I hummed, my eyes closing. I was trying to fight it as I didn’t really want to sleep. I still had nightmares, but I hated facing that demon that now knew I was trying to get rid of him. Not that he could do much right now.
“Shh, I’m here, and your bear is here too. You’ll have to figure out a name for her just like mine, huh?” Bear purred, and it put me at ease further.
“I’ve got to get to know her first.” I yawned and dug deeper into the blankets. “Still getting used to the idea that I have another person in my head.”
Because not only could Bear and Teddy be in there… but now I had my own animal.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Bear
WithHawkeleading,Istrode down the steps two at a time. The basement was dark and foreboding; the walls covered in shadows. I could make out traces of a metallic scent in the lingering smell of stale blood. I couldn’t remember ever smelling it before, but maybe it had always been here.
Beneath the bar where we spent our time torturing those who had ruined the innocent lay rooms where even more secrets were hidden. I was not one who was initially invited to these areas because I was not part of the inner circle, at least in the beginning.
“It was unanimous that you be brought in, now that Locke is—compromised,” Hawke said as we continued to descend the steps. “We need the manpower, and we know your loyalty is beyond compare to anyone else who has received a mate since arriving here. We know you don’t need the club, yet you stay.”
It was true. I could leave with Nadia. Hell, could have left a long time ago, but I felt like I belonged here more than anywhere else. I wasn’t planning on leaving either. As much as I needed my space, I felt like Nadia was gaining more friendship here. She needed a family, a unit. This was where we belonged.
“I appreciate that. I’ll do my best to help.”
The dull, plain wall seemed to blend in with its surroundings. When Hawke stepped forward, though, it became obvious that he was pressing a specific spot on the wall. A picture slid aside to reveal a keypad, and Grim and Hawke worked together to input a code before sliding the painting back in place.
“We’ll get you your own code once we get you in the system,” Hawke said over the click of the door.
Grim pushed on it, and we followed him inside. Fluorescent lights lit up one by one in the hallway. Screams and howls echoed toward us. It hit me like a freight train to the face. My grizzly snarled inside me, trying to offset the sound.
“We’re working on closing off his cell with a barrier. Your sleuth said they have something in the works,” Hawke said as we walked.
My sleuth had been contacted numerous times by the club. They were building contractors and even helped build the Iron Fang from the bottom up. I’d never helped, never knew about it until I arrived here. I was only in charge of chopping lumber.
As we reached the end of the corridor. Sizzle and Beretta are holding AK-47s over their shoulders. Bones was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Their eyes were narrowed on the male in the corner. His hands were bound behind his back, he was seething, his hair and beard were unkempt, and his clothes were torn.
“I said let me the fuck out. I am your damn alpha!” He snarled and spat on the floor in front of him.
The bars were coated in silver. Normally, that wouldn’t deter an alpha, but with only half a soul, it would burn him to even touch them.
I frowned, looking down at the president that I looked up to, and turned away. I barely recognized the male. I knew that things were bad, but I didn’t realize things had gotten this terrible.
“What the hell happened?” I asked.
“He attacked a prospect without cause,” Grim grumbled. “Said the male looked at him funny. Then Locke started foaming at the mouth and beat the poor bastard.”
Shit.
Locke was rabid or damn near close.
If Locke was put down, the whole club could cease to exist. Locke was one of the strongest alphas of his time. May have been a damn prince or a king somewhere. That was how strong he was.
He put this entire club together with the help of Grim to give everyone hope, a reason to live. He was one crazy fucker. He wasn’t right in the head and was borderline psychotic from his past, but he had a good heart.
If Locke was gone, who would be in charge? Who would everyone look up to?
This place would dissolve. Souls would lose hope if their leader was no longer here.
I rubbed the back of my neck. We couldn’t just put him out of his misery. We couldn’t kill an alpha, especially not Locke. Not like the rest.
“Bear, get me out,” Locke growled. “Tell them to get me out of here.Right. Now.”
