Page 9 of Betrayed Mate (Rejected Fate Trilogy #1)

CHAPTER NINE

M y mouth dried out, and I forgot how to breathe. “Another attack?” There had been three attacks in the past few months, so a fourth happening this soon startled me. Had I misunderstood?

Ryker exhaled as he threw the vehicle into reverse and punched the gas. The tires squealed against the wet asphalt, and the stench of burned rubber filled my nose, upsetting my stomach once again.

I swallowed, desperate to not vomit again.

“Did she fall down and hit her head?” Ryker grumbled loud enough for me to hear but then spoke clearer. “Yes, that’s what I said. There’s been another attack.”

My gut clenched. “What pack? If another pack assisted Briar, then she could be in danger.” Would Reid have hunted my sister down to kill her when I was still alive and walking around? If he knew she’d survived, then he should’ve figured out I had as well. “We need to hurry and get there before they harm her.”

He shifted the Suburban into Drive, spun around in the grass, and took off. “I doubt that’s what happened. That wouldn’t make any sense.”

The way he completely disregarded my concerns had my hands balling into fists. “Because all the other attacks have.” I didn’t like being talked down to, and I didn’t give a damn if he was the alpha of the Grimstone pack. He could kiss my ass. “Thanks for clearing that up for me.”

Kendric and Xander glanced at each other uncomfortably as Gage turned his head back and gave me a slight nod.

“We’re the ones helping you,” Ryker seethed. “Don’t forget that.”

“Don’t worry, I’m completely aware, and besides, I’d doubt you’d ever risk letting me.” I knew better than to trust this pack.

His hands clenched on the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles turned white enough for me to notice from back here. I hated that he’d thrown my dependency on them in my face. However, the decision had been made, and I couldn’t do a damn thing about it now.

I needed to find a way out of here. I didn’t want to be with a group of people who would consistently make sure I knew I was the outsider and act like my questions and concerns weren’t valid. A lot of other packs operated like that, but mine didn’t, and now that it had only two members, both female, I wouldn’t stand for that sort of treatment.

I glanced at the side windows, which were opened only a smidgen. There was no way in hell I would be able to fit through the cracks. Even if I could, I wouldn’t do that…at least, not yet. And if another pack was getting slaughtered, the last thing I wanted to do was hinder us from reaching them in time.

Swallowing my pride, I sat back in the seat with my arms crossed. My skin crawled with the realization that I’d once again left my pack without a proper burial.

My chest ached again as the coldness of the lost pack links amplified, reminding me that, if something happened to my sister, I’d be a rogue wolf. My wolf whimpered in my head. If I lost her, I wasn’t sure what would become of me. I’d continue on because I'd refuse to let Reid have the illusion of a win out of spite. But the mere thought of Briar not coming home had my heart throbbing.

Gage’s eyes glowed, and he scowled, no doubt pack-linking with the others so I couldn’t overhear. That was fine with me. I wasn’t part of their pack, nor did I want to be. I was better off by myself.

I watched the trees whip by the windows, causing a little bit of dizziness to wash over me. I’d rather take the discomfort than stare out the front and see the four of them. Maybe I was being fickle, but I didn’t give a damn.

The ride was quiet, and I didn’t waste my breath to ask where we were heading. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, trying to center myself. A tornado of anger, pain, and loss ravaged my soul, and an extra bolt of energy that hadn’t been there before ran through my blood. It must be the alpha power transfer from my dad.

The realization made me feel as if I were drowning despite being surrounded by oxygen. All these changes were overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure of what type of person I’d be when everything settled. For now, my entire focus had to be on locating Briar and taking her somewhere safe and sound.

Wind swooshed past the windows, and my body swayed with each curve of the road. I’d hoped that the pressure behind my eyes would ease, but the farther away I got from my pack home, the lonelier I felt as the reality of the situation sank in.

A seat belt unbuckled, and I opened my eyes to find Xander climbing back toward me. He plopped to my left, his body pressing into my side.

