My blood runs cold. “You’re double-crossing.”
The one who seems like he’s more or less leading this thing forces out a breath, but entertains me anyway. “That’s right. Whether it’s your boy toy or your brother, it doesn’t matter. We get paid twice the amount either way.”
Zane.
The bond flickers faintly on my end from the thought, but it feels like the connection has been blocked somehow, and I assume it has something to do with Rhea’s powers.
My heart clenches at the thought of it being completely severed.
“And you think that’s going to end well for you?”
He shrugs. “It doesn’t have to. As long as we get our money, we’ll be out of here soon enough.”
So they plan on making their money and leaving…but even if that’s what they claim, I have the feeling they’d be back anyway.
Before I can say anything else, a distant sound cuts through the tension. Movement registers first as something hurtles through the trees, and the shifters correct themselves instantly, attention snapping outward.
“Finally,” one mutters, apparently assuming it’s the person they’ve been waiting for.
I tense, instincts kicking in while I brace myself for whoever they might be, whoever plans on buying me for whatever sick reasons they might have.
Heavy footsteps move in, followed by the scent of blood in the air. The scent hits before the figure even steps into view, fresh and masking a smell I’m all too familiar with. Then I see him.
Hayes.
My brother moves like stormy wind breaking through the trees and into the opening, fast, brutal, and unrelenting even in his half-shifted state.
The first wolf doesn’t even have time to react before Hayes tears through him, claws ripping as blood sprays across the ground. Chaos erupts without warning, and his eyes glow as he bares his teeth.
The others watch in horror as the scene unfolds, trying to quickly grasp what’s happening.
“What the—”
“Move!”
Another wolf lunges, but Hayes takes him down just as easily with a snarl ripping from his throat. “You think you can play me?” he roars, anger directed at the rogue wolves. “You’ve stolen from me…but now I’m taking her back.”
The clearing explodes into motion as the carefully planned rendezvous breaks, and in that exact moment, the pressure on me lifts.
Rhea.
Her control snaps away completely, and I suck in a sharp breath as magic surges back under my skin all at once. It’s wild and unrestrained, but it’s exactly what I need.
I move on instinct as the restraints disappear, and I lunge to my feet, but I hesitate once I glance in her direction. Despite her powers, she hesitates, glancing around in confusion and fear. She stumbles back as one of the rogues turns on her.
“Get her back under control!” he snaps, grabbing her arm.
Rhea flinches, and her breath catches, not at all looking like the unruffled magic user from before.
Within a split second, I see something familiar in her, well aware of how they’ve been controlling her and using her against me, just like the way my own pack has used me. I can only imagine how long they’ve been doing this for.
Something deep inside me snaps, and I’m moving before I can think it through.
My magic lashes out, slamming into the wolf and throwing him off her. He hits the ground with a grunt, and the wolves closest to us freeze.
I step in front of her without realizing it, positioning myself between her and the others.
“What are you doing?” one of the wolves demands.
