“How long did you plan on keepingthisa secret?”
My nostrils flare, and with my anger getting the best of me, I spit, “I never wanted you to find out.”
“Ah, yes. Because you had a plan. You decided to launch an attack on my pack when you thought I’d least expect it,” he says with a sarcastic tone. “You wanted to get rid of me.”
I clench my fists as I attempt to move forward, but I can’t. “We killed them all.”
Ryker shrugs like it’s the least of his worries. “I can always find more, Caleb. They don’t matter to me. They’re just wolves. They’re not important.”
My body rattles at how cold-hearted and brutal he is.
“You think you’re so strong.” He releases a haunting laugh. “But did you know you have snakes in your pack, Caleb? They’re not loyal to you. They tell me all your secrets, including this weak man you call a mate.”
My teeth grit together so tightly my jaw nearly cracks.
“And now, I have to make an example out of you.”
He releases me for a split second before Evan’s lifeless body flies across the room and smashes into the window. He falls from the second floor as glass bursts through the air.
My eyes are burning with tears as I listen to my father release a laugh that can only be described as pure evil. I dash towards the window before he can stop me. I jump outside, land on the ledge, and fall onto the side roof. My feet slip down the tiles harshly as I try to locate Evan in the dark and hold on at the same time.
Without hesitation, I jump, not calculating if it’ll knock me out or break my legs, but I don’t have time to think about the logistics. My entire body plummets to the ground, and I hit it with force. For a second, it disorientates me, but I claw my way towards Evan with every last drop of energy I have.
“Fuck, fuck,” I chant as I cradle his broken body in my arms. “Evan? Look at me.”
He’s covered in cuts and bruises, and his eyes are closed. I subtly move my fingers to his neck, searching for a pulse.Praying for one.
Evan,I plead through our mindlink.Talk to me. Please, talk to me.
But I hear nothing back. Complete silence.
A sound of terror escapes my mouth as I study his beaten face.
“He’s probably dead,” Ryker says without an ounce of emotion, jumping down after me. “It’s for the best. Now we can focus on what’s really important.”
There is a sound of paws pounding from behind me, and I know my pack is here.
“Tell them to back off, or you’ll regret it,” Ryker murmurs darkly, eyes flicking to Evan.
Pull back.I order through our mindlink.Stop. Don’t come closer.
Alpha—
Don’t come any closer. That’s a fucking order.
There aren’t enough of us to even think about trying to attack him. Most of them are still miles away after taking out the rest of Ryker’s pack, and without the witches and their spell, we’re hopeless.
My fingers press deeper, and I find a faint pulse. Terrifyingly faint, but a silent breath of relief has me holding onto him.
“What do you want from me?” I growl.
“Well, if he doesn’t die, he will soon.”
I’m trembling uncontrollably as I stare at the man who should have been a father figure, but instead turned out to be a complete monster.
“He’s not done anything to you.”
He hums softly before looming over us as I hold Evan impossibly closer, brushing my fingers through his bloodstained curls as tears threaten my eyes.
