Chapter 80
AMELIA
“Amelia!” Ren and Theia were screaming my name, and I was surprised to react until a whooshing sound pierced my ears.
It happened in slow motion as I watched the bullet pass before my very eyes, hitting strands of my hair that had me gasping.
A forceful strong ball of wind pushed me in the chest, throwing me away, saving my life. I was still shocked to react, and I felt my ass being dragged against the ground landing me against Kailin’s car.
“Sniper!” Ren yelled at everyone before he took cover.
Another shot was fired, just an inch at my foot. I quickly pulled my knees against my body and hit myself. My heart was still in my throat as I hid behind the tire.
“Amelia, don’t move.” Ryden hid behind the SUV with Kailin. I saw the fear in his eyes and felt his jumbled thoughts.
“It’s Dane,” we said in unison.
“What?” Kailin reacted, eyes widening as she was finding it difficult to believe her mate was targeting me. “Why is he doing this?”
“He’s possessed by something,” Ryden explained briefly. “A legion.”
“What’s a legion? Is that why he ignored me?” I could see her mind reeling but now was not the right time for a thorough explanation.
“I’m surprised he never told you about this.” Now I wish Ren and I still had a link. I breathed deeply I tried to grab the side mirror. Dane fired another shot. “Damn it, Dane.”
“Didn’t I just say don’t move?” Ryden groaned and glared at me.
“Do you know how many kills he has and his record? You don’t wanna know, Ryden, but we both know why he’s here. I’m the target,” I said the obvious making him spit a curse.
“Then use me. I’m his mate. He won’t shoot me.”
I laughed. I didn’t know why. Maybe it was my defense mechanism that instead of shaking in fear, laughing somehow calmed my nerves.
“Why the fuck are you laughing?” Ryden was pissed off.
“Dane never missed. We both know that.”
“And how does it make it funny?”
“No, baby. I’m just pissed off that Alec is always ten steps ahead of us.”
“We’re doing the best that we can.”
“Next time don’t bring rich old and ambitious men to your pack,” Kailin said. “Califf was once betrayed by an avenging lunatic.”
“And Kailin, don’t ever try going out there. Whoever is in there, it’s not your mate. He’s not in control of himself anymore.” I looked at Ryden, and he was already giving me a warning look. “Do you trust me?”
“No,” he replied without an ounce of hesitation, and it hurt me.
“No?” I glared back.
“I mean, yes, I trust you, Amelia, but your plan? I don’t think so.”
“You haven’t even heard it.”
“Because I know you will put yourself in danger, and not even five hours ago, you were shot. So I know your plan is ridiculous, and I’m absolutely against it,” he said through gritted teeth. His jaw clenched in anger.
“I need the sword.”
“Please, don’t hurt him,” Kailin begged. I knew what it felt like to be in her shoe. I instantly saw myself in her when Ryden was at Alec’s mercy.
“I won’t. He’s my friend, and I know somewhere deep inside that body, Dane is still there waiting for our help. He never let me down, Kailin. And I won’t let him down now it’s my turn to help.”
Groaning, Ryden pulled the SUV’s door open. Dane was monitoring our movements, and the window just got shot, broke down, and glass shattered.
“Keep your head down.” Now I was the one pissed off as he tried to reach his hand inside and grabbed the sword.
“What is your plan?” He threw the sword at me, and I caught it.
I winced as he pulled out pieces of glass stuck into his arm.
Dane had anticipated our actions. He knew how I worked, but I also figured out where he settled according to the trajectory of his shots. Now was the right time to do something dangerous and might be stupid.
“If I tell you, you’re not going to like it,” I told Ryden the truth.
“Amelia! Fuck!” He better curse the hell out than stop me.
“I promise not to die today,” I said to him and smiled. “Ren?”
“You got a plan?”
“Yes. I supposed none of you here got a smoke grenade?”
“Alec’s men stole them,” Emil replied from the pack house.
“Tell everyone to stay down and stay away from the windows. Dane might be using thermal binoculars,” Ryden said.
“He got all his gear, Ryden,” Kailin said. “I told you he wasn’t himself. I could see it in his eyes that he was up for a kill.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this. Kailin, I’m sorry about your tire. Alpha will pay for the damage.”
They both looked at me in confusion.
I conducted a heat on the tire, enough to smoke and cover me.
Kailin and Ryden had the same look on their faces; surprised and impressed.
“Ren, create a diversion and block his view.”
“Amelia now is the time to share your plan with the class. You can’t do this alone!” he jeered.
I looked at Ryden. “I can. The moment Ren creates a diversion, both of you will run behind the pack house and you’ll be safe there.
“Is she always like this?” Kailin asked him.
“You have no idea. She’s fucking annoying.” He gritted his teeth. His face was red. “I’m the alpha, and you obey my order, Amelia.”
“Punish me later, but right now, I got a friend to save.” The rush of adrenaline fueled my blood, making my heart pump faster.
Ren had already created a tornado enough for dirt, dust, and leaves to fly around to block Dane’s view and shots.
“Go!” What I saw in Ryden’s eyes— the pain and anger for my disobedience and hesitation before he and Kailin ran towards the back of the house, it twisted my belly. I hoped they were fast enough before the bullets went flying
The moment I heard a shot, Ren used his power to divert the bullet away.
“Amelia, I count one to three, and I will be right behind you. Theia, stay where you are.”
“No, Ren. You can run faster than me. You know what to do.”
“Right now, I’m not going with you guys. Sorry, but I’ll stay put this time,” she replied with a laugh. “Watch your asses out there.”
I held the sword and checked the blade. I knew it could withstand the strongest metal and even Dane’s bullets.
Breathing deeply, I shut my eyes and focused on the sound of the environment. A blind Sensei once said you didn’t have to have eyes to learn swordsmanship. I hoped he was right.
Then I took my stance before Ren started counting.
“One, two, three!”
I ran in Dane’s direction, pulling out the sword from its sheath. Its signature power radiated through me, charging me with such energy that had me running at double speed. If I was right about his record of 1100 yards, I knew where he was camping.
Rather than terror, a wave of calm swept through me.
I could feel my skin heating up, my surroundings blurring from my sight, and my boots thudding like a racehorse running faster to the finish line.
I swift my sword as he fired another shot. The sound of the clinking and sparks as the bullet hit the blade echoed.
Once Ren’s diversion was gone, I knew we might just save Dane.
Finally, I heard his heart beating and he just drew a deep breath and was ready for another shot. He was closed, yet I hadn’t seen him. He was so camouflaged with the environment, but Ren just did his magic, blowing everything away off the ground, exposing his post and cover.
“Hands away from the gun, Dane.” I stopped before him, blade aimed at his head. “Don’t even try to be a hero. Your mate is worried about you, and here you are trying to add me to the list of your kill.”
“What are you waiting for? Kill me now, fire wolf.” He bared his teeth at me.
I chuckled. “I’m not here to kill you, but I want you to send a message to your fucking master. Tell him, I will come for him and send him back to hell, asshole.”
Dane started coughing, clutching his chest.
Ren pushed him away from the gun by his boot, and Dane fell on his back and looked in so much pain, that his breathing wheezed. Then the dark thick smoke came out from his mouth.
“On the other thought, I change my mind.” I sliced it in the middle, just an inch from Dane’s face.