“Whatever it is, we’ll make him pay,” Stark growled. Scout had always seen Stark as one of the calmer alpha guards, but the way his fangs flashed in the darkness reminded Scout that a calm alpha was still an alpha.
Scout noticed now that one omega in particular was hanging closer to Stark’s kennel, and listening to their every word. His eyes shone brightly, despite the grim situation.
“What is it?” Scout asked.
The omega looked surprised he’d been spoken to, and with both Scout and Stark’s gaze on him now he shrank back.
“Um…” he began. “I think I might know a way to get out of here.”
That had their attention instantly.
“Kyle, why didn’t you say so earlier?” Stark asked. His tone was more curious than accusatory.
Kyle shrugged slightly. “I only noticed it now when they brought your highness, Scout— ”
“Just Scout is fine,” Scout said. He didn’t want to be put on a pedestal, especially by a fellow omega.
“Um, sorry,” Kyle said, rubbing his arm. “I only noticed when they brought Scout inside just now.”
He gestured to the metal latch on the heavy concrete door. “The grey wolf who just dropped Scout off left the door unlocked. Usually when the other guards leave, they lock it from the inside first before doing it again from the outside. He must have been in a hurry to leave.”
Stark’s eyes widened. “You’re right.” He whipped his head across the aisle, to where the rest of the rescue team was being held separately. “You guys hear that?” Stark called. He gestured to the latch. Most of them understood immediately — they were going to launch an escape plan.
“But how are we going to get out of the kennels?” Scout asked. “Even in wolf form, I don’t think I have the strength to bite through iron bars.”
Stark turned and tossed him a sly grin. “I think you underestimate the power of the royal guard.”
In a swift motion, he shifted into wolf form and let out a commanding snarl. Immediately the rest of the royal guard transformed as well and stood at the ready, waiting for their superior’s command.
"Alpha guard!" Stark commanded. "Pool your strength and destroy the bars caging you! But conserve your strength; we need to release every Whitewood wolf here tonight!"
The royal guard wolves let out a short, loud noise of understanding in unison. Instantly, they got to work. They arranged themselves so the workload was evenly distributed. They chose a single spot — a weak point in the bars, worn down by countless detainees over the years, Scout guessed — and snapped. Their jaws tightened around the bars, ripping and twisting their mouths like they were tearing off flesh from prey. When one wolf tired, another took its place.
Scout watched in awe as they worked together like a well-oiled machine. It had barely been five minutes when a telltale groaning crack sounded throughout the kennels. Scout stared, eyes wide, as the piece of iron split in two and fell with a clatter to the floor.
The royal guard streamed out of the wolf-sized gap, single file. To Scout’s surprise, they started to bite at his kennel’s bars first.
“No, wait,” Scout said. “Not me. Do the other omegas first.”
“But, your highness — ” the guard began, blinking in confusion.
“Do as he says,” Stark growled.
The guards backed away from Scout’s kennel and nodded. They set to work immediately on the larger pen holding the omegas, which apparently sacrificed strength for size. A large gap fell away quickly and the omegas flooded out, their excitement palpable.
Kyle showed up, breathless, in front of Scout and Stark. “Thank you, Scout.”
Scout shook his head. “Hey, this is why I asked Killian to send a rescue mission in the first place.”
His eyes shone with gratitude.
“Kyle,” Stark said. “Let’s leave the guards to work on Scout’s pen now. We can break these bars together, just the two of us.”
“Right.” Kyle nodded and their jaws met on opposite sides of the bars, gnawing away at the cold iron.
Once the iron snapped, Stark bounded out of the kennel and joined the rest of the royal guard who were gnawing at Scout’s enclosure now. Spurred on by adrenaline, they worked quickly to destroy the barrier. Scout stumbled out, breathless from the rush of all that was happening. “Thank you.”
Stark shook his head. “That’s what the royal guard is for. We should be the ones thanking you.”
