Chapter 65 Reaper 42

Chapter 65 Reaper 42
“Inside now!” Roman had hold of her arm, dragging her up the porch steps. Behind her she could hear Rory crying, as she was herded into the house, her baby clutched tight to her chest. With one of Roman’s enforcers close to her side. But Bethany couldn’t take her eyes off the spectacle in front of her.

Wolves launched themselves into the crowd. Roman’s pack was taken so by surprise, that many hadn’t even shifted to protect themselves. A child screamed to the right, and her eyes panned back to where Reaper stood, shoulder to shoulder with the man she recognized as Byron. The one who had caught her when she had fallen. And another man who so closely resembled Roman, that he could only be his brother. They made an unmovable wall between the attackers and at least half a dozen children, some just toddlers who were crying behind them.

Olivia was one of them. Eyes huge in her white face.

Fury swept through her.

Her child was out there.

“Do you have a gun?” She shook her arm free of Roman.

“Reaper will kill me if I let you go out there.” But there was admiration in his eyes as he reached a handout to the man standing guard at the doorway. “Your gun?” He passed it over.  Bethany was surprised. It wasn’t like a wolf would need a weapon. He had teeth and claws enough to be the weapon.

Catching her look, “I wanted Rory to be able to defend herself If need be.” He passed the shotgun over, “Do you…” He paused as Bethany shot him a scathing look.

“My child and mate are out there, I’ll learn.”

He laughed. “Okay stay close, and for god sake don’t kill any of my pack.” He stepped off the porch. He shot her a look.

“Shift, I’ll be fine.” She lowered the gun, finger loose on the trigger. It wouldn’t do to accidentally shoot anyone. The wolf nearest her snarled, hackles raised as it bared its teeth. Drool hanging in a line from its fangs. She pulled the trigger without warning and it fell to its side with a whine. Blood blossoming from a wound on its shoulder.

Her adrenaline was pumping now.

“Stay down.” She aimed the muzzle of the gun at the prone wolf, who was trying to gain its feet, teeth snapping at her legs. “Stay down or the next one will be through your skull. Let’s see how your shifter healing deals with that.”

She inched closer to where the men were. Her man was trying desperately to get the youngsters into parked cars. Anything to get them out of the way.

The butt of her gun came down hard on the back of the neck on one wolf who was attempting to attack Reaper when his back was turned. It was a hard blow, and the wolf didn’t make a sound as it dropped.

“Hey lover, need some help?” She kept her voice light and airy as she stepped up to his side. “Byron,” She nodded politely.

“Coming to my rescue mate?” Reaper's voice sounded like he was having far too much fun.

“Always.” She lowered her weapon again. “Is Liv safe?”

“Liv is fine, nice to meet you by the way, I’m Jude.” The dark-haired man to Reapers left gave her a quick smile, his fists clenched at his side. Itching to get into the middle of the fight.

“Roman’s brother?”

He gave a nod just as his fist caught the snout of another wolf.

“Go, I'll cover the children.” Bethany hated saying it, but they were more useful out there. Reaper shot her a look. “I’m not leaving you.”

“I’ve got this, go,” and she did. No one would touch these children. She wasn’t much of a fighter, but she was a protector.

She was a mother after all.

“I love you.” Reaper mouthed as he strode into the melee.

“Don’t get killed!” She kept her eyes on the fighting mass in front of her, so she didn’t see the tall, dark-haired woman step onto the lawn in confusion.

A giant black wolf, grey around the muzzle, did though and snarled a warning. The woman was going to walk straight into the middle of a war, and she didn’t even know it.

“Watch out!” She yelled, “Byron!” He was the closest to them. The only one who had any chance of getting between the rabid wolf and the dark-haired beauty, who she now recognized as Reaper's baby sister Imogen.

Byron caught the wolf full around the middle, muscles bunching as he lifted it away from the girl who had stopped paralyzed. Headphones dangling from her ears.

“Not her father, not her.” Byron’s voice was firm as he threw the wolf bodily away. “Enough of this madness, enough!”

Teeth snapped at him as he stepped in front of Imogen and Bethany could do nothing but watch.

“I challenge you.” His voice was so quiet, but it seemed every single wolf stopped dead in their tracks.

What the hell was happening? Was this pack Byron’s? Was the wolf who was snarling at him, his father and Alpha?

“I challenge you for control of this pack!” Byron shot a look behind him.  He reached out a hand, and Imogen touched his fingers with hers.

“That is a challenge to the death.”

Bethany Watched as Byron’s shoulders fell. “So be it.” He looked resigned.

“Whoa whoa,” Reaper grabbed the gun from her hands, as she whirled on him. She hadn’t heard him. “Easy, lover.”

“What the hell is going on?” She whispered, lowering her weapon.

“Byron just challenged his father for control of the pack.” Reaper waved at his sister who hurried to their side. Her pretty face ashen.

“Can he win?”

Reaper shrugged.

“What happens if he loses?” Bethany liked Byron.

“Then the pack will rip him apart, and we all start fighting again.”

Imogen paled even more. “Reaper do something!”

“I can’t interfere.” He searched his sister's face, a frown forming over his smooth features. “We just have to let this play out the way nature intended.”

Bethany grimaced; what nature intended was a bloodbath. The older wolf launched itself at Byron. Who hadn’t shifted yet. Jaws snapping for his throat.

Byron seemed to pause.

“Shift Byron!” She couldn’t help but call out.

She could hear Imogen crying, but couldn’t drag her eyes away. Then Byron shifted.

She hid her eyes against Reaper's shoulder, using her body to block the gruesome view from the children as a spray of blood went into the air. It was over so quickly.

And then howls rent the air. Hauntingly beautiful.