Page 44 of The Alpha’s Seer (The Shifters of Stormhollow #1)

Chapter Forty-Four

CALIX

The fury. The fucking fury racing through my veins and pounding at my skin, desperate to get out, is insane. I want to release it, let it run free, and kill every one of these bastards who’ve hurt the people I love.

Cox is above me, battling with two men almost twice his size, but they seem to be getting weaker—and not because of Cox.

I slam my hands onto the head nearest to me—the man shouts, but I think nothing of crushing his skull between my palms, a roar leaving my lips when it explodes.

Blood and flesh taint my skin, but I’m already onto the next.

So many men.

How many are here?

I stare around the prison, bile rising in my throat when I hear a woman scream.

My feet pound on the stone steps as I almost throw myself down, my eyes wide and searching.

I don’t know what I’m searching for until I see it—a man dragging a woman down the hallway, his fingers hooked in her mouth as she screams. She bites him, and he stops, reaching down to clamp his other hand around her jaw. He’s going to rip her apart.

I move quickly, shifting into my wolf before I reach him, my teeth sinking into his bare arm as he roars in agony. All around me, wolves appear, and I recognize them as our warriors. Pride warms my chest as we tear these fuckers apart, leaving women sobbing on the floor behind us.

Where is the fucking bastard?

Alpha Asher’s voice slips into my mind, and I halt, my senses heightened. I can’t sense him, but maybe that’s because whatever was holding this weird fucking pack together was the dark magic that Lexie has overcome.

Thank the Goddess for Lexie.

But then I round the corner and see the dark witch lying in a pool of black blood, her eyes staring vacantly ahead, her mouth open in an ‘O’ shape. She’s dead, thank fuck.

Maybe that’s why the magic stopped, I tell Cox, who pants beside me, his golden eyes narrowing at the witch.

He doesn’t say anything, just launches himself for the witch’s throat, not stopping until there’s not much left of her.

I don’t blame him. Even though she’s dead; she needs to pay in blood.

She made this possible—she’s the reason these fuckers were super strong.

The reason my family was murdered—and my mother…

My mother!

I leave Cox feasting on the dark witch, heading for the dark room at the end of the hallway. My stomach churns as I pass a room filled with Blair’s scent—Blair’s fucking blood—and a hand reaches out to grab my foot. I snarl, turning to see Leon staring back at me, barely breathing.

“Tell her I’m sorry,” he wheezes, blood clogging his words.

I say nothing. Because even though he was drugged on magic, I will never forgive him for hurting Blair.

“Calix…” Leon tries again, but I see red. I lunge for his throat and tear a chunk of sizeable flesh out, ignoring his horrified gurgle.

Never again will he let Blair down.

Never again will he hurt her.

I let his limp body fall to the ground and move forward, pausing when I see the figures in the doorway.

Three women hover together, clutching one another’s hands as they stare at me fearfully. Well, two of them are, anyway.

The other?

“Calix?”

My mother’s voice makes my knees buckle, and I fall at her feet whimpering.

She’s tiny compared to how she was the last time I saw her, and she clasps her hands to her mouth, unsuccessfully trying to stifle a sob.

Then she sweeps my wolf into her arms, burying her face into my fur as I let out a low howl.

I can smell men all over her. I know what’s happened to her, and I vow there and then to kill them all.

Are you alright? Do you need medical attention? I mind-link her, studying her face when she pulls away to gaze at me. Her fingers stroke my fur lovingly, her head shaking.

“If you’re talking to me, I can’t hear you.” Her voice is soft and filled with sadness, nothing like the voice I knew. “They took our wolves.”

I snap and snarl, moving away from my mother to take in the surrounding men, but there are none left.

Blood and flesh cover the ground, and as I move forward, the women, my mother included, move slowly behind me.

The thought of someone taking their wolves makes me feel sick.

So that’s why they couldn’t communicate.

The surrounding wolves begin to shift, and the women recoil at their nakedness.

“Don’t look, but you have nothing to fear from any man here,” Cox says to the women gently, his eyes wild. He locks his gaze with my mother and falls to his knee, shaking his head. “Luna Willow. I’m so sorry.”

My mother reaches out to pat his head, her fingers trembling as she does. “Thank you.”

“Where are the children? We have searched this place inside out and back to front, and there are no children here.” Alpha Asher stalks forward, staring at the women, not caring about his nudity nor the effect it has on them. “The children,” he repeats, as one woman meets his gaze.

“We do not know. Have some empathy for the mothers,” she hisses, not caring he is an Alpha. She juts her chin as he assesses her, refusing to back away from his intimidating gaze.

“How many of you are mothers?” Cox asks, rising to his feet.

I can’t bear to look, but I do, and when I see my mother tentatively raise her hand, I wonder if she means she’s already a mother to me and my brother.

Cox reads my mind and clarifies, “Against their will, I mean. In here. Who had a child in here?”

The raised hands remain the same, and it’s then I realize my mother had a child against her will, meaning I have a sibling somewhere. I bow my head and nuzzle my mom’s hand, trying to give her strength. I refuse to change out of my wolf form until I know every man here is dead.

Especially the one who hurt my mate.

“There’s no one left,” Cox states, his eyes trained on me. “Let’s get the women to safety. Luna Willow?” He holds his hand before him, gesturing to the steps as she glances at me.

She’s scared.

I take in the women behind her: the strong one who stood up to Alpha Asher, the timid brunette behind her, and the countless women with their heads bowed.

Disgust races through me.

Take them outside, but be cautious. Some have been in here for years. They need to return to their packs.

Cox nods and lowers his voice, speaking slowly as he instructs them to follow him up the stairs and to freedom. I watch the women, my heart sinking at the thought of my mother here, alone and pregnant, grieving for her husband and son.

I’m going to fucking destroy the burned man. I’ll rip him to shreds.

Alpha Asher shifts into wolf form, his jaws snapping with impatience.

We need to find him. You and me—now.

I don’t argue.