Beverly's POV

Eleven Alphas surrounded me in a semicircle like predators. The warehouse suddenly felt smaller, and the air was thicker. My mother's muffled sobs cut through the silence and I forced myself not to look at her directly because seeing her terror would break my focus.

Chen stepped forward with the confidence of someone who believed he had already won. "I appreciate you coming alone, Beverly. It shows you understand what is at stake here. Let me introduce my associates who share ...