“He seemed only too happy to accept my offer,” Hannah said, but she sounded a little distracted.
"He sure as fuck was no good at his job," another of the clan added. "My truck never ran right until the Alpha female got a hold of it." Ryker shot a glance at his mate to gauge her reaction to her title in the clan. She jolted slightly, which told him she'd registered the name, but reacted no further.
"What the hell does that mean?" Bastian asked as he turned to face Ryker. "You think Karl has something to do with all of this?"
Ryker was about to answer, but rapid movement at the back of the room caught his attention. He turned quickly to see what caught his eye, and every cell within him filled with horror. Ash stood at the back of the room, a shit-eating grin on his face, and a line of giant wolves standing just behind him. There had to be at least twenty of them, with more filing into the back of the room. But it was the handgun he held in front of him, trained at the front of the room that had him scared. The bastard must have used whatever spray or spell it was that suppressed their scent to be able to get into the hall without detection. Before he could react, the boom of the weapon discharging filled the room.
As if in slow motion he turned to his mate, and in that instant of clarity he knew exactly what Ash's plan had been all along. Once he and Bastian were completely bonded with Hannah, their lifespan was tied to hers. If she were to die, then he and Bastian would immediately lose the ability to shift, gradually weaken, then pass into the arms of their ancestors with her, not wanting to live another moment without her in their arms.
His heart stuttered within him as he watched her fall. With Ash’s speed and shifter accuracy, there was no way he’d missed. Ryker and Bastian reached out toward her at the same time to catch her as she fell. They both dropped to the ground beside her. When she crossed over Ryker would willingly go with her. His love for her was all-consuming, and there would be nothing left for him here without her.
At the sound of evil laughter at the back of the room, Ryker looked up, his gaze clashing with the satisfied smugness of Ash’s. His bear surged forward in rage at seeing Karl standing beside him, looking almost disinterested in the goings on around him. Ryker would follow Hannah, there was no doubting that, but he sure as fuck was going to wait until his bear had the chance to dine on the hearts of her killer and the traitor that stood by his side.
