Chapter 150 2-22 - HOMEWARD
\-VANCE'S POV-
My razor-sharp teeth flashed through the cold smile that I sent to Assad when Raj kneed Tygart into his crotch. Tygart's eyes went as round as saucers as he dropped his knife, protectively clutched both hands before his family jewels, and fell to his knees. He was as vulnerable as a newly hatched chick coming out of its shell.
In a rapid dash, Raj picked up the weapon and slit his neck. Tygart fell on his side and clutched his blood- leaking throat as his life slipped away right before his king and brother.
Assad wrestled like crazy to be freed from my grip to no avail. He was powerless and helpless. The defeat eliminated any spark in his orange eyes. "We surrender," his voice was a hoarse croak.
"It doesn't work like that, trog." I gritted to Assad as fury rose, burning through my veins. In the meantime, muscles bulged in Kodjo's pallid neck as he ground his teeth in frustration, refusing to relent. As the tenuous seconds ticked by, his breathing labored during the kickboxing with Duke. Iron limbs deliver deadly punches as knuckles turned white with their gazes locked in a battle of wits and survival, knowing that it was a fight till the end.
Duke launched his flying arm and let out a howl of fury. Kodjo sucked in a greedy gulp of air as he stumbled from a connected fist to the jaw, tearing the skin as rivulets of red dripped to his shoulders.
"I will kill you!" Kodjo bellowed, cradling his pride. Looking like a lunatic with his wild brown hair, heaving violently as his wrath soared. His copper eyes filled with determination to go down with a fight. The werelions will learn their lesson today as they mourn their leader.
"Then do it." Duke opened his arms wide in a welcoming stance, flaunting a devious smile.
From the sidelines, Valen and Devin observed with a mix of awe, dread, and curiosity. They could deem today as a field training. However, it won't protect them from their moms' harsh punishment. Marlena stood next to them, ready to cage them into a protection ring if needed.
Kodjo hammered Duke with body punches and hooks to the head and bull him. The first time Kodjo fired a kick above knee height, Duke grabbed his leg, jerked him off his feet, and slammed his head into the ground.
Duke pinned him and tore one arm off as his face hardened into an expression of extreme pain. Kodjo's hisses evolved into desperate squeals as Duke crushed his jugular, ripping his cervical esophagus out. Kodjo stilled as his fingers slightly twitched, blood stained the beige sand once
again. "Took you long enough," Raj taunted Duke, which was something that Blayne would do. Duke gave a sad smile and then looked
at his son. Devin straightened his posture and returned a curt nod. Then all attention swung to the werelion king.
"It's your turn now," I sneered. Assad exposed pitch-black eyes and sharp fangs, trying to shift. However, my claws dug straight into his heart before he could muster enough strength to succeed. I twisted my hand with a mighty wrench. A harsh, inhuman scream emitted from his lips that could be heard for miles. I released Assad. He fell on the soles of his feet and staggered backwards with a hand over the hole in his chest. His dripping heart lay lifeless in the palm of my right hand. Compulsory, he fell to his knees, gaping in agony. His struggle for life weakened, his arms fell limp and he crashed forward on the sand.
Throwing the heart to the ground, I turned to chastise the juniors. "Do not think for one minute that you are off the hook. You were not supposed to be here." Devin and Valen tensed up and lowered their penitent eyes, choosing to remain silent.
"So, the cats' took your tongues?" My tone was husky and threatening. Baking in fear underneath the sun, they were visibly shaking. Their guilt resounded through our bond. Sweat beaded on their foreheads as they said in quivering unison, "No, sir."
"Both of your training will undertake rigorous hours as a part of your punishment, which is in addition to what your mothers will apply." I
scolded with a snarl. Valen inadvertently looked up before Devin did to hold my scorching glare, " Yes, sir." Their heartbeats pounded so
loud that I expected to see their chest split open any minute. Duke's reproving expression echoed my sentiments. "Isn't that going easy on them?" Valen and Devin gasped in shock that Duke was demanding a harsher punishment. Their widened eyes looked at each other, holding their breaths before looking at us, pitifully pleading. "It will do considering that their mothers are going to kill them." My lips slowly curled upward into a malicious smirk and those around me trembled in fear of my aura.
Duke's mouth hardened into a grim line as he shook his head in disappointment. "Get to the jets. It's time to head home, boys."
They released a shuddering breath of relief and proceeded forward. They strolled silently but I felt them mind- linking each other.
Guarded with weaponry, the elites, as per custom, allowed us to walk before them. Weary and devastated, I rubbed the aching lines on my forehead. The day was over and I could not count this as a victory because of the important man that went down and lodged a hole in my heart.
Squiggles was not found. The man who took my best friend from me. Hot torrents of grief pumped from my heart. Fists clenched, my jaws hardened with a fresh swell of rage coursing through my body. It did not sit well with me. I will hunt him down and make him beg for a swift death.
Now I must return home without my Gamma. An unexpected avalanche of despair descended over me. Duke, Blayne, and I have been through so much together. With each step surfaced a memory of our fun times, our victories, and our losses. I could not be the man that I am today without my best friends. Blayne has always been revered and regarded as the cornerstone of justice within the werewolf society. His legacy will serve as a monument of ethics and moral leadership for all time. His sons, Theo and Thaines, will walk in his footsteps and make him proud as Gammas. Loud, ear-shattering clicking sounds accompanied a huge ten-foot wave that was rolling toward the coast before we could vanish behind the tree line that marked the beginning of the forest. All of us cringed on the spot and poked fingers into our ears to stop its pelleting impact on our sensitive hearing.
A dark blue-gray sperm whale rode up on its shores, opened his long narrow jaws, and spit out an unconsciously battered bulky man.