End him

Brinley

I shuddered hard, a feeling of ominous foreboding settling over me like a black cloud, oppressive and stifling, blocking out the light of my soul.

My mate was rogue!

And I would have to kill him...

The compulsion for Coal’s death was overwhelming, irresistible. It crashed over me and surged through my veins like a gale wind—my body betraying my heart and my mind. A war I was destined to lose. My Wolf whimpered in my head, confused by the conflicting emotions running through her. She didn’t want to hurt our mate just as much as I didn’t, but we both knew we had no choice.

Alpha’s lips curled into an evil smirk, thoroughly enjoying the power play he’d forced on his two sons—sentencing Ryder to death. He had to know there was no way Ryder could overcome Coal. And no way would Coal’s broken heart ever heal if he was forced to kill his own brother.

I couldn’t stand to look at Alpha’s face, but I also couldn’t afford to turn away. Silently, I tried to reach Coal with my mind, extending my energy outward and waited for his response with bated breath. One minute, then two, then five—only silence in return. Was he fighting? Or worse, was he hurt? My chest rose and fell rapidly as I unsuccessfully tried to control my breathing.

Maybe it was better I couldn’t contact Coal. He was facing four formidable wolves. I didn’t want to break his concentration. The reality of my thoughts sickened me. Here I was, trying to do whatever I could, to make sure Coal killed wolves I considered my friends. The irony was so beautifully horrific—I was perfectly willing to trade their lives for his, but at the same time, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill him myself, if given the opportunity. I worked to force the bile back down my throat.

As the minutes ticked by, Alpha’s expression turned less smug and became more enraged.

What did that mean?

Without warning, he shot across the room and launched himself over the couch, his hands and arms outstretched to grab me. I screamed and bolted to the side, but wasn’t quite fast enough to entirely evade his claws. The razor tips swiped along the flesh of my forearm, drawing deep lines of blood. Pain surged through me. I bit my lip to keep from crying out as I wrenched my arm from his grip and spun to the side. I ran across the room, once again scrambling to maintain the distance between us.

But Alpha was right on my heels, his big body tackling me from behind. I landed hard, the front of my right hip taking the majority of the impact as I sprawled on the floor.

“Oh!” I couldn’t keep from calling out in pain. The impact site on my hip was throbbing. It felt like I’d landed on a rock. But how was that possible? I would have noticed a random rock on the floor by now.

And then I remembered—my ring!

I’d forgotten I tucked it into the front pocket of my pants earlier when Langdon and I returned to the cave to grab an outfit for me. I’d kept it hidden from Langdon. I knew he wouldn’t agree with me carrying the ring on me, particularly to see Alpha, but I’d felt an overwhelming impulse not to leave it behind, so had tucked it into my pants at the last moment while he was waiting outside.

At the time, I felt it was a good compromise. I could have it with me but still hidden so Alpha would never know. However, now, keeping the ring hidden from Alpha, sort of paled in comparison to my present concern of whether or not I would survive the next hour.

I jerked and bucked my body, trying to get Alpha off my back. Twisting hard to the side, I jabbed my elbow into his eye.

He roared furiously and instinctually reached for his face, giving me enough room and distraction to wriggle out from under him.

Getting my feet under me, I shot toward the door. Alpha’s truck was outside. If I could make it there, maybe I could escape!

I just didn’t know if he’d left the keys in the truck or not. He’d kept me blindfolded until I entered the cabin. Oh well, it was my only hope.

Panting hard from the adrenaline rocking through my system, I made it out the door and halfway to the truck before I was knocked off my feet again. My cheek slammed into the dirt. For a moment my vision went black, and then spots of light flashed before I could see again. I cried out, but his hands wrapped around my throat, cutting off my cry. He squeezed. Shit. He was going to kill me before Coal even arrived!

“I thought you wanted my help in killing Coal!” I rasped, struggling to get the words out, using the only argument I could think of that might matter to him.

An evil chuckle released from his throat. Thankfully, his grip on my neck lessened. “Oh, I’m not trying to kill you. Trust me. You’ll be oh so ready and willing to fight him should he make it here alive. But for right now, you’re a distraction. I suspect your Wolf is calling out to him even as we speak. Am I right?”

There was a half second delay in my mind, probably due to lack of oxygen, as I gathered my scattered thoughts and realized Alpha was right! My Wolf was crying out to our mate with everything she had. Even in her forced delusion of wanting to kill him, she cried for his help.

My response must have been evident in my silence because Alpha laughed. He jerked me to my feet and spun me around, one of his big hands still collaring my neck. “It will be ten times harder for him to defeat the four wolves while he’s listening to your Wolf cry like the little bitch she is.”

But then his laughter cut off completely, and he spun me back around so that I was standing in front of him, facing the edge of the forest.

My belly lurched into my throat as a dark grey, almost black Wolf emerged.

Obsidian eyes bore into mine—Coal!

Coal

Searing hate filled my body to see my father holding Brinley, his hand wrapped around her neck.

My Wolf’s thoughts were clear. They pounded through my head.

Tear him apart.

Rip him limb from limb.

Make him bleed.

End him!

I completely agreed.