Page 40

Elijah

I run through the forest, the passing trees a blur. Rafael, Liam, and Alejandro are alongside me, with many wolves following behind. With each passing second, my worry for her grows. My wolf is almost fully in control, losing his mind over his mate.

I can’t feel anything through the bond anymore, but I know she is alive.

Hold on for me.

Knowing she is alive is the only thing that is keeping me sane. But knowing what a psychotic monster she is with only makes the fear and panic within me grow.

Suddenly, from ahead, we see a line of wolves blocking the path forward, a clear sign we are on the right track. They growl menacingly and none of us even flinch. We know what needs to be done.

The wolves at the front rush at us, slamming right into us as they force us to break flanks. There’s a lot of them, but the plan is the majority will hold them back and those who can run past them will go ahead.

I growl when I see one of my own wolves drop to the ground. It only pushes me further. But then I slow down when I see those three bitches that nearly ruined everything standing there. The wolfless women. I stare at the third, the one I had thought was dead. How did she even survive?

Alejandro steps forward, spinning his weapons in his hand.

“I’ll handle them,” he says, his quiet, rugged voice cold as ever.

I know by now I shouldn’t doubt him. Rafael looks at him and I know they are mind-linking. I see Alejandro frown before giving a curt nod. Rafael nods as if satisfied and motions for me to carry on.

The moment we rush ahead, the women jump forward, each holding a weapon. Alejandro throws his first weapon at one, who jumps aside to avoid it. In a flash, he grabs the second woman by her neck, snarling in her face.

I toss the third aside as I run past her, but before she can lunge at my back, a menacing blood-curdling snarl that holds complete power makes her stop in her tracks. Makes every wolf here slow down, including me. I feel the power that blankets us wanting me to submit. Forcing me to submit.

What on earth…

I turn sharply to Alejandro, not missing his now blood-red eyes. He doesn’t look like just a boy anymore…

What is he?

“Go,” Alejandro snarls. Something about his voice is almost a command and I don’t question it, turning and rushing ahead. Liam still carries Harrison on his back. The boy looks rather shocked at what just happened, fear in his eyes at the sight of Alejandro’s red eyes. Red eyes… That is not a colour of a wolf’s eyes. Not one that’s been recorded anyway.

“It’s straight ahead, there!” Harrison calls out, forcing himself to pay attention.

Leave him here with two wolves, I say through the mind-link before running ahead. I’m coming, Kitten, hold on, I say through the mind-link, hoping she can hear me.

She’s here! I’m picking up her scent, although it’s mixed with several other scents. Hold on…

Minutes later, the entrance to the cavern is easy to spot. I reach there first, but a few moments later a few of the others have caught up and we assess the line of werewolves standing there, each one of them is large, muscular, and bears many scars. The strongest of their pack.

Cade steps forward.

“You should really stop butting into other people’s business, or you will die,” he says coldly.

He isn’t the kind of person who will see reason and I don’t have time to waste on him.

I growl threateningly, and as one, we all rush forward. Zidane’s men shift into their wolves as we claw and rip at each other. Each of us is going for the kill, no mercy, no play, just the desire to destroy.

Elijah, go! Liam yells through the link, knocking Cade aside. Rafael is fighting three other wolves. I take the chance, leaping over another wolf and launching myself into the mouth of the cavern. Darkness shadows this place. It is a lot larger than it appears from the outside.

The stench of blood and wolfsbane overpowers even Scarlett’s intoxicating scent. It fills the cavern like poison, burning my lungs. My eyes sweep across the cavern, searching for her, and time seems to stop when I see her lying in a pool of blood.

Coldness rushes over me and it feels as if I’ve had my guts ripped out. Pain grips me, crushing my heart at the sight of her. I am late. Again.

The bastard, Zidane, stands over her, a weapon raised, ready to bring it down on her. A deadly growl rips from my throat, trembling through the cavern, promising death and vengeance. I jump forward before he can even react and throw him to the ground. He shifts into a huge wolf before his body even touches the ground.

The evil, bloodthirsty expression on his wolf’s face matches the evil of the man himself. The evil of their soul. They are truly made for one another. Saliva drips from his mouth and his manic eyes are burning with pure evil.

He snarls at me and I snarl back, anger burning within me, a hatred like no other that wants to hurt him, torture him, destroy him and then kill him. I want him to suffer and feel every single thing he’s inflicted upon Scarlett.