I lifted my chin, refusing to cower. There were four of them to my one, but they were already throwing my need for their help in my face. I would not make the situation even worse, especially since I wasn’t nearly as injured as before.

“Are you okay?” Xander asked. “You seem—”

“You’re actually asking me that?” My voice came out louder than I intended, but damn. What an asinine question. “We just left my slaughtered pack behind unburied, and I’m no closer to locating my sister. Not only that but right now, another pack is going through exactly what happened to me a few nights ago. Do you actually expect me to be okay?”

He grimaced, dissipating a fraction of my anger, then sighed. “That’s fair, and it was a stupid question. We’re just in a hurry to get to Asheville to help the vampires.”

My head jerked back. “Vampires?” Out of all possible scenarios, that hadn’t crossed my mind. Though wolf shifters and vampires didn’t hate one another, we never sought each other’s company. “We left my pack unburied to help vampires ?” Rage returned with a vengeance.

“ We ?” Ryker glared at me through the mirror once more. “There was no we back there, princess. It was Xander, Kendric, and me.”

“Dammit, Ryker.” Gage smacked the glove box. “Don’t you remember how it was for us? We weren’t able to bury the dead for a week. It’s only been two days for her, and she doesn’t have any of her pack to lean on. You’ve got to stop being such a dick.”

I expected Ryker to snap back, but he remained silent. Somehow that was more uncomfortable than if he’d responded in kind.

Tears pricked my eyes, and I inhaled deeply, trying to hold them back. I couldn’t fall apart, but I hadn’t expected Gage to risk upsetting his alpha for me. His loyalty could change in a second, especially if Ryker used alpha will on him. I’d heard rumors that the Grimstone alphas would use their power against their pack when necessary, making pack members do things against their free will.

Gage arched a brow at Ryker, daring him to do or say something. When nothing happened, Gage turned to me. “I know it doesn’t seem that we should be abandoning your pack, especially with the rain washing away any lingering scent traces, but after the wolves turned their backs on us, the vampires extended an olive branch. They let us stay with them while we got our feet back underneath us.”

My eyes widened. “What do you mean—they took you in?”

“They helped us when your pack and the others wouldn’t,” Ryker cut in. That cold, dark gaze met mine in the rearview mirror. “That’s all you need to know. The attack on them will leave behind fresh scents, which will be stronger than anything we could pick up in your pack territory.”

Xander gestured to the window. “Not necessarily in this rain.”

From the edge around the seat, I noticed Kendric tense. During my short time with them, I’d already determined that he was the least talkative of the group, but he hadn’t said a word at all and seemed even more on edge than the rest of us.

“Do you want us to turn around and head back then?” Ryker spat and lifted a brow in a challenge.

Jaw clenching, Xander rolled his shoulders back. “I didn’t say that. All I was trying to get across was that we shouldn’t get our hopes up. There’s been a ton of rain with the storm. Of course we need to show up. We need to help the nest if we’re able. We owe them.”

Silence filled the air once more, and Xander stayed in the back next to me. Our legs barely touched, but it was enough for me not to feel quite as alone.

Every few minutes, the base of my neck tingled. Each time it happened, I’d look forward and notice Ryker quickly glancing away as if trying to hide that he’d been watching me.

Another fifteen minutes passed, and we pulled into Shadowbrook.

The town was the closest one to where I lived, a mere twenty minutes away. If he could treat his fated mate the way he had, the very person Fate had chosen perfectly for him, then maybe he’s capable of treating all of the supernatural species, including the wolves, the same way. Had Reid stalked the vampires and decided to take them out next? Only wolf shifters had been attacked up to this point.

The houses grew closer together as we approached the city limits. The rain continued to pelt down on us as Ryker turned and drove between the various brick buildings that made up downtown, passing small merchant stores, restaurants, bars, and clubs that would be busy tonight once the rain had passed. They were different sizes but connected to each other block over block.

