Page 114 of The Alpha’s Heir

“We have to go!” Helen screamed, not bothering to wait for the rest of the council as she pulled a dazed Justus towards the door.

I was right behind her, wasting no time on seeing how the fight between the gods would play out.

I’d already learned my lesson the hard way.

Justus stumbled and tripped, and I shoved him forward, helping him keep up with his mother.

We slid across the marble floors in the foyer, and I crashed right into Roman’s arms.

The relief I felt was quickly replaced by the angry command of Morrigan’s warning.

I planned to listen this time.

“We need to hurry.” I grabbed his hand.

“Wait.” He pulled me back, searching for injuries. “Are you hurt? What happened? I felt… I thought…”

His fist landed on his heart.

“I know.” I reached up to touch the side of his face, letting him see I was okay, and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “But we have no time to talk right now.”

I resisted the urge to throw him over my shoulder, half-dragging him toward the kitchens instead.

“Katrina! Stephen!” Helen was screaming. “We need to get out of here!”

The four of us pushed into the kitchen, sending rotten food falling to the floor as the trash got knocked over, and causing Stephen to scramble backwards.

Helen barked orders. Roman tugged me to his chest.

“What happened?” he asked again. “Where is the threat?”

“Another god,” I told him as something heavy crashed in the other room, followed by a loud war cry. “Ares.”

“Why is it only the Greek gods showing up now?” Roman frowned.

I shrugged. “Can we discuss this later?”

“You’re right. We should—”

Roman’s words were cut off as Helen tried to pull him away.

“Thank science you’re here, Roman.” Helen’s voice cracked. “We need a medical team for the council, and an escort somewhere safe.” Her gaze cut to our conjoined hands, and the councilwoman frowned at me. “The wedding is off. Go back to your kind. We don’t need you here anymore.”

Roman stepped in front of me, but Helen was already spinning around. “And where is Katrina? We have to get out of here. Stephen! Stop standing there and get us the car.”

Katrina came rushing from the back room with a bag in her hand, and Charles pressed against her side. “I’m here, Mrs. Troy.”

“Who the hell is that?” Helen screamed.

Katrina put a protective hand on the child’s head. “This is my son. I have a go-bag packed for you with everything you’ll need. Let’s—”

“Absolutely not.” By the sound of her voice, the councilwoman was losing it. But that didn’t stop everyone in her vicinity from flinching backwards. “You’re unwed. Not a registered mother. I will not have another scandal on my hands.”

“Mom, let it go.” Justus glanced over his shoulder. “We don’t have time for this.”

Helen snatched the bag from Katrina. “You’re dismissed.”

“Councilwoman, please…” Katrina’s eyes filled with tears as her son whined, tugging on her skirts.