I want him to fucking scream for mercy as he suffers, want him to know that just like no one came for her, that there is no one to help him.

I launch myself at him, ripping violently through his shoulder and he growls, pulling back. I snarl, blood dripping from my mouth as I swiftly rush to Scarlett’s unconscious form. Keeping my gaze on Zidane, I gently lick Scarlett’s face.

She’s bound with some chains and I pull them off, not caring as they burn me. I snarl at the sight of the marks on her body as I fling the chains away, my blood boiling. The cling of the metal hitting the ground is drowned out by Zidane’s roar of rage as he lunges for me.

I lower myself and throw myself straight at the lunging wolf. In size, I am bigger than Zidane, but he is pretty strong. His wolf is muscled and used to violence.

We engage one another in a violent trade of blows, bites and cuts, ripping into each other. But I feel nothing, even when my blood sprays across my face, drawn from my shoulder, I feel nothing but rage. Adrenaline and the nightmares that haunt Scarlett fuel me. This man has ruined her childhood, tormented her, abused her, tortured her, and I will make sure he pays for that.

Scarlett

I open my eyes slowly , wondering if he’s stopped. I know I’m not dead because I can still very much feel the pain which is still present. My heart hammers when I smell a familiar scent. Elijah. I look around, hearing the growls and howls of wolves attacking one another. But the sound of two are much, much closer, echoing off the rocky walls of the cavern.

I turn my head slowly and recognise both wolves. Elijah and Zidane. My heart leaps at the sight of Elijah,

He’s here…

Both are bloody, but Zidane looks worse. In the fight for power, Elijah is coming out victorious. Elijah throws him to the ground, pinning him there as he savagely bites into his flank, sending a ripple of satisfaction through me.

I get up, ready to assist him. Taking a quick look down at myself, my top is barely hanging on, torn from all the brutal attacks with the knife, but my chains are gone. I feel weak, but I can stand and feel my strength returning. A minute or two and I’ll be able to join them.

I feel Zidane’s evil gaze turn on me and sure enough, when I turn his way, I see the maniacal rage in his eyes. With a sudden surge of strength, he throws Elijah off him and readies to jump at me but Elijah pounces on his back, slamming his body to the ground, making it tremble from the impact. Both wolves snarl loudly.

I’m fucking sorry, sweetheart; sorry I was late. Elijah’s apology is a pleasant caress through the link. I look at him and he spares me a moment, our eyes meeting and I shake my head, not wanting to distract him, yet at the same time I want to tell him.

You came, and that’s all that matters, I answer quietly, making his eyes soften despite the blood that is dripping from his jaw. Just then, the sound of a howl of pain echoes from near the entrance to the cavern and I step back closer to the wall.

Stay clear of the fight , Elijah orders, his voice strained as he and Zidane come dangerously close to me. Zidane tries to lash out at me but is dragged back by Elijah.

I nod, keeping to the side as I move away from the fight. Several enemy wolves come rushing in, most likely given orders by the monster himself to kill me. But before they even get close, another snarl rips through the air and Liam’s wolf is in front of me, slamming the one about to launch itself at me to the ground.

It’s Cade! His wolf is bigger than Liam’s. He is of beta blood, after all. They launch at one another, and although Liam is not of beta or delta blood, he is doing great against Cade. He’s impressive. Sure, I’ve seen him during training, but in a real fight, he isn’t lacking either.

Liam tears through his side and manages to throw him to the ground. Cade grunts as he rolls over, blood dripping from his side. Liam turns to look me over, his eyes that are full of concern wash over in relief.

I crack a small smile, about to reassure him I’m fine when I see Cade silently get to his feet. My eyes widen in horror as the next few moments feel as if they are playing out in slow motion.

He lunges forward, but his aim isn’t Liam; he is coming right for me. I know from the glint in his eyes that he is aiming for the kill.

Watch out! Elijah shouts as I raise my arms just as Liam launches himself forward.

My heart is hammering in my chest. That one moment when we both were distracted had cost us.

I feel the panic rise in slow motion as I try to warn Liam as he shields me, unable to block the attack without risking Cade hurting me.

No…

My stomach twists in horror as Cade’s clawed paw rips right through Liam’s chest.

The thump of my heart is loud in my ears as Liam’s eyes widen in shock as his warm blood drips on me.

Another snarl and another strong, powerful wolf joins the fray. In the back of my head, I vaguely think it’s Rafael. Murder is in his eyes as he throws Cade off Liam before he can fully rip his heart out.

