Chapter 86

Chapter 86
Lucy POV


I had been running for what felt like ages. My perception of time was off. I thought I was moving quickly. However, I felt Ace growing nearer, the bond trying to pull me toward him, and I hadn't realized I had slowed to a walk. I was delirious as I continued to listen to Rayan's voice leading me to him, but with each step, I grew sicker, weaker, and I struggled to remain upright. Clutching a tree, I tried to catch my breath. Lucille had gone quiet a while ago, and I was starving. Ravenous for blood.


"Lucille…" I gasped for air while trying to pull strength from my wolf, but I felt nothing. I felt hot and then cold, and before I knew it, I had collapsed, the ground rushing toward my face, and the only thing holding me from unconscious was Rayan's screams running through my head. Holding me and keeping me from accepting the darkness as it tried to steal my vision.


It started to rain, drops falling from the canopy leaves above and hitting my face. I welcomed the drops, anything to cool the blistering heat that ravaged my body.


Rayan's voice was so loud now that I could hear him so clearly and knew I was close. I had no idea how long I lay in the dirt, but willpower had me forcing myself to my hands and knees as I crawled to the tree to pull myself up. Ace, I could tell, was so close I was worried it would be all for nothing. His voice boomed through the link to come to him. But I had to find my brothers first. I was not leaving without them, and I knew he could hear Rayan, or at least I hoped he could by now.


I stumbled through the forest when lights appeared in the distance, flickering among the shrubs and branches ahead of me. My heart rate picked up with excitement as I realized I’d found them, found the place Melana spoke of, and Rayan had managed to lead me to him.


When I reached the end of the forest and burst through the treeline, I found I was at a vineyard. Green and purple grapes lined up in rows filled the vast house's paddocks. It was a mansion lit up in the night. I had barely taken a few steps when I was tackled from behind. Something warm and hard smashed against my back and collided with me, sending me hurtling toward the ground.


Sparks erupted everywhere, and a growl so terrifying slammed against me; its vibration against my back sent a shiver up my spine.


"I told you to stop," Ace's voice boomed, his aura rushing over me suffocatingly strong, his scent wafting to my nose, and I felt Lucille try to press forward, but she was too weak to push against the veil that separated us.


"I found them! I found them!" I groaned, trying to roll out from under him, but he growled, his teeth grazing down my neck in warning. It was like the energy just zapped right out of me at his thunderous purr, calling on me to submit to him. He pulled his chest off my back, allowing me to roll, and I stared up at Ace, my vision blurry, and he glanced around.


"Rayan?" he whispered, and I felt the mindlink open up.


"Please, god, tell me you’re close," Rayan cried.


"She found you, buddy. I am sending Tyson back for you," I heard him tell Rayan, and I growled. I wasn't leaving them here. Ace glared down at me before dipping his face into the crook of my neck. He put pressure on my mark with his teeth against my throat. Atticus tried to force me to submit to Ace's demands and go with him as he pressed beneath Ace's skin.


Ace tried to pick me up, and I thrashed in his arms; his answering growl was menacing as he tried to pin me so he could grab me.


"No, I am not leaving them!" I screamed at him, but his aura rushed out, slamming against me and stunning me for a second.


"You are dying. I can feel it. You need to get back with Tyson and me. We can come back for him now that we know where they are. I need to get you back, we can't take on anyone with you in this state, and I can't reach Tyson for backup. We are too far out," he snarled.


"No, no, I won't leave them!" I struggled against him when Rayan screamed through the mindlink. Ace dropped me, clutching his head, and adrenaline pumped through my veins as I started running toward the mansion. I didn't get far before Ace had tackled me again.


"No, we have to go back. I won't let you die," Ace roared, grabbing and dragging me toward him.


"No, I am not leaving!"


"No, you're not," came a voice that didn't belong to Ace. Ace pivoted, and I saw Alpha Jamie, who stepped out of the trees along with a group of men who quickly surrounded us.


Alpha Jamie held a gun pointed at Ace, and Ace roared his aura, rushing out when the gun went off. Ace fell back against me, and I screamed, clutching him, and my hands became wet with his blood. The bullet hit him in the chest, and his breathing wheezed in a long puff as he choked.


"You're not going anywhere," Jamie said before nodding to his men, who suddenly raced toward us. Ace coughed, blood spraying out his lips, and his spittle hit the side of my face. Lucille wailed in my head.


"Ace!" I shrieked when another bang sounded out into the darkness. Ace moved quickly, blocking me with his body, and this one hit him in the shoulder. He grunted, and I felt the impact as his body jolted against mine. Pain radiated through my shoulder as the bullet passed through him and into me, and the pain was my ending as the darkness finally enveloped me.