Before I can blink, he grabs my other wrist and slices the blade across it before dropping the machete behind him. He takes my arm in both of his hands and sucks on my wound, drawing the blood out as his throat releases a haunting sound.
He releases me for a moment and speaks in a language I’ve never heard before. His eyes roll back as he reaches for my wrist again before licking up my blood, and I grimace.
A loud crash echoes from behind us and Ryker rips his mouth away from my arm, his teeth doused in my blood. His eyes are open and alert to the sound. He glances at Wes and Dominic.
“Go find out what that was,” he says gruffly.
Wes and Dominic both nod and leave before heading down the stairs to the basement. Ryker turns away and walks back to the cabinet. I flick my eyes down to the machete that is a few feet from my knees.
Two guards still have my shoulders pinned down, but they’re both watching Ryker as he picks his next weapon.
In a flash of a heartbeat, I lunge forward to grab the machete before swinging it with my right hand, slicing through the right guard's throat. He releases my shoulder and cups his hand over his neck as blood squirts out like a waterfall.
I don’t hesitate to break free from the other’s grip before swiping the machete the other way, cutting the blade through his chest. There is blood everywhere as they both stumble backwards.
When one falls to the floor, the other is still standing. I slash at his throat until his head nearly detaches from his body.
Ryker’s eyes are burning with fury as he storms back towards me, knife in hand. “What the fuck have you done?”
His hand flies out to hold me still with his powers, but I move faster. My head tilts, and I focus on his neck, tensing my eyes as I channel my energy and every single heart-wrenching emotion that pours out of me.
Evan.
My pack.
Every soul downstairs fighting for their lives.
It endsnow.
Ryker’s eyes widen in horror as I breathe heavily through my nose. He claws at his throat and tries to use his powers, but I have him physically in a chokehold, and it’s fucking liberating.
My mind screams at me to stop from the pressure inside my body, but I hold on. I’m not showing a single sliver of weakness when this might be the only true chance I get to end his worthless life.
“I’m doing what I should have a long time ago,” I snap through clenched teeth.
Ryker growls deep as the knife between his fingers starts to shake, and despite holding my powers against him, he flicks his wrist an inch, and it flies through the air.
I try to move at the last second, but it lodges itself in my shoulder. There’s no time to react, but it makes me lose focus for a single second. Footsteps rush behind me, a choir of urgent pattering.
I place my hand around the handle of the knife before I rip it from my flesh. My hand hangs at my side, but Ryker blindsides me as he takes away my ability to breathe.
“Oh, Caleb,” he taunts as he strolls towards me casually. “You stupid, stupid boy. Did you really think you could defeat me?”
I stare at him as my eyes feel like they’re about to burst from my head. The basement door blasts open, and a stampede of his prisoners comes flooding out.
Ryker’s attention is diverted, and I suck in a breath before stumbling forward to stick the knife in his leg. He gargles out a roar as blood leaks down his trousers. I step towards him to hold him still, but his eyes flare at me, and I’m frozen by his powers once more.
“Caleb!” Fi’s voice booms from behind me.
There are echoes of screaming and scrambling to escape this evil place. Ryker curses before raising his hand, focusing on Fi as he sends her crashing into the wall. Bones crack as she lies in a heap on the floor. Lula’s bellow of a cry comes next as she calls out for her mum.
No matter how hard I try to fight, his powers will always be stronger than mine. My face drains from the lack of blood rushing to my head, my lungs nearly giving out as he squeezes the life out of me. A growl from behind Ryker almost shakes the room, and before I have the chance to look, his body is mounted by a dark brown wolf.
I fall back, gasping for deep breaths as I take a glance at Lula, tears streaming down her face as she cradles her mother’s body in her arms. “Do something, Caleb.”
My head twists, and I watch Ryker struggle against the wolf on top of him, dodging its sharp teeth that’s aiming for his neck.
“You made a mistake, Dominic.” Ryker’s face morphs into fury. “A big fucking mistake.”
