Nash whimpers as Stone’s fingers flex against his neck. Swallowing, I take a step to the side, flinching as the door behind me shakes on its hinges as Nikolai and Luc throw themselves against it.
Stone straightens. “I’ve lost everything because of you, you know.”
The gun stays steady in his hand. “I’m wanted by the courts for questioning over the conditions of the heat nests.” He barks a laugh. “As if you animals matter.”
“I’m not an animal,” I whisper through dry lips. “I’m your daughter.”
He sneers at me. “A useless runt. The only useful thing you ever did was pop out these two.”
He glances down at the cots, and Nash’s eyes flick to mine. “It’s okay,” I whisper. “It’s gonna be okay, Nash.”
Stone grunts. “A liar to your last breath. You’re going to die today, daughter. You, and your pack, and this little runt.” Nash rasps out a cry as he squeezes again, and I snarl. “Get your fucking hands off him!”
“You’re going to die, and your children are coming with me.” Stone grins manically. “Maybe I’ll have better luck with these two than I did with you.”
Nash stiffens. “They’re not going with you,” he whispers. Stone looks down at him consideringly. “I like your spark, kid. Maybe I’ll take you too.”
Nash’s little face scrunches up into a snarl. “You’re not taking me anywhere. I’m aGrey.”
Twisting, he sinks his teeth into Stone’s hand. Stone yelps as his attention is diverted, and I throw myself at him, pushing his arm up and making him drop the gun as we struggle. Nash gets knocked aside, and I scream at him. “Run, Nash! Open the door!”
The commotion wakes Emery and Leo, both of them starting to wail as Stone pulls back his fist and hits me in the side of the face, jarring me loose as blinding pain rips through the right side of my skull. I throw myself back at him, my nails ripping and scratching at his face as he brings back his fist to hit me again.
“You will never,” I spit, “touch my children again.”
He snarls at me as he lands another punch, my ears ringing from the force of it, but I don’t let go of his face, digging in as hard as I can.
“You will never touchmeagain.”
Even if I have to die for it.
Wetness drips down onto my neck as we grapple, Stone getting a grip on my neck as he laughs, bloody gouges in his skin as he lifts me from the floor, my hands scrabbling at my neck. Behind him, Nash works frantically to try and reach the lock on the door as cracks appear in the wood. My pack are coming.
“Stupid omega bitch,” he gasps. “You can’t win against a fucking alpha.”
I grin at him, my lips bloody as I force the words out, my voice hoarse as my throat screams for air. “I don’t have to win. I just have towait.”
Stone’s eyes widen as a rippling, feral snarl fills the air. “You—,”
I keep my eyes open as Lucien, his face twisted in fury, takes my father’s head between his hands and twists, his neck snapping beneath the force. I collapse to the floor as Luc kicks Stone’s body out of the way and drops to his knees, the haze in his eyes clearing as he runs frantic hands over my body. “Ava – where are you hurt?”
I choke out a raspy laugh. “Took you long enough.”
“Don’t start with me, brat,” he snaps. “Do you even realize how many years you took off our life when you locked us out of the fucking room?”
I swallow. “A lot?”
“Damned right,” he growls. “You bet your ass is getting a spanking for this.”
“Nash,” I breathe. “Where’s Nash?”
“Nik has him. Everyone’s safe, love. Everyone butyou. What did he do to you?”
Everyone is safe.
My family are safe.
Stone is dead.