Liam collapses forward, shifting back into his human form. I catch him, cradling his body before placing his head on the ground and time seems to move once again.

“Fuck!” I cry out in panic. His chest is a gaping mess, a wound that even a werewolf can’t heal from. My heart pounds in my chest as I press my hands to the wound that is too large to stem.

I hear Elijah’s angry snarl, but I have no time to look. “Fuck, no… no…”

“It-it’s okay,” Liam coughs, pain contorting his face even as he tries to smile and fails.

“Why did you do that? I can heal better than you!” I shout, my voice trembling, watching his blood mar my hands. I look around, searching for something that can help me, but there is nothing.

I pull off the torn shirt I am wearing and press it against his wound, but it is futile, becoming soaked in seconds.

He is losing too much blood.

“If dying means I get to see you strip for me, I would have done it sooner,” he says cheekily, winking at me, and this time he’s able to muster a weak smile despite the pain that consumes his body.

I shake my head, not able to play along, trying to fight the tears that are welling up in my eyes.

Dying.

He knows he’s dying.

“Don’t say that! You can’t die, Liam. No…” My voice is breaking, trembling, the words cracking as they leave my mouth. My hands are shaking uncontrollably, drenched with his blood, and my chest feels tight. I can barely breathe. Why can’t I have the power to heal? Why isn’t that my gift?

Useless. I’m so useless.

“Don’t waste your tears on me, Scarlett,” he murmurs, his voice so soft, so fragile, as if he’s already slipping away. His face is pale, too pale. I know his life is creeping away, fading with every shallow, laboured breath he takes.

“Don’t say that! Please, Liam, don’t let go. Don’t let go!” My whisper is shaky, desperation clawing at my throat as I scan the chaos around us, searching for something, anything that can help him! There’s nothing. Just the sound of wolves clashing, the howls and snarls as they tear one another limb from limb.

I look down at him, my vision blurring. He smiles faintly. It’s weak as he raises a blood-stained hand to my cheek, brushing my tears away. I didn’t even realise that they’re now streaming down my face.

“Hey… it’s alright,” he murmurs, his voice cracking. His touch is so warm, so gentle, and it breaks me. He’s dying, and yet he’s comforting me. “I wish I didn’t have to go…” he whispers, his voice barely audible. “But it’s okay. If I had to die… I’m glad it was saving you.”

His soft words tear painfully at my chest, and a loud sob escapes me.

“No,” I sob, shaking my head violently, clutching his hand as if I can tether him here, anchor him to life. “No, no, you have things to do, Liam! Dreams to accomplish… a mate to find…” My words crack, the pain is overwhelming, my voice splintering as the tears blind me.

I feel the cold tendrils of regret clawing at me. I wish I had more time with the friend I had barely gotten to know. A man who has always wished me well from the sidelines. I choke on my guilt, flashes of him replaying in my mind. The quiet, steady way he always supported me, the water bottles he always had ready for me, or giving me one of the shaded spots in the glaring heat, the kind words, the concern in his eyes when no one else was looking, complimenting me when I looked good or asking if I was okay when I was quiet, and I had taken it all for granted.

His blood coats my hands, staining them with the price he paid for me, but what sears into my soul is his gaze. His gentle, tender gaze, filled with a love I never deserved, as even now he tries to hide his pain to make it easier for me.

“The only dream I ever had was you.” My heart thunders as his fading voice whispers that confession. Our eyes meet, soft brown against sage green. My heart thundering with pain.

The sounds of the fighting around us are drowned out and I feel my heart break as I shake my head, unable to form words.

I can’t speak. My voice is gone, stolen by the pain of the raw emotions coursing through me at the strong love that still burns in his eyes as he gazes up at me.

Instead, I lean down, my lips trembling as I press them softly to his. I hear his soft gasp of surprise, and for a fleeting moment, I feel him, alive, warm, and with me. He kisses me back, ever so tenderly, as if even now worried he’ll hurt me. Tears stream down my face, mingling with the taste of salty tears, a hint of blood and honey. He tastes like honey.

I don’t move back, not until his hand that cups my cheek drops to the ground and his lips become still.

“Liam?” My voice is a broken whisper, shaking as the truth tears through me, sharp and cruel as reality hits me hard. A sob wrenches free from my chest, pained and unrelenting, and I clutch his now lifeless body.

Liam is gone.