Page 48 of Wild Games
Staggering, I edge sideways toward the direction Jax is coming from, but I need to do something to stop Williams before everyone succumbs to the fumes. With one eye closed, I get Williams in my sights and change my grip on the knife in my hand.
“Quite clever, isn’t it?” Edward admires the swirling, shimmering cloud that’s spreading further and further around us like a proud parent. “Completely untraceable once the magic dissipates, leaving no evidence.”
My vision wavers, and the world tilts slightly to the left. I lock my knees, refusing to show weakness, even as my stomach churns. It’s now or never. I raise my arm, pulling it back, ready to let the blade fly.
“Camille? What the hell…?”
Off to the side, Raven races into the clearing, too slow to realise something is seriously wrong before the force of both the stone and the potion take him to his knees. Right as Tanner appears behind him, hands raised, claws unsheathed and ready to slit his throat.
In a heartbeat, my decision is made. I adjust my angle just as the knife leaves my fingertips. It flies through the air, spinning at speed, before it embeds itself deep into Tanner’s chest, and he stumbles back, giving Raven enough time to crawl away.
I curse as my chance to take out Williams slips through my fingers.
The alpha growls, enraged that I was about to bury that knife right between his eyes, and steps forward menacingly, too worked up to hear something barrelling through the undergrowth behind him.
“You’re a sick fuck,” I mumble, struggling to stay conscious as he looms over me.
“My son is destined to be an alpha,” Edward says proudly, chest puffed up like he thinks there’s something noble in what he’s doing. “He’ll lead with clean hands because I was willing to dirty mine. A father’s sacrifice.”
This guy thinks he’s a hero. He’s fucking delusional.
“You think he’ll thank you?” I scoff, fighting to stay upright as another wave of dizziness crashes over me. “When he finds out his victory was bought with blood? Because it’s going to come out.”
Edward laughs and makes a show of looking around him, as if to ask who’s going to stop him.
He’s right. There’s no sign of Dean or Callum. I’m too weak to fight back, and Raven, well, with absolutely no protection against the stone, he’s already slipping into unconsciousness.
“No, Miss Black. It won’t.” A pained groan echoes from the forest. Dean. Then another. Callum. “Did you think we didn’t plan for your backup?”
The magic presses harder, making thoughts scatter like startled birds.
“Such a shame,” Edward continues conversationally, taking a slow step forward, forcing me to scramble backward, deeper into the icy water to stay out of reach. “Young enforcer out alone at night. Attacked savagely.”
Tanner yanks out my knife, looking royally pissed off, and stalks forward, both men closing in with the patience of hunters who know their prey is trapped.
“And when they find out it was that crazy brother of Dean’s… enraged because he was denied the chance to enter because of his feral state, well, it was only a matter of time before he snapped.”
No, he can’t drag Jax into this.
Alpha Williams leans closer. “He’s been stalking you.” With a chuckle, he turns to the forest where Jax’s approach grows louder with each pounding of his footsteps. “And now, he’s doing us the courtesy of creating a scent trail, following you all the way to the water’s edge.”
He holds up the glowing artifact like a shield as Jax’s growls and snarls get closer.
“No… Jax… run.” My words are barely a whisper. The world tilts violently. I’m on both knees now in the water, hands pressing into the rocky bottom, fighting to stay conscious.
Jax’s footsteps are so close now. Ten feet. Maybe less. He’s going to run straight into their trap.
“Halt.” Alpha Williams’s order booms out through the quiet forest, the alpha command jarring as it blasts across my chilled skin.
Tanner steps in front of me, guarding his catch and sticking close to the stone.
“Stop right there, Jax, unless you want me to finish her off right in front of you.” The alpha’s tone is smug, gleeful almost, as Jax bursts from the trees, massive and magnificent, his wolf completely in charge.
His gaze immediately goes to me, lying prone on the ground, and as I fight to get up, his eyes glow gold in the dark shadows of the forest, peering at me over the colourful scarf wrapped around his nose and mouth.
“Shit,” Williams hisses, as Jax picks up speed, diverting his course to head straight for the stunned-looking men, who immediately understand they’ve made a grave miscalculation by underestimating him. And for trying to frame a dangerous beast with nothing to lose but his mate.
Unaffected by the potion, and seemingly immune to the stone, Jax is a large ball of fury, and nothing will stop him until I’m safe.