Silent Screams

Silent Screams
Tessa fought to keep her reaction in check when she saw Wyatt—but the sight of him hanging, bound and beaten, made her breath hitch. She started to back away, searching for an opening, when a cold hand clamped around the back of her neck. Nails bit into her skin. A familiar, venomous presence loomed behind her, his breath chilling her ear.

"What did you do to him?"she demanded.

Maximus watched her from the corner of his eye before turning his full attention to Wyatt. Blood dripped down Wyatt’s battered face, his torn shirt exposing bruised ribs. His hands, bound at the wrists, had been hooked above him like some grotesque display. Tessa felt her pulse hammering against Maximus’s grip.

"The same poison given to your daughter," he said, his voice smooth, mocking. "Just not enough to kill him."

Her knees buckled, and if he hadn't been holding her, she would have collapsed. The room warped, voices muffled beneath the ringing in her ears. Faces blurred around her. The sight of Wyatt—barely breathing, limp and lifeless—was a punch to the gut.

Her misty gaze shifted to Maximus. "You killed my daughter?" she whispered, lips trembling.

Did Ash know? Did Amara? Had they all been playing her for a fool? The weight of betrayal pressed down on her chest like a boulder. Had she been sleeping with the enemy? How could she have been so blind?

Rage burned through her veins. She wanted to scream, to claw at Maximus, to rip him apart limb by limb. But before she could lunge, strong arms restrained her, pulling her back.

Maximus moved toward Wyatt, gripping his hair and yanking his head back with vicious force. Wyatt let out a weak, breathy groan—but he had no fight left in him. As Maximus surveyed the room, he took in the sea of horrified faces, lips curling into a dark, twisted smile.

His eyes glowed red.

His fangs extended.

Then, without hesitation, he sank them into Wyatt’s neck.

Tessa screamed, thrashing against whoever held her. Wyatt jerked once, his body convulsing in a last desperate attempt to push Maximus away—but the fight left him in an instant. His eyes rolled back.

Then, he went still.

Maximus turned to her, blood trickling down his chin, his crimson gaze locked onto her frozen form.

Had he killed Wyatt? Turned him? The thought was too much to bear. Wyatt would never want to become one of them—never.

Maximus strode forward, wiping his mouth before smearing Wyatt’s blood across her lips. She recoiled, but he was quicker, gripping her hair and holding her in place. He inhaled deeply, then, with a sick grin, licked the blood from her lips.

Disgust coiled in her stomach.

Her body trembled with rage as she forced out a smile—a cruel, mocking one—before spitting directly into his face.

Gasps echoed around them.

Maximus wiped his face slowly, then chuckled, his amusement short-lived as his hand lashed out, striking her across the cheek. Her head snapped back from the blow, the metallic taste of blood pooling in her mouth. Dazed, she barely registered his command before being dragged away.

Thrown into the dungeon like discarded waste, her body slammed into the stone wall. Pain exploded in her skull, her vision darkening.

Then, nothing.

Meanwhile, night fell over Falls Hollow.

A small team of hunters gathered in Tessa’s apartment, along with Ash and Amara, reviewing the final details of their plan. Lucas had covered every angle of the mission—his preparation was thorough, methodical. The hunters armed themselves with weapons designed to navigate the dark halls of the lair.

Ash and Amara were to return to the lair as usual, acting as distractions while the hunters infiltrated undetected. Jax had the critical role—find the key, free Tessa, and race against time.

As everyone filed out, Ash lingered for one final look around the apartment, committing it to memory. If tonight was his last, he wanted to hold onto something real.

Jax pulled Lucas aside, gripping him in a hug that spoke of promises, unspoken understanding, and silent apologies. Neither man voiced the possibility—but they both knew it.

Amara watched as the three men lingered, all bound by their connection to one woman. She only hoped, with every ounce of herself, that they weren’t too late.

Nothing would ever be the same after tonight.

All they could do was pray that Tessa was still alive.