Right by the brick building of the biggest club were the two vampire houses. About ten vampires lived in each so they could feed off the tourists easily while remaining hidden in plain sight by appearing human. Each two-story house was made of gray brick and had a steeply sloped rooftop that gave off a gothic vibe. The front door to the last house, farthest from the main strip, was open.

A shifter in animal form wouldn’t have been able to open that huge door, and a vampire would have been able to smell them coming.

Ryker pulled up in front of the house and parked, and the five of us climbed out. A scream cut off short like the person had died.

Kendric didn’t pause, racing toward the house.

Ryker’s gaze landed on me, and he shook his head. “Hell no. You’re staying in the Suburban.”

I laughed, knowing that we didn’t have time for this argument. Not only was time of the essence, but we were getting drenched. “I’m going in and finding proof that Reid is behind the attacks.” The Blackwood pack was respected, so if I was going to accuse them of slaughtering my pack, I would need evidence. Otherwise, I would appear like a scorned lover trying to get revenge.

That was the last thing I needed.

“You two need to stop this. Can’t you smell the blood?” Gage gestured to the house. “There’s an attack going on.” Then he raced toward the house with Xander by his side.

I stepped to follow when Ryker’s hand grabbed mine.

“You were severely injured—” He started, but a scream cut him off.

The two of us took off toward the house.

We ran through the front arched double doors and straight into the living room, almost slamming into Gage and Xander. The inner walls were gray stone with a curved staircase ascending to the left.

A woman with dark hair lay sprawled on the floor behind a black leather sectional couch. The copper scent of blood hit my nose along with the sickeningly sweet signature smell of vampire, which overrode the faint musk indicating shifters once again. I still couldn’t make out anything distinctive.

Kendric was nowhere to be found, but the four of us rushed to the woman on the floor. Her chest barely moved, although her heart was still beating. Blood gushed from her neck, but her throat hadn’t been completely ripped out.

“Annabelle,” Gage gasped, kneeling beside her. He took her hand in his. “You’re going to be all right.”

She made a gurgling sound, and the corners of her lips curved upward. “Bad…” she rasped, her words almost inaudible “…liar.”

“I’ll go find human blood for her.” Xander hurried out the front door.

“No time,” she slurred, but he couldn’t hear her. He had to be searching for someone to bring back here.

“We have to try something. We can’t just let you die.” Gage’s brows furrowed, and he clutched her hand tighter.

But even as he tried to reassure her, her skin grew sallow before my eyes. Blood pulsed from her neck wound, dripping between the fingers of the hand she was using to put pressure on it.

“Who did this to you?” Ryker stood on her other side, arms crossed.

She opened her mouth to respond, but her breath caught, and then she wheezed, filling her lungs once more.

It sounded like the death rattle my grandmother made moments before she died. This woman didn’t have much longer.

“Dammit, Annabelle.” Ryker squatted, shaking her arm. “Who did this to you? What did you see? We need answers.”

“Ryker, stop.” Gage’s brows furrowed. “She’s struggling. Don’t push her until she’s more recovered.”

“We don’t have time for that.” Ryker bared his teeth. “She’s not going to make it. She needs to tell us what she can before she dies.”

My heart ached. Right now, Annabelle needed comfort and to be around people who cared for her. I understood Ryker’s desperation to know who’d attacked her, but based on what I’d seen the night my pack was killed, I suspected I knew who it was, though I still had a hard time wrapping my head around it. And she was losing strength fast.

She opened her mouth, but all that came out was an even deeper rattle.

Ryker leaned over her and placed his ear by her mouth. “Tell me again.”

Her lips moved, though I couldn’t hear anything beyond the rattle, and then her heart stopped, and her chest deflated. Her hand slackened, falling to the floor.

Death had taken her.

“Son of a bitch.” Ryker’s face contorted in rage. “I should’ve known.”

My heart skipped a beat. Annabelle had managed to tell him. “Did she confirm it was Reid?”