All Chapters of The Alpha's Prisoner : Chapter 21 - Chapter 26

RykerI heard the commotion before I saw it. Raised voices, the heavy thud of boots on wooden floors, the sharp command of guards moving into position. Every instinct in my body screamed danger, and I was running before my mind fully processed what was happening. Maya was in trouble. I could feel it through the bond we shared, that invisible thread connecting us across distance and walls.The hallways blurred past me as I ran. Pack members pressed themselves against walls to let me pass, their faces confused and alarmed. I didn't stop to explain. I just followed the pull toward Maya, toward the escalating tension I could feel building like pressure before a storm. Owen and Kade were supposed to be with her, supposed to keep her safe, but something had gone wrong. Something had drawn Marcus's attention and anger.I rounded the corner into the old servant quarters section of the packhouse and stopped. Six guards in black uniforms blocked the narrow hallway, their bodies forming a wall b

Ryker POV "Tell Alpha Marcus we accept his invitation." I kept my voice steady and calm, projecting confidence I didn't entirely feel. "We'll be there at eight."The servant's footsteps retreated down the hallway. Owen locked the door again, then turned to face me with concern written across his features."You know this is a trap.""Of course it's a trap." I returned to the documents spread across the table, studying them more carefully now that the immediate danger had passed. "But refusing would show weakness. Marcus would use it against us, claim we're hiding something or afraid to face scrutiny.""So we walk into his trap and hope we can survive it?" Kade shook his head. "That's a terrible plan, Alpha.""We walk into his trap with conditions." I pulled out my phone, composing a carefully worded message. "Marcus wants a dinner, he gets a dinner. But Maya sits beside me at all times, surrounded by our people. No separated seating, no opportunities for him to corner her or poison he

Maya Pov "You're lying." I found my voice again, found the strength to stand and face him across the table. "You're twisting the truth, manipulating evidence, creating a narrative that justifies what you did to me. Those medical records we found today—that's the real evidence. That's proof of your crimes, not mine.""Medical records of me trying to help genetically modified wolves control their violent impulses." Marcus's expression was patient, understanding, the picture of a misunderstood savior. "Records of treatments designed to suppress the dangerous aspects of their modifications before someone else got killed. Yes, some of those treatments were painful. Yes, some patients complained about abuse. But would they rather I did nothing? Rather I let them become murderers like you?"The logic was twisted, horrifying, but I could see it working on the assembled pack members. Fear flickered in their eyes as they looked at me, fear of what I might be capable of, what violence might lur