Pregnant With Four Alphas' Babies: A Reverse Harem Romance Chapter 205: Into Battle

*Adam*

We’re still about twenty miles out from Alpha Mark’s castle, although we entered into his territory quite a way back. Normally, I’d be pretty nervous entering into a powerful territory like this without an escort from the pack who belongs here, but times are very different now.

I’m no longer a Beta.

I’d worked my whole life to get my position, and for the past few years that hasn’t been easy. Alpha King Gene’s mind has been deteriorating for a while now, and I’d been proud of how well I’d kept the kingdom running smoothly while keeping the true nature of his competency out of the public eye.

I’d thought his Breeder idea was crazy at first, but the more I’d thought about it, the more sense it made. At least there would be someone else on the throne. And as it worked out, the four Alphas he’d chosen were more than competent, so at least that’s one thing Gene got right.

In the long run, I guess hiding King Gene’s deterioration had been a mistake. I should have been communicating with someone—anyone I could trust—as soon as the king’s mind had faltered. Because now, I feel like this is all my fault. Everything that’s happened or is happening now could have been prevented if only I’d told someone that the king was no longer fit for service.

So now, I’m going to prove my worth.

“I so don’t like the look on your face,” says Shelby.

I looked at her, my eyes glassy from the tears I’m fighting back. “You know me so well, my mate,” I say. “I’m so sorry I’ve let you down.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” she asks. “You’ve never let me down, Adam.”

I shake my head and take things into the mind-link, sensing discomfort from the warriors in the front seat who have shifted positions. ‘I’m not a Beta anymore,’ I tell her. ‘I can’t provide for you the way you deserve to live.’

‘Just what the fuck does that even mean?’ she asks. ‘Have I ever once asked to live in a castle or have a closet full of fancy clothes or anything else? I know we’re never going back, and good riddance! Life was too stuffy there anyway. My home is with you, my mate, wherever we may be.’

She wraps her hand around mine and interlocks our fingers, squeezing tightly. ‘I don’t deserve you,’ I say.

‘Oh, for Goddess’s sake, stop that,’ she says. ‘Of course you deserve me because I’m your fated mate, chosen by the Goddess herself, and nothing can come between us. Now, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get ready to fight these assholes.’

I laugh lightly as one of the tears escapes, and she leans over and wipes it away gently with her thumb. We don’t need any more words between us.

I look forward and start to see the tops of Alpha Mark’s castle against the clear blue sky. It’s different from the Alpha King’s home—more modern, like a contemporary mansion. But I don’t have much time to admire it because there’s something more pressing that demands my attention—a line of angry looking wolves in front of us.

Our caravan comes to a stop, and we all jump out, instantly shifting. I swear, I’ll never get tired of watching the clothes rip off Shelby as she gracefully shifts into a regal wolf with shimmering chocolate fur. She’s so beautiful in every form.

‘Watch the front line,’ she tells me in the mind-link in a teasing voice.

She knows exactly what I’m thinking. I nod lightly and look ahead at the snarling line of wolves who have just turned around. All I have to live for anymore is the beautiful wolf beside me. I really feel sorry for any wolf who tries to harm her. I’m so hyped up and ready for this, and I have the strongest Alphas in the kingdom backing me.

This is going to be fun.

* * *

*Kelly*

“Kelly?” Heather’s voice calls out in the darkness. “Kelly, she’s not back yet.”

“I know,” I say. “Try not to worry.” I don’t even sound convincing to myself. I have no way to tell time down here—wherever ‘here’ is—but by the rumblings of my stomach, I know it’s been much longer than the girl, Kara, usually takes to come bring us food.

And it has me worried. I’d told her to try to get the key from the man who has it, whoever he is, and if she got herself hurt or killed, well, that’s all on me now. From the limited time I’ve had to get to know her, I’m not even sure how old she is. But she’s clearly still a child, and I shouldn’t have asked her to perform such a dangerous task.

“She’s been gone a while,” says Heather. “You ain’t thinkin’ she’s dead, are you?”

“No, no,” I say quickly, although that very well may be the case. If it is, I’m not doing so well at protecting teenage girls right now, and chained up like this, I’m not sure what I can do for Heather if someone tries to hurt her, too.

“I’m hungry,” she says.

“I am too, sweetie,” I say.

I stand up, because all I can do to move my body around the way I’m chained to the wall is stand up, then sit down again. And in the seated position, my hands are above my head. When standing, I can’t quite reach my full height because the chains pull me down again. I really hope Kara has been able to get the key. Maybe it’s just taking her a little more time to make it back here.

I can only stand up for so long, just enough to let the blood flow back to my hands, then I sit down again. But I stand back up the very next second as I hear the clank of metal from the turning lock.

Someone’s here.

Heather and I both hold our breath, and the air stills around us as the door pushes open and light pours in. Every time that happens, we’re blinded, and it’s impossible to see.

“I’m back,” says Kara.

We let out a collective relieved sigh as she approaches.

“I’m sorry I took so long,” she says. “It took a while to get the key.”

My heart leaps at the words—she’d gotten the key. “Did anyone see you?” I ask.

I still can’t see her face, but I can tell that she’s shaking her head as she unlocks my handcuff chains. It feels so good to be free. I stand to my full height and move my arms around, feeling the pins and needles in areas I hadn’t even noticed were numb.

In seconds, she’s unlocked Heather as well, and I run over to hug her—well, as well as I can run with the cramps in my legs. She cries into my shoulder, and I squeeze her tighter, pulling in Kara, who is now also crying. After a moment I back up, putting my fingers up to my lips. My eyes have adjusted now, so I know Heather can see me.

“We have to stay quiet,” I whisper.

The girls nod, and I walk over toward the door. “What’s down this hall?” I ask, taking a whiff. There’s something familiar about the scent in the air, but I just can’t quite place it.

Kara shakes her head. “Nothing but guards,” she says, “and my room at the end.”

“Your room,” I say. “You live here?”

“Where is ‘here’?” asks Heather.

Kara shrugs. “I’ve been here too long to remember,” she says. “We’re underground, that I know. Whenever there’s a prisoner down here, it’s up to me to feed ‘em.”

“Who brings you the food?” I ask.

“The guards,” she says. “There isn’t much down here, so I mostly stay in my room. I’m not allowed by the upstairs door.”

“How many guards?” I ask. The girls and I are in a weakened state, but I know I’ll fight like hell to get out of here, no matter how big and burly these guards are.

“Four,” she says. “And there are more upstairs. There’s only the one way out.”

“Well, we’re going to find it,” I say.

“You’d better eat first,” says Kara. “I brought you all I had.”

It’ll take some time for me to plan out how to get past the guards, so she’s right. We might as well build our strength up. I close the door, leaving enough of a crack to keep the light filtering in, then walk over to the girls.

The food tastes so good. This time, she’s brought not only some of the same bread, but also some dried jerky that tastes like heaven. Being able to eat in a decent position, without my arms tied up all wrong, is a blessing of the Goddess herself. For a moment, I forget myself as we giggle lightly and enjoy the meager meal.

I don’t even notice the sound of footsteps.