The Alpha's Prisoner
A ripple moved through the crowd—surprise, maybe, at hearing their Alpha admit fault so plainly, without hedging.
"Marcus Chen attacked this territory five days ago," Ryker continued. "You all know that. Many of you fought in that battle, and I owe every one of you a debt I can never fully repay for the courage you showed defending our home. What you may not know is what's happened since. Marcus was not captured that day. He escaped—into the trees, into the chaos of his own retreating army—and he has not been seen since."
The murmur grew louder this time, threaded with the particular anxious energy I recognized from my own worst nights. I felt Ryker's grip tighten slightly around my hand, an