Chapter 71- The Bitter Message
Chapter 71- The Bitter Message
Lily lifted her gaze, her red eyes searching his face as if trying to unravel a mystery she had not considered before. She seemed to be piecing together everything he had told her, everything she had learned about lycans, and everything she now saw with her own eyes. Confusion flickered across her pale features, her lips slightly parted as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.
Stone held her in place, his grip firm but no longer crushing. He studied her, seeing the wheels turning in her mind. He knew that, for the first time, she was truly questioning things—questioning Carina, questioning everything she had been taught.
"It is not your concern, and I do not wish to harm you, Lily," he finally said, his voice lower and steadier than before. "I only want to settle things with Carina. If you were still human, I would not hesitate to protect your life. But that is no longer the case."
Lily closed her eyes, inhaling deeply through her nose, and the small action made him tense. Immediately, he pushed her harder against the brick wall, preparing to snap her neck or toss her aside if she tried anything foolish.
But instead of attacking, she opened her large eyes, her expression shifting into one of shock.
"She's human," she whispered, almost as if she couldn’t believe it. "I can smell her on you."
Stone’s heart pounded against his ribcage, his pulse racing with sudden fear. He acted before thinking—his instincts took over. With a forceful shove, he threw her against the opposite wall. The impact was loud and unforgiving, and as she crumpled against the hard surface, he grimaced.
Damn it.
Cursing under his breath, he quickly stepped forward, grabbed her throat again, and lifted her back up against the wall.
Lily moaned in pain, barely able to lift her head.
Stone pushed away the small flicker of regret deep inside him. He had no time for emotions—only control. He took a long breath, steadying himself, forcing his thoughts into a cold focus.
As she weakly stirred, he tightened his grip just slightly. "Don't make me hurt you again," he warned, his voice dark and restrained.
She looked up at him with tired eyes, her breathing shallow but steady. Then, in a barely audible whisper, she said, "I pity her… being tied to a beast like you."
Stone growled sharply, his control slipping. "Enough."
But Lily wasn’t finished. She let out a breath, her voice softer now but still full of certainty.
"She will die by your hands before Mother can ever get to her."
Stone’s mind snapped. Rage boiled in his veins, and his hand tightened before he could stop himself.
"I said enough!" he roared.
In his anger, he threw her down the alley. She tried to twist her body mid-air, to land gracefully, but her strength failed her. She skidded along the ground, her body hitting the pavement with a hard thud before rolling to a stop.
Stone marched toward her, the sound of his heavy steps ringing through the narrow alley. As she struggled to lift herself, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head up, forcing her to look into his eyes.
"You will tell Carina to meet me, or I will come back for you and hunt you down myself," he said slowly, deliberately. "And next time, I will show no mercy."
He let go, letting her drop back onto the cold floor.
Taking a step back, Stone listened carefully. His senses stretched outward, scanning for approaching threats, but he heard nothing—only the faint sound of passing cars on the nearby street.
Grinding his teeth, he turned on his heel and walked out of the alley. His jaw was clenched so tightly it ached. His mind was filled with turmoil, the weight of Lily's words pressing deep into his thoughts.
"She will die by your hands before Mother ever gets to her."
The thought haunted him with every step. His grip on control felt dangerously thin.
As he rounded the next corner, he scanned the area, his ears tuned to the distant rush of traffic from the highway ahead.
"She will die by your hands."
Crossing the street to the Mississippi River, he shifted into his beast form.
"She will die."
A deep growl rumbled through him, his body twisting as he transformed. His bones groaned in protest as he forced the shift, his muscles tightening with frustration.
He didn’t need Lily to remind him of his deepest fear—that he might hurt Audrey. He already knew the danger. He knew the strength he carried. He knew he was capable of losing control.
And worse than anything… he knew she would die, one way or another.
He didn’t need a vampire to remind him of his greatest pain.
Damn them all.
Grinding his teeth, he followed the river to Raspberry Island, where he waited in front of the stadium for Carina. Whether she would actually come was uncertain, but he had no choice but to hope that seeing Lily in distress would be enough to bring her out, seeking revenge for her favored one.
He hadn’t meant to hurt Lily as much as he had. He had only wanted her to deliver the message.
But damn it, she had gotten under his skin.
His stomach twisted as the sky lightened to soft shades of gray and blue. The sun was coming soon.
His chest tightened.
What if Carina didn’t show?
What if she was already planning something, gathering more vampires even now?
Not taking any chances, he called Gunner for backup. The sunrise was near, and vampires typically avoided it—but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t attack before then.
Just as he was about to give up and leave, he heard it.
A splash.
The water rippled unnaturally.
Stone’s senses sharpened. It was too small to be Gunner… but too big for an animal.
Frowning, he inhaled deeply, trying to catch a scent—nothing.
His brows furrowed.
Then, suddenly, he saw movement.
Carina.
Dripping wet, she sprinted across the small island toward him. Her face twisted in fury, her expression nothing short of murderous rage.
Stone stiffened, his heart hammering as the hunt reached its next stage.
This wasn’t over.
Not yet.