Tyson could no longer speak. All we could do was lay with him until hepassed.
Wesley was a wreck. He threw himself into Tyson’s fur, sobbing. Charlie had shifted back to human form from the shock and was wailing. Mason had turned as well. He only stared blankly at his friend’s body, his eyes distant andmisty.
“Can’t you do something!?” David snappedatme.
But I knew it was just a desperate cry of grief. We all knew it was too late. I only shook my head, feelinguseless.
I laid my hand on Tyson’s chest. His heartbeat had alreadyfaded.
“He’s gone,” I saidquietly.
David roared. In a fit of rage, he attacked the remaining Scarlet Ridge wolves. Covered in blood, he tore the throats out of the remaining lackeys until only Gunnerwasleft.
Gunner’s expression was shocked; he had underestimated us, but mainly David. The way he glanced at David’s blood-soaked form was hard to read. It seemed almostjealous.
Flint and Jericho joined David, their eyes hard and cold. I pulled myself together and returned to my friends’ sides. Gunner was alone and outnumbered now. Although the loss was too great, this was still a fight wecouldwin.
But Gunner shifted back to human form - like he was certain he could still defeat us somehow, and he didn’t need his wolf form todoit.
“It’s a shame you’re wasting your talents among these soft-hearted fools,” Gunner said, looking David in the eyes. “If you joined my army, you would rapidly rise in the ranks. I could even make you acommander.”
“Go to hell,” David snarled, his voice so full of pure anger and hatred that itchilledme.
“Pity that all of this could have been avoided if you just handed over the omega,” Gunner said coldly. He narrowed his eyes at Wesley, whose face was stained withtears.
“You’re in no place to bargain anymore,” Flint growled. “Get off ourland,now.”
But David shouldered Flint aside. “No, no more mercy! I’m going tokillhim!”
“Before you try to silence me,” Gunner said. “There’s something youshouldknow.”
David stopped in histracks.
Gunner’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Your mate is stillalive.”
David’s eyes widened. “You’relying.”
Gunner shook his head. “I’m not. Why don’t you come join my pack and see foryourself?”
David paused, his body frozen byindecision.
“David!” Jericho cried. “You can’t seriously be thinking about going back? And what mate is he talkingabout?”
“I’ve never heard of such a mate, either,” Flintgrowled.
My heart raced. Ifeltsick.
I was the only onewhoknew.
David had told me a long time ago why he never seemed interested inamate.
Long ago, during a war with the previous top alpha of Scarlet Ridge, his own mate had been kidnapped. David had presumed he was dead. Now I wasn’t sure what to believeanymore.
“David,” I said, going to his side. “You don’t know if Gunner is telling the truth or not. It’s too risky. I know you care about yourmate,but- “
“What do you know?” David snarled at me. “Your mate is alive and well. You have nothing to worry about. You have no idea what I’ve beenthrough!”
Flint and Jericho exchanged confused glances, but saidnothing.
