His eyes drop to mine; we linger for a whole long second in the devastation of that news.
They will kill him. They will go after the pack. His identity has doomed Angel, Wrath, Hazard, and Riot.
They will never let them live. They will isolate him and then use me to break him.
I know exactly what my pack is and how they operate. I’ve watched it play out too many times before.
This is my pack. My responsibility.
My father sighs with an exultant laugh and gestures to his betas, who raise guns and take aim at everyone but Khaos. “I’m sorry it came to this, but fortune favours the pack.”
I look frantically between them, trying to find a way out. There are too many of them, and they brought guns. Not even a wolf can outrun a bullet.
“Shoot them,” my father says gleefully.
Four of the pack’s betas tense, training their guns on Hazard, Riot, and Wrath. I step forward, holding up my hands, standing in front of them as best I can.
“Wait!” I’m frantic, desperate. “Please, I will do anything.”
“Will you kneel?” My father sneers. “Will you spread your whore legs for Jonas and breed out mongrel pups?”
I tense. There is only one answer. “I will.”
“Don’t you dare,” Khaos snarls.
“What are you doing?” Hazard hisses. “Get out of the way! You don’t die for us!”
“Take her.” My father barks. “If she struggles, kill the red one first, but make sure it’s slow, and he suffers.”
I throw a desperate look over my shoulder, but my wolves are silent, fierce bombs about to explode. I can feel the danger in the air. But guns.
I look frantically between them. My four wolves and the guns.
They can’t win. It’s impossible.
But maybe. Hands grab at me, and Khaos jerks forward, snarling.
“Stay back!” The beta with the gun trained on him shouts.
I throw the hands off me and turn back to face the four of them.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry we met. That you ended up here with me. That I couldn’t do better.”
Riot cries out. A hand grips my hair and yanks me to my knees. A rope wraps around me.
I keep my eyes on the four of them. It’s only then I realise that someone has a gun trained on me, and that’s what’s keeping them back. Of course. They should let me die.
“Casey!” Hazard screams when someone hits me hard, sending me into the dirt.
My front door explodes, and Angel comes charging out. He blinks, taking it all in, and his face transforms. Rage. Complete madness.
He’s going to charge them, try to free me, and he will die.
No! I’d rather go through anything but lose them.
I’d rather they live far away and be alive than lose them to death.
I love him more than anything. I need them to live.
