king was bound in silver chains, his spine broken, his pride obliterated, and his ego trampled by a war he thought he’d win with sheer arrogance and some mildly competent sorcery.

He lay there, twitching every now and then, trying to reclaim some shred of dignity, only to be reminded that silver really hurts. What strength or magic did Lucas have to be able to break silver with his bare hands.

He turned his head slightly, the only motion he could manage, and found himself watching the most humiliating sight imaginable.

His Ava. Well, she had never been his, not really, but the thought made it sting more was currently beneath Lucas Raventhorn. Writhing. Moaning. Glowing. She looked like a goddess being worshipped. Lucas looked like the lucky bastard who got front-row seats to heaven.

He had schemed, murdered, betrayed, manipulated. And now? He was the unwilling voyeur in someone else’s happy ending.

"I underestimated her," Herod mumbled to himself, coughing weakly. "Underestimated him too. I underestimated everyone, didn’t I?"

There was no answer, only the rhythmic sound of Ava’s soft gasps and Lucas’s whispered praises to his mate. Herod wondered, bizarrely, if they even remembered he was there.

He thought back to his own life. No one who truly loved him.

A moment later, Lucas turned his head and gave Herod a grin so full of smug satisfaction it could’ve powered an entire kingdom.

Herod thought briefly about willing himself into unconsciousness. Unfortunately, even that mercy wouldn’t come.

He was going to be awake for all of it.

He was going to die without an heir.

A massage chair!!! I’m reeling! You are an angel! @Addicted2fantasy. I’m really glad you didn’t give up on this book. Mwaah.