Dash growled under his breath. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Emerson snatched Dash’s hand and bolted across the street and into another alley. When they reached the end of it, he paused again, peeking out into the next street. He peeked behind them and noticed a few alphas exited the secret door before they scattered in different directions. At least a few had figured out the new way out.
A large Guardsman suddenly launched himself at Emerson, pinning him to the alley wall. They wrestled, and Emerson shoved him against the opposite side of the alley just before another crack of lightning lit the night.
“Em?”
Emerson froze, recognizing the voice. He stepped back, shielding Dash behind him. The arc of a flashlight’s radiance swept up before it blinded him. Lifting a hand to block it, hegrowled. Two seconds later it was turned away and he could see again.
Aimed down, the flashlight gave off enough of a glow to see Randall’s shocked face.
His little brother frowned at him before his gaze slipped down to his hand clasped around Dash’s wrist. Dash pulled away again, putting a few steps between them.
“What are you doing out here?”Randall asked, looking between them both.
Emerson’s mind went blank. Did he bother lying at that point? What other reason would he have for being in a dark alley with another alpha a few blocks away from the raid? Anything he said, Randall would likely see through.
Fear made it harder to breathe—but then a sense of calm came over him.
Before he answered with the truth, voices sounded from the other end of the alley. All of their heads whipped in that direction. Randall clicked his flashlight off and pushed them down the alley, deeper into the shadows—and closer to the voices.
“Rand,”Emerson whispered, ready to plead for his brother not to turn them in.
“Shhh,”Randall hissed, looking down the alley. He turned back to Emerson. “Get in that doorway… anddon’tmake a sound.”
Emerson looked over his shoulder and noticed the dark nook. Hopefully it was big enough for them both. His heart pounded like mad as he dragged Dash close and pressed himself into the shadows. It was too dark in the doorway to see anything but the faintest outline of Dash’s face near his. Dash’s scent filled his nose, the sweet musky aroma that threatened his good sense.
Dash’s chest rose and fell quickly, his arms wrapped around Emerson in an embrace. He pinned Dash to the door, his palmsflat on the metal door. It was the only way they’d fit and remain out of sight. Dash’s heart pounded against his chest so hard Emerson could feel it. He hoped like hell that the cacophony of their raging hearts wouldn’t be heard. A few seconds later, two Guardsmen came running down the alley. Randall wedged himself in front of the doorway, using his body to prevent them from getting too close. Emerson held his breath, begging the universe for a favor.
Hopefully his good deeds had earned him a little salvation.
“Walker, is that you?”
Emerson stiffened, hoping the question had been aimed at Randall.
“Yeah,” Randall answered coolly.
Emerson slowly tilted his head to the side so he could peek at the men over his shoulder. One of the patrolmen got way too close. He stood directly in front of Randall, but his little brother was nearly as tall as he was and covered a lot of territory. Still, too close was too close. From the dim light of a nearby streetlight filtering into the alley, Emerson could see some of the man’s face. Could he see Emerson’s?
“I think I saw two alphas running in this direction. Seen anyone come through?”
“It’s been all quiet down here,” Rand lied without a hint of nerves in his voice. “I haven’t seen anyone but you two so far. I should’ve known Cap’d stick me out here in No Man’s Land, away from the real action.”
“Where the fuck did they go?” the Guardsman asked his partner, ignoring Randall’s comment. He shook his head and gazed up and down the alley.
“Maybe they jumped on a fire escape and went up?” Randall asked.
Both Guardsmen lifted their faces to the buildings surrounding them. One turned on his flashlight and swept it down the alley, aimed high—just as lightning lit up the sky.
Emerson pressed closer to Dash, begging the patrolmen not to turn to look at Randall. The flash turned back to darkness, returning them to the relative safety of the shadows once more while thunder rumbled the world around them.
“Yeah, that’s likely where they went,” the first Guardsmen said. “If not out, then up. That’s the only way they could go.”
“We passed a ladder down the alley. Let’s go. Maybe we can catch them,” the other man said.
“Yell if you see anything, Walker,” the first barked before the pair jogged down the alley.
“Will do,”Randall called down to them.
