Chapter 258: You Think You Can Walk Out Of This Cell Alive?

Chapter 258: You Think You Can Walk Out Of This Cell Alive?
Julian

"Got in several good hits, even drew blood." He gestured with his chin toward the wounds on his chest, and I was shocked to realize those marks were Clara's work. My sweet, gentle Clara had actually hurt this monster.

Good girl. You didn't go down without a fight.

"But she was too young, too inexperienced," Orion continued, his tone returning to mockery. "And I was starving. You know what three days without food does to a werewolf? Hunger becomes this burning, consuming thing that makes you capable of anything."

"Tell us how she died," I choked out, my voice barely human.

Orion's smile grew wider, showing all of his massive fangs.

"Oh, that's the best part. I didn't just kill her. I tore her apart, piece by piece. Slowly. Made her suffer for every scratch she gave me, every drop of blood she drew."

I felt like the world was tilting, Ethan's hand on my shoulder keeping me upright.

Dominic shot me an encouraging look, as if saying: Hold on, Julian. Rachel and Avery both covered their mouths to keep from screaming, tears streaming down their faces.

Damian couldn't even look at me. That fucking bastard of course couldn't look at me! His brother killed my angel! Clara!

"When she finally died," Orion whispered, "when she was lying there, broken and bleeding, you know what she said? 'Julian will find you. Julian will make you pay.' The desperation in those blue eyes was the prettiest thing I'd seen from any of my prey."

Something inside me completely shattered.

I don't remember deciding to move. One second I was frozen in horror, the next I was lunging toward Orion, a roar ripping from my very soul.

"You fucking monster!" I screamed, claws extended, reaching for his throat. "I'm going to rip you apart!"

But before I could reach him, strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me back. Ethan and Damian working together to stop me from doing something that would get me killed.

"Let me go!" I struggled against their hold, seeing red. "Let me kill him!"

"Julian, stop!" Ethan's voice cut through my rage. "This is what he wants! He wants you to lose control!"

But I didn't give a shit what Orion wanted. All I could think about was Clara. That last moment when she must have been in so much pain, the fear in her eyes when she realized she was going to die.

Her last words were about me. She died believing I would avenge her.

"She believed you would protect her," Orion shouted, continuing to provoke me, his voice following me as Ethan and Damian dragged me toward the dungeon door.

"She believed you would protect her. How does it feel knowing you completely failed her?"

I wanted to break free, wanted to rip Orion's head from his shoulders with my bare hands, but Avery stepped forward.

"Enough," she said, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. Her Alpha authority filled the room, and Orion's mouth actually snapped shut instinctively, his eyes showing submission. So did Damian's.

She slowly walked toward Orion, moving with controlled grace, then reached out with her right hand and grabbed Orion's hair viciously, yanking it hard enough to make Orion wince, but he didn't dare show any disrespectful body language.

The scene in front of me was almost comical—a killer who'd been acting like a complete asshole just seconds ago was now afraid of a pregnant woman who looked like she couldn't hurt a fly.

When she spoke, her voice was deadly calm.

"You got one thing right," she said.

"Clara did die believing Julian would avenge her. You know what? She was right. You think you're walking out of this cell alive? I think people are born with natural fear, but since you don't seem to know fear, let me show you what it tastes like!" Avery said this using her Lycan King voice.

Orion's confident smile faltered slightly, and he instinctively made respectful body language (like his bound hands twitching back, and his eyes showing sudden fear and terror).

Then Avery's hand partially shifted, moving quickly, and gouged out one of Orion's eyes.

Orion let out an agonizing scream.

"You know what?" Avery said. "That kind of screaming means you're scared. Orion, you're afraid of me! But did you ever think about how Clara and Lyra felt when they made those sounds! When they were terrified! But they were both strong!"

As Avery did this, she was holding her big belly, and you could describe the scene by emphasizing her clumsy movements and pauses. But it didn't affect her overall speed.

"I think you'll learn to speak properly now," Avery continued. "You're going to tell us everything else. About your plans, about who else might be involved, about every single thing you did in our territory."

"What if I refuse?" Orion stopped screaming and stared at Avery with his remaining eye, sneering coldly.

Avery's calm, determined smile was chilling.

"Then we'll find out exactly how much pain a werewolf can endure before death becomes a mercy."