#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 move

his troops, working hard

un-exploded armory where they had entrenched. Victor let two of his Beta captains handle that fight while he

was a tricky situation, as no matter how many forces he had on the ground, there were only so many people that he could send up the complicated system of stairs and ladders at once. Walsh’s forces, at the top, did

top of the secured tower,

though, he was greeted with

brisk salute. “Walsh and Evelyn – they’re gone.” He gestures, then,

dirty on the watchtower floor, his forehead dripping blood from

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

get Victor’s attention. But Victor

has more important things to

of the tower,

one says, giving him a salute. “We checked the footage and tracked some tire marks we found – Walsh escaped almost immediately after his

If they hadn’t found them by now, then

him?” he

to ask who ‘she’ is. “We have footage of them loading her into

nods, giving

aware, sir,” the Beta says. “That she’s the only thing they have to draw you

thing,” a

there, looking pale, his arm in

says. “Why –

coming forward. “You should

blood drains from Victor’s face

– god

are they,” Victor growls, looking beyond Rafe for the two Betas who he assigned

“Brother,” he says, his voice low with warning. He gives Victor

to contain his panic, his

– who he

their fault, Victor,” Rafe said, working to

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