The question didn't need an answer.
Ice shot through me from head to toe. Fear drained all the strength from my body.
"Answer me—how many hunters are there? Where are they now?" I roared the questions at Liv. "Tell me everything, or I'll kill you right now!"
"I'll talk, I'll talk… but let me go first—I can't breathe…" She begged painfully.
I fought down the terror and panic and released her. The warriors holding her stepped back, letting her collapse to the floor in a violent coughing fit.
"Elias… come closer—I'll tell you…" She clutched her throat, her voice hoarse—her vocal cords must have been damaged. To hear her clearly, I had no choice but to lean in.
BANG!
Without warning, a gunshot rang out.
Liv had fired at me with a concealed pocket pistol.
I dodged the vital area at the last second, but the bullet still hit my shoulder. The moment it struck, searing pain like flames engulfed my entire body. My shoulder felt like it had been torn open—all my strength pouring out through that wound.
"Alpha!"
I clutched my shoulder and collapsed. Herman and the others instinctively rushed to catch me while Liv used the chaos to flee like a madwoman!
"Don't worry about me!" My wolf form broke through involuntarily. My fingers, now claws, dug into my shoulder wound, tearing through flesh to find that vicious bullet. "Go after Liv! Bring her back!"
Herman hesitated. "But Alpha, even if she runs, she won't get far. Your wound is more serious right now…"
I realized Herman and the others hadn't grasped the real problem. "No—we can't let Liv escape!"
An ordinary gun couldn't do serious damage to an Alpha. But this bullet was no ordinary bullet. I pulled it from my body right in front of them. Beneath the coating of blood, the shell gleamed silver.
This was a hunter's silver bullet.
"Liv is working with hunters! She's going after Serenity—we have to stop her!"
CHAPTER 18
SERENITY KELLER
The key slid into the café door. With a click, I opened the "home" I hadn't seen in a week.
The familiar scent of coffee beans inside made me nostalgic. I walked in and ran my finger along the windowsill by the door. A thin layer of dust had built up over the week. In the sunlight, particles floated visibly in the air.
"I need to clean this up. I can't reopen the shop like this," I murmured, trying to give myself a pep talk.
Though I had successfully left the Vernal mansion and escaped the past that gave me nightmares, I had to admit that Novella was still in pain over leaving Elias and Arian. A dull ache pricked at my heart. It was deeply uncomfortable.
Just as I picked up a broom to start sweeping, the café door suddenly swung open.
"Serenity! I knew it was you!"
Frank rushed in, his eyes lighting up with joy.
"Frank?" I stared at him in shock. He had lost his usual polished look. His eyes were bloodshot, and stubble covered his jaw.
He hurried over and gripped my shoulders. "That man who took you—he didn't hurt you, did he? Where have you been all week?"
"You were worried about me? Thank you." I gently shook off his hands, touched but unwilling to discuss the past week. "But I'm fine. I just had some personal matters to handle…"
