Any suggestions?
“We could kill them, but it won’t do any of us any favors.”
Not going to matter if they destroy our ability to make more of the drug tearing up the warehouse either, to be fair.
When the onslaught passes, we catch up with the others, standing off to the side out of the way as the sea of hostile men try to force their way past Leo. The door’s still shut, so at least he managed to cut them off before they busted through the lock. Merrick palms the back of a guy’s head before slamming it into the nearest tree so hard, I’d be shocked if the poor bastard wasn’t dead before he hit the ground. When I catch a glimpse of the man’s face, it’s barely recognizable beneath all of the blood. He and Sebastian are working their way through the crowd, the three of them trying to bring their pack back into line, but these guys clearly don’t give a shit anymore. There’s not an ounce of fear, only an increasingly fed-up group of people that would rather get a few shots in before they die than continue to be forced into submission.
A gunshot fires and I flinch, but it’s only Cinjin shooting off a warning in the air. “Calm the fuck down and listen.” He makes his way to the warehouse door beside Leo. “This is how it's going to be. You want the ability to shift? We need a couple more volunteers to test a few things so we can see if any adjustments need to be made. Once we're sure there aren’t any horrible side effects, and if you need a shot every time you want to shift or if it’s permanent, we'll produce enough for all of you. Hell, you can even help so we can get it into your hands faster. But if you don’t back the fuck off right now, I will personally ensure every other person in this hellhole gets it except for you assholes.”
Someone growls, “Isn't Wilder just going to kill us the second he finds out we stole his product?”
Instantly, he snaps back, “And we won’t?”
Merrick wipes the blood on his knuckles off on his jeans as he strides up beside me, settling a hand on my shoulder and raising his voice to carry over the crowd. “After you’ve been injected, the only alpha that can manipulate you from that point on is my daughter. Not Wilder, not Leo, and not me. It’s the best freedom we can offer you ungrateful sons of bitches, but it comes at a price.”
All eyes turn on me, and I swallow uncomfortably, but keep my head held high. Wolves can sniff out weakness better than bloodhounds, but my fathers have proven that an iron fist and merciless reputation don’t garner respect. If threats are the only thing keeping people from turning on you, you’re living on borrowed time.
"I'd like you to shut up long enough to listen to a story. Afterward, you can decide if you want to stick around or not; you'll get the drug either way."
Someone snorts. "Going to preach about the power of friendship and why we should all get along?"
With a sad smile, I confess, "No, but you deserve to know that I’m the reason you’re cursed to live like this."
Chapter 11
Cinjin
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Ahard thump outsidethe door has Reid and I eyeing each other warily. Setting down my hand of cards, I rise from the table, drawing my gun on the way to the door. Hunter’s passed out with Sabrina, the Slaughters and the rest of the guys at the warehouse working on whipping out as much of that drug as they can get out of the latest batch of Sabrina’s blood, and the fact that Hunter hasn’t stormed in here already is pretty damn telling. We’ve all been pushing ourselves hard the last couple of days, but Hunter’s used to sleeping with one eye open. It’s a testament to the effect Sabrina has on people if even his demon has decided it’s not as much fun to torment Hunter anymore so they can soak up some extra time with her.
Opening the door, my heart plummets to my stomach, and out of habit, I shift my stance in the threshold, obscuring Reid from the line of fire. “What do you want?”
Acheron smiles from his perch, elbows resting on the railing he’s leaning back against casually. “Your packmate invited me, remember?”
At my look of confusion, he clarifies, “Kaige’s message. I had a few things to take care of first, so I brought Aure-Sabrinaa gift to show my apologies for the delay.” He gestures to the dead wolf lying at my feet, and the sudden urge to vomit is nearly overwhelming.
