Finn nodded. His bones were still creaking, but I could see the fierce determination in the set of his shoulders. He wouldn’t let this go wrong.
None of us would.
Silent as the grave, the three of us approached Chester’s home from various angles as Finlay strode from the tree line, keeping Clyde’s attention on him. More than once, he barked at Chester to keep his eyes on him.
And in doing so, he ensured that Clyde did the same. A classic misdirection. A smarter shifter would have known better.
Then again, a smarter shifter wouldn’t go after the partner of the leader of a clan like the McCarthys. A fool doesn’t learn from mistakes made in the past. Evidently, the Clarkson Clan was made up of fools.
The biggest of which had crossed into our territory alone and decided to toy with the life of the wrong fucking human.
I crouched on the roof, checking and double checking that my angle was right. From the corner of my eye, I saw Logan’s wolf creep closer. Just below me, floorboards creaked as Calan moved through Chester’s home.
It was near fucking impossible to wait. Clyde’s threats towards Chester had fury rolling through me. Logan was right—how fucking dare he indeed?
Along with the anger, there was a sense of justice and vindication. I’d hated Clyde before now, wanted him wiped from every plane.
Today, that was finally going to happen.
Irepositioned myself as Clyde dragged Chester back a step. My breath caught as he stumbled.
Justthen, Logan was finally close enough. The floorboards in Chester’s house had fallen silent too.
We were in position. All we needed was the signal. I focused on the conversation, muscles tensed as I waited for the right moment.
“The only one who holds my lead is the man you’re currently choking,” Finn growled. “And I’m not the only one forgetting important facts here.”
“Oh?” Clyde dragged Chester back another step. I adjusted my stance once again. I probably would’ve been fine where I was, but I wasn’t taking any risks. Not with Chester’s life hanging in the balance. “Do enlighten me.”
Finn bared his teeth. “Wolves hunt in packs.”
The words had barely left his lips when I landed directly on Clyde.
At the same moment, Calan dove through the front window, ripping Chester from Clyde’s grip. I didn’t see where they went, just knew it was away from us.
Good.
Clyde threw me off him with a snarl, but Logan was already there. He pounced, fangs aiming for Clyde’s jugular.
Clyde’s eyes widened for a split second, and then he was shifting. The two of them disappeared into a mass of fur and snapping jaws.
Finally, I released my wolf. We didn’t hesitate to jump into the fray. My claws sought out Clyde’s soft underbelly while Logan went for his throat.
Clyde landed a lucky hit on my shoulder, sending a chunk of flesh flying. Distantly, I was aware of a cry sounding.
I paused, letting the pain ripple through me.This is whatReid felt. Clyde is a shifter with shifter strength. Imagine how this felt to him. How it felt to him as a child.
Suddenly, nothing else existed for me. All I could see was ten-year-old Reid. His black eye. The bruises on his wrist.
“Take me with you. Take me away. Keep me safe.”
Reid’s words rang in my ears as I launched myself at his father. My teeth found their home in his throat. Blood filled my mouth, but I didn’t withdraw until I saw the light leave his eyes.
He wasn’t dead. Not properly. Not yet. And you know what? I was glad. Fuckingglad.
Because this fucker hadn’t suffered enough. He didn’t deserve a quick or easy death.
He deserved to feel every ounce of the suffering he’d inflicted on his son.
