He lifts his head, refusing to look at anyone but Liam. Duty, responsibility, the alpha of alphas.
“I sentence Pack Foster to death for crimes against our species, humanity, and against an omega.”
Liam scoffs. “I tried to stop them. We were friends, Casey, tell him.”
Khaos lifts his chin and turns his head as Casey walks slowly towards him. No one else will be able to feel the butterflies he feels, the relief he experiences. No one will know that he’s breaking and reforming. He holds out his hand, and she puts hers in his. I know he wants so much more, but he can’t.
I hate it for him.
“I don’t care if you were friends. You are a manipulative traitor who deserves to die with the rest of your pack!” Khaos thunders.
“No! No! I was good. I helped. I tried to get away, but they hurt me.”
“Do you think I can’t smell the lies you are throwing up into the air?”
Liam flinches.
“I am the alpha, and I have come for my mate and to mete out justice.”
Liam’s expression switches so quickly I’m almost impressed. “Oh, for that whore? Did she tell you how many had her?”
Khaos snarls, his growl echoed by every wolf. “It doesn’t matter how many came before me. We are the ones here now.”
Liam looks around frantically.
“Don’t let them kill me, Casey, please?” He drops to his knees and crawls towards her.
I walk forward and grab his hair, yanking his head back and stopping him from getting anywhere close to her.
“You should know he murdered Cindel tonight,” I say quietly to Khaos, but my eyes are locked on her, and, finally, she lifts her eyes and looks at me, and I see desperate longing and fear in her eyes.
Does she think I won’t want her?
Casey’s eyes flicker with outrage. “Kill him. Make him suffer.”
The wolves swarm.
He screams.
He screams for a long, long time.
The end of Pack Foster isn’t memorable. The pack is just there and gone in one swipe from Riot’s deadly claws.
“The alpha’s will is done!”
The wolves tip their heads back and howl.
I walk towards Casey, desperate for this moment. Needing it more than I need air. I don’t stop until I’ve lifted her into my arms and am holding her close to my chest.
She ducks her head, but I lift her chin, staring at her until she stops trying to look away from me. I try to tell her everything, all I feel in that one look.
“I thought I’d never see you again!” I murmur. “I’m sorry we’re late.”
She collapses onto me, hugging my head to her chest. I lift her up, holding her tight to me. I don’t ever want to let her go.
“Wrath, my Wrath.”
Khaos clears his throat and turns away from his official duties. The wolves at his side peel away, giving him space.
