Chapter 765 Chapter 765
Aiden gave Amari a slow appraisal. “It’s the alpha’s daughter.” He jerked his head and looked up at Griffin. “You’re a traitor.”
Griffin snorted. “You’re an idiot. Look around this room. Do you really want to start something?”
Aiden sneered at him. “I’m supposed to be afraid of a few stray animals?” He shook his head. “Not even animals. Abominations that need to be removed from this earth.” He looked up at Noah. “Some of those we toss in a cage should have been put down immediately.” He shrugged. “But there are those that will pay any price for a filthy shifter pet.”
Noah looked down at him, and Oaklyn couldn’t tell what he was thinking. His expression was completely blank. Good for him, not letting him get a rise out of him. For him to sit there and act like that told Oaklyn one thing. The man wasn’t right in the head. He didn’t even see the truth of his reality.
Aiden turned and looked at Rayne again. “Your father made a deal with mine to keep you safe. I would have kept you safe.”
Rayne moved to stand right in front of the desk. Blaise and Amari moved with her. “You were keeping me as your personal pet.” She spat the last word. Leaning closer, she placed her hands on the desk and stared at him. “Now you will be my pet for all of the Alliance to come and stare at in your cage, Aiden.”
“We’re going to make a killing with ticket sales.” Blair went over and stood beside Kobie.
Aiden glanced at him and then started to turn away. He quickly looked back at him, his mouth hanging open.
Blair opened his arms wide. “Take a good look. I’m the only Elden you’ll ever see. Lindon is very much dead.”
Aiden looked shocked. Oaklyn couldn’t remember all of it but was pretty sure it was Blair who had killed his brother. He hissed out a breath and then looked at Devin. “You really think getting me stops it all.” He shook his head. “You have no idea…”
Oaklyn didn’t know what possessed her, but she stepped forward and shook her head. “I don’t even have a bone to pick with this man, but I still feel inclined to pluck his eyeballs out of his head.” Someone chuckled, but she didn’t turn to see who. She looked at Aiden and sighed. “Anyone that was stupid enough to work with you is about to find out how strong the Alliance is.” She nodded. “We almost have you to thank for it.” She glanced at Rayne. “If Miss Rayne hadn’t come to her senses and left your sorry behind, she wouldn’t have found our prince.” Rayne nodded her approval. “Because of you, teams started working together and found their mates and now some of them are darn near invincible.” She smiled at Noah. “Because of the bravery and honor of some, the Alliance knew they had to end your way of life.” She went closer to the desk and smiled. “Your own brother opened the doors for us to get up here tonight, so I think you need to pause, reflect, and shut your trap, Mister Tomas.”
He scowled at her. “Am I supposed to feel scolded? Go ahead, do your thing, you have no idea…”
“You’re wrong, Aiden.” Rayne adjusted the cloak. “We know a lot more than you think, and now—” She motioned around the office. “We’ll have even more information telling us where we need to be.” She turned and looked at Devin. “I think this building should be the US Alliance Headquarters.”
“The basement could be remodeled and be homeless housing.” Blaise mused.
Rayne smiled. “Yes.” She nodded and then looked back at Aiden for a moment. “Noah, I think you and Griffin should escort Aiden down to meet Raymond.”
Devin gave her an amused look.
“Turning me over to the police is just…”
“Oh, no, no.” Rayne walked around behind the desk and looked at the painting of an older man who looked a lot like Aiden. “Raymond is the head of our security. I hear he has a special home all arranged for you.” She grabbed the sides of the painting and lifted it off the wall.
Griffin and Noah each put a hand under Aiden’s arms and lifted him from the chair.
Rayne turned around with the painting in her hand, shoved things off the desk onto the floor, and then set it on the desk. She opened one of the drawers and then another one. With a smile, she pulled out a handful of photos and went through them. “I love that dress.” She said quietly before tossing the pictures on top of the painting. Reaching into the drawer, she pulled out a lighter and a sheet of paper. Flicking the lighter, she set the page ablaze and then dropped it onto the painting. Setting the lighter back in the drawer, she closed it and went around the desk. She looked at Oaklyn. “My dress out there?” Rayne pointed to the outer office.
Oaklyn could only nod. No words would form to speak. Rayne was amazing. All the women were. She wanted to be part of what they did.
Griffin and Noah basically dragged Aiden between them and left the room.
“We should probably put that out.” Jesse mused.
“Considering this is going to be an Alliance headquarters, we should.” Bear was grinning.
Oaklyn looked to see the photo’s curling as the flames spread.
Asher looked around the room and then went over to the closet. Opening the door, he stood there for a second before reaching in and pulling out a fire extinguisher. Turning, he looked at the desk and then at Devin.
Calum prodded Devin with his elbow.
Devin looked at him. Calum pointed to Asher. “Oh. I guess we have to put it out. My mate has deemed this an Alliance building.” He sighed. “We’re going to have to tear it apart before any shifter steps inside it.” He frowned and then walked out to where Rayne was.
Calum motioned to the desk and watched Asher go over to it. He turned and made eye contact with Oaklyn. “Welcome to the Alliance, Oaklyn.”
“Damn right. We need more women.” Amari turned on her heel. “I have to go down and check on Tripp.” She walked out of the room.
Blair looked at Calum. “Now what?”
Calum exhaled a deep breath and looked around. “It’s going to take weeks to go through all the information in this building. After that, we’ll make a plan.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Now that Shepard is found, we can get to the bottom of what’s going on with Zain and Illias.”
Oaklyn nodded and then motioned to the door. “Speaking of, I best go see how he’s doing down there.”
“I’m going down to drink some champagne. This was the best Christmas ever.” Blair put his arm around Kobie and went toward the door.
Oaklyn followed them.
The Alliance teams were nothing like she’d thought they would be. They were one thousand times better.