#Chapter 185 – Loyalties

Walsh’s voice crackles over the amplifier. “Move!” He commands, his voice failing to persuade his Betas. “Forward, troops!”

Walsh’s troops grimace, but they hold their position of surrender. Some gunfire explodes from the watch tower at Victor’s troops but they shield against it expertly and hold their stance, their guns still aimed at their apparent enemy kneeling before them.

A very small, specialized group of Victor’s own Betas begin to fire on the watch tower now, drawing Walsh’s attention and fire away from the mass of Victor’s forces, giving Victor a moment to think.

“What is –“ he says, still confused, looking at Rafe. “What’s…”

“They’re yours, brother,” Rafe says, “if you command them. Their allegiance is bound, tentatively, to Joyce – not to Walsh or Willard. And Joyce isn’t here today – that’s what Evelyn was trying to tell you. That you need to attack now because Joyce is gone – no one knows where.”

Victor frowns at this, feeling Evelyn all over it. He would bet his life, right now, that she knows precisely where Joyce is.

“When I was over there,” Rafe says, “I talked to some of their captains. They’re still allegiant to you, Victor, the man who trained them. In Joyce’s absence, especially since the original deal was a cheat,” he hesitates and then grins, “I think you can take them back.”

Victor blinks at his brother, considering for a moment, and then Victor flips a switch on the radio on his shoulder, connecting to all of the megaphones on the vehicles behind him instead of to the radios on his commanders’ shoulders.

“Betas,” he says, his voice strong with command. “We accept you into our ranks. Stand, now, and make your allegiance known.”

As one, Walsh’s army gets to their feet and raise their hands to their foreheads in salute. A salute pointed directly at him, at the back of the Kensington army, not to Walsh.

Victor can’t help the thrill that races through him at this. The Betas are his, his army again back together. It’s bigger, even, than it had been before, swelled as it is by the Rogue forces which he had incorporated at the loss of these very Betas.

With them now regained, Victor has by far the most powerful military force in the country. He’s unstoppable.

And Walsh?

“Betas, forward face,” he commands, his voice again carrying out over the field. The Betas formerly under Walsh’s control turn then, facing the barracks.

“Forward march,” Victor says, his voice cold and full of power.

The Betas respond, marching forward into the open gates of Walsh’s Beta encampment, seizing it for the Kensington pack.

few hours

hands of his Beta medics and moves forward with his troops, working hard to

an un-exploded armory where they had entrenched. Victor let two

situation, as no matter how many forces he had on the ground, there were only so many people that he could send

surrendered and Victor climbed to the top of

though, he was greeted with

one of his Captains tells him, giving him a brisk salute. “Walsh and

the watchtower floor, his forehead dripping blood from a

– he was merely an ambitious upstart who had sided with a greedy old Alpha who had nothing

up and get Victor’s attention. But Victor starts down the

has more important

to the bottom of the tower, his Beta scouts are

giving him a salute. “We checked the footage and tracked some tire marks we found – Walsh escaped almost immediately after his Betas turned on him and joined our forces. They went west,” he says, gesturing towards the hill over which

nods, unsurprised. If they hadn’t found them by now, then Victor

he

of them loading her into the van. If I may, sir…” he hesitates, not wanting to push too

looks at him and nods, giving permission

the Beta says. “That she’s the only thing they have to

thing,” a voice says from

turning to see Rafe standing there, looking pale, his arm in

– you should be

his head. “Victor,” he says, coming forward. “You should know. They

face as he hears

son –

Victor growls, looking beyond Rafe for the two Betas who he assigned to take care of

says, his voice low with warning. He gives Victor a look, reminding him to

straightens his shoulders, working hard to contain his panic, his emotion. Evelyn, he knew, had been

son – who he had promised

fault, Victor,” Rafe said, working to keep his brother’s attention.

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