Page 115 of The Alpha’s Heir

Helen didn’t look back. “Roman. Justus. Stephen. Let’s go.”

A loud crash rocked the house, sending drywall dust floating down from the ceiling. Charles screamed and clamped his hands over his ears.

Roman’s hand was still firmly on mine and he pulled me forward.

For a panicked moment, I thought he meant to follow Helen, but he scooped the little boy onto his hip instead.

“Everyone, out of the house now,” he said, guiding Katrina toward the back door.

“Excuse me, Lieutenant.” Helen stood firmly in the doorway. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”

“Taking command,” Roman barked at her as another crash shattered a window somewhere in the house. “Now get moving.”

Helen’s jaw dropped, but Justus yanked her forward this time, sliding and slipping across the wet manicured lawn in their dressy shoes.

The night sky was unnatural. A swirling mess of dark gray clouds and refracted light like broken stars swirling into cosmic chaos.

Roman kept everyone moving forward and herded close, never letting go of my hand, as we crossed the street to where two military vehicles were waiting.

“What took so long, LT?” Marcus yelled from the driver's side window.

I’d never been so happy to see a smiling face.

“Is Gonzalez awake?” Roman yelled back.

Another man in uniform stood at attention and saluted Roman outside the second vehicle.

“I don’t know what came over us, Lieutenant,” Gonzalez said. “We were on patrol and then everything just went dark.”

“It was the gods,” Roman told the men that gathered at his approach and they all stared at him in confusion. Frustrated, he tried again. “There’s been a breach in the city and we’re under attack.”

“Lieutenant Miller,” Helen hissed under her breath. “That’s classified information on a need-to-know basis only.”

“As the senior ranking official, I’ve decided they need to know.” He addressed Ganzolez as he handed Katrina back her son. “Get the councilwoman and Rabbit to the safehouse on base. Send a convoy for the rest of the council… Whatever is left of them after this.”

A loud explosion had us all turning to the councilwoman’s house, watching it rock on its foundation.

“I suggest you hurry,” Roman said.

I love him bossy like this.

“This is insubordination,” Helen cried as the other military crew forced her into the vehicle. “Don’t think your connection to me will save you from the wrath that will come down on you for this!”

“Shut up, Mom.” Justus groaned as he helped her climb inside, earning an outraged look that I only saw for a second before the doors shut in her face.

“LT, what are our orders?” The younger of the men still huddled close to us looked to him for direction.

Roman waved Katrina forward. “This is a friend of mine and her undocumented son. They’ll be riding with us. If anyone isn’t okay with it, go with Gonzalez now.”

“Roman, you don’t have to do this.” Katrina rocked her son to soothe him.

“Yes, he does,” I said, nodding at my mate.

“I’ll go with them.” Stephen gave us a tight smile. “I’m not sure the councilwoman knows how to fend for herself.”

Tears slipped down Katrina’s cheeks as she gave Stephen a one-armed hug goodbye, but none of the other military men went with Gonzalez’s vehicle.

“Ready to roll out?” Marcus tapped the horn.