Chapter 326: Rooftop Escape

Maeve's POV

The alarm blared through the building, the sound piercing enough to split my skull. Red emergency lights began to rotate, casting eerie shadows across the walls.

My heart hammered against my ribs, but I forced myself to focus. I couldn't afford to panic—not now.

I knew the exit door was near the elevator, but when I peered around the corner, I could see it was already surrounded by rogues who had entered the building. Their wild eyes and aggressive postures sent a chill down my spine.

We need to find another way out.

Juniper tugged on my arm, her face pale with fear.

"There are stairs going up," she said urgently, her voice barely audible above the alarm.

I frowned, confused. "I thought this building only had two floors."

"Is there another way out up there?" I asked, uncertainty creeping into my voice.

Juniper shook her head. "I'm not sure, but this whole floor is surrounded. Phoebe's office should be upstairs. She might be there too. We need to be extra careful."

I glanced toward the corner where the elevator was located. Maybe I could buy Juniper time to get the elevator ready.

With my mind made up, I pulled a scalpel from my pocket and turned to Juniper. "You go for the elevator. I'll hold them off."

She nodded, and we rounded the corner toward the elevator.

I launched myself at the first rogue, punching and kicking until he stopped moving. When I turned around, I saw another rogue attacking Juniper.

Shit, Juniper's in trouble!

I rushed over, dodging another rogue who lunged at me, and grabbed the one attacking Juniper by the back of his head. Without hesitation, I sliced his throat with my scalpel.

"The elevator! Quick!" I shouted, my breath coming in short gasps.

Juniper frantically hit the elevator button, then let out a string of curses.

"Damn it! They've cut the power!"

Fuck.

I finished off the last rogue surrounding me and ran to join Juniper at the elevator.

She was right. The power was definitely cut.

"There must be stairs around here somewhere," I said, scanning our surroundings.

Juniper spotted the door leading to the stairwell first. We rushed through it, only to collide with more rogues coming down. I immediately stepped in front of Juniper, knowing her fighting abilities were limited.

I took the lead in the fight, with Juniper offering what little help she could. We were making progress when suddenly I heard Juniper's panicked voice behind me.

"Maeve! Look out!"

I spun around just in time to see more rogues emerging from the shadows, lunging toward us.

I quickly dodged as one rogue came at me, kicking backward and catching him in the groin. Another rogue snarled, teeth bared as he leapt at me. I launched myself toward the attacking rogue, flipping over to land behind him, grabbed his head and twisted sharply, breaking his neck in one swift motion.

I turned to see Juniper wrestling with another wolf. He was snarling at her, teeth bared.

Before I could move, Juniper pulled out a syringe and jabbed it into the wolf's neck. The wolf immediately collapsed, hissing and writhing in pain.

"Let's go," Juniper said coolly.

We ran up to the second floor and through a door into a massive hallway. My heart was racing, and I could feel sweat beading on my forehead.

The rogues are flooding the downstairs. Phoebe and her friend must know we're missing by now. If we go back down to find an exit, we'll be caught immediately.

I wasn't sure if I could fight Phoebe or her friend. I'd never faced a witch of her caliber before.

"The roof might be an option?" Juniper suggested, scanning the hallway.

"Worth a try," I agreed.

We raced down the hallway and burst through a random door, finding what looked like an office.

A large candle sat on a desk at the far end of the room, and the floor was covered in a deep purple carpet. Bookshelves lined the walls, and several open books were scattered across the desk.

Juniper flipped on the light, and I jumped at the sight of a massive chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling.

"Is this... Phoebe's office?" Juniper asked uncertainly.

"I think so," I said slowly, taking in our surroundings.

While Juniper went to the window to try and open it, I took a closer look around the room. On the desk was an open book with marker and highlighter marks throughout the page. As I read it, my heart sank deeper and deeper into my stomach.

Without a word, I tore the page from the book and stuffed it into my pocket.

"We can climb up from here," Juniper said excitedly. "There's a ledge connected to a ladder. It's not too far. Once we're on the roof, we can figure out how to get down."

"Good idea," I said, relieved to have a plan.

Just then, footsteps grew louder outside. Phoebe's voice echoed through the hallway.

"They can't have gone far! Search everywhere!"

"Shit..." Juniper whispered.

"Hurry, follow me!" I urged, rushing toward the window.

I climbed out onto the windowsill, using it to reach the ladder. I glanced back to make sure Juniper was following, relieved to see her gripping the ladder tightly, struggling to keep up.

I continued climbing until I safely reached the roof, then turned and extended my hand to help Juniper.

"Grab my hand!" I called down.

I pulled her up, and we both collapsed on the roof, breathing heavily. The cold air bit at my skin, making me shiver.

I heard Phoebe's voice from below and realized she was now in her office.

We left the window open. She's probably figured out where we went by now.

"We left the window open," Juniper said hoarsely, echoing my thoughts.

I scanned the roof, looking for a way down. As I did, a scent wafted through the air—the smell of a dense forest after rain, mixed with something raw and masculine.

That's the most wonderful, familiar scent I've ever smelled. The warmth of it wraps around me like a blanket, protecting me.

"Cyrus," I breathed, excitement surging through me. "I can feel him. He's coming this way."

"Really?" Juniper asked, surprised.

Suddenly, darkness swirled in the air, startling us both.

They found us.

My vision blurred as I tried to look toward the horizon for Cyrus. The dark clouds grew thicker, and I couldn't see through them.

If I had my wolf and my abilities, maybe I could. But without Katie...

"We need to get off this roof," I told Juniper.

I ran toward the other side of the roof, away from the darkness. The smoke grew thicker, and a gust of wind nearly knocked me off my feet.

Then I heard Juniper scream.

I turned to see twisted darkness wrapped around Juniper's waist, lifting her off the ground. The man who had been with Phoebe stood on the roof, his eyes glowing green as he controlled the darkness with his arms raised above his head.

"Help me!" Juniper cried out.

My heart ached for her. Where was Alpha Joshua when his daughter needed him?

Phoebe appeared on the roof, fury radiating from her as dark light surrounded her body.

"You're not getting away!" she snarled at me.

I turned and leapt from the side of the building, ignoring Phoebe's screams. I raised my arms as I fell, grabbing onto a ladder just before I hit the ground. My body slammed against the side of the building.

"Ah!" I cried out in pain.

From below, I heard a voice calling my name.

"Maeve!!!"

Cyrus! My heart nearly melted at the sound of his voice.

Looking down, I saw Cyrus, my mother Elizabeth, and Sebastian running toward the building, all in wolf.

If I let go, they'll catch me.

I released my grip on the ladder, allowing my body to fall through the air.

Moon Goddess, let them catch me!

Just as I felt myself about to land, something tight wrapped around my waist.

Dean let out a desperate howl. "No!!!"

I opened my eyes to see dark power lifting me back into the air.

No! I was pulled back up to where an eager Phoebe was waiting.