Chapter 49

Eric.

I could sense Tyler and his reinforcements close behind me as I caught up with the wolves chasing my mate. I leapt onto the first one, biting down hard, and crushing him into the ground. I ripped his throat out for good measure before turning to the next one.

*No one is going to hurt my mate. Not anymore!*

They were wary of me now and turned to gang up on me, hoping their numbers would overwhelm me. But I knew I could take them. With only four left, it was almost an unfair fight - for them. They snarled at me and I growled back.

“Last chance for surrender before I rip you apart one by one!” I growled, hoping they would fight back. I wanted revenge. I wanted them to pay for what they had put Emily through.

None of them heeded my warning. They launched themselves at me and I grinned. I growled and bit and clawed whatever came within reach, knocking wolves down and leaving them bloody.

*That's what you get, bastards!*

Within a few minutes, the four of them lay dead at my feet. Tyler caught up with me, and at the same time, Dylon and his men cut through the trees.

“Go back home, Dylon. This is over. We're over. Emily is coming back home with me and you will never, ever, come for her again.”

He glared at me and then a grin spread across his wolfish face. And then he started laughing.

As quickly as he had started, he stopped. “No!” He growled. “It is over when I have my prize and when I have you on your knees before me, begging for mercy!”

I suddenly felt a warmth, and a feeling of wholeness. I glanced over to see Emily sidling up next to me. I grinned.

“That will never happen,” we said together.

“Then die!” He growled angrily before lunging forward. I moved to block him from reaching Emily when Tyler intercepted him with a mighty leap. I gasped, and my chest constricted. But Tyler was holding his own against Dylon.

Everyone else charged into battle, claws and fangs flashing in the sunlight, blood marring the green foliage.

***

Emily.

I looked around at the carnage around me. I felt sick to my stomach. All this blood, some already dead, all because of me. Why was I such a burden? Why couldn't I have just gone along with the plan? Why did I have to be so selfish?

I backed up, trying to get away from the bodies falling around me, but I seemed to be in the eye of the storm of fighting. Nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide.

*This is my mess. My fault. The least I can do is try to help.*

A surge of courage coursed through my veins, along with a burst of adrenaline. I let my wolf take over, knowing her instincts would be better than mine. We fought back against the Enforcers.

*We're not a burden. Nor are we a prize to be won. We are a priceless prize needing to be earned!*

My chest swelled with pride. She was right, my wolf. I wasn't a burden. I didn't ask for this. But I was sure as hell not going to go down without a fight.

I hardly noticed faces or features as my wolf and I lunged at our targets. But then my mom's face appeared and I faltered.

“I don't want to fight you,” I told her. “Even after all you've done, you're still my mom.”

“And you are weak,” she growled, lunging at me.

She was surprisingly strong. I had always viewed her as weak, never standing up for herself, always taking the beatings. But even as I struggled to break free from her hold, I couldn't escape.

She dragged me through the fighting, and I could smell Dylon's rank scent getting closer. My eyes widened and my heart beat faster. I struggled harder to get away, fighting through the pain.

Just as I wrenched myself free, another wolf barreled into my mother, knocking her to the ground. Her head smacked into a rock and blood pooled faster than I thought possible.

I stared in shock at my mother's lifeless body, tears coming to my eyes. “Mom!” I called weakly, walking over and sniffing around, nudging her, hoping she would wake up. But nothing stirred her, and nothing ever would. Her eyes stared blankly into the distance.

I took a shuddering breath and bowed my head to mourn her. *At least I'm free from my family now. Not that any of them loved me anyway.*

I started to walk away when I felt teeth clamp down on my scruff, pulling me down to the ground. *Dylon!*

“Where do you think you're going, my little Omega?” He asked, standing over me.

Then, before I could understand what was happening, his voice deepened and he commanded me to shift. It was the command of an Alpha, and even though I tried to resist, my body shifted anyway, until I was laying naked but his feet.

Dylon yanked my hair, forcing me to stand up in front of him. And suddenly, a knife was at my throat. The cold steel pressed against my skin, sending goose pimples down my spine and arms. My mind went completely blank, consumed by panic and fear. *This is not how I want this to end.* I could feel tears rolling down my cheeks, but I was powerless to stop them. I was frozen in place, like a deer in headlights, completely unable to move or think.

“Stop, or I slit her throat right now,” he commanded. Everyone froze. Eric glared at him, growing deeply. He shifted.

“Don't you dare hurt her.”

“Or what? You'll talk me to death?” He laughed. “I hold all the cards. I call the shots.”

His grip tightened on me, forcing a yelp from my throat as Eric tried to inch forward.

“You're playing a dangerous game, coming closer,” Dylon warned. “You wouldn't want this to end like last time, would you? Another helpless wolf you're unable to save? Hmmm?”

Eric stopped dead in his tracks, glaring daggers at Dylon, a low threatening growl coming from his throat.

*What was he talking about?*

“Shall I remind you of the details?” Dylon taunted. “Or would you like to share with the class how you failed to save your sister from her untimely death?”

*Eric had a sister? What?*

“Don't you dare talk about my sister,” Eric growled through gritted teeth. Eric balled his fist at his sides, his knuckles turning white, and his jaw clenched.

My mind was racing trying to put the pieces together, slowly coming out of its paralysis.

“Cat got your tongue?” Dylon smirked. “Or perhaps a wolf?” He guffawed. “Fine. If you won't yell then, I will.”

Eric shifted, and he looked ready to charge.

“Ah-ah-ahh,” Dylon warned, pushing the knife into my skin, drawing a pinprick of blood. He shook his head. “I still have all the cards, remember?”

Eric took a step back and transformed back into his human form.

“Good doggy,” Dylon jeered.

Eric stiffened and drew in a deep breath, holding himself back from charging the man holding me hostage. His hands clenched and unclenched and I could see the vein in his head throbbing.

“Now where was I?” Dylon asked, pretending to be lost in thought. “Oh, yes. Your sister. Poor thing. Never should have been roaming around in the dark. And I couldn't resist having such a prestigious pet.”

“Bastard!”

“Tsk tsk. Language, Mr. Savelli. There are innocents about,” Dylon laughed, nodding his head towards me. “I shall have fun with this one. I'm sure she'll last longer than your pampered little sister. She's a fighter. Just not quite strong enough, though.”

“She's stronger than you give her credit for,” Tyler spoke up. “I bet if she wanted to, she could easily fight her way out of your grip. She's clever. And resourceful.”

Dylon laughed like Tyler made the joke of the century. His knife hand moved to wipe away fake tears. And when it did, I stomped on his foot as hard as I could, jabbed my elbow into his gut, and twisted away, shifting midair and letting my four legs propel me away.

Eric's black wolf was a blur as he rushed Dylon, knocking him over and raking his claws across his bare chest, ripping his abdomen open. Dylon barely had time to yell out in surprise as Eric bit down on Dylon's throat, ripping it out with a splatter of blood for good measure.

Everyone stared, astounded. Dylon was dead. His body laid on the trampled grass, entirely limp, bleeding out.

Eric let out a mighty howl and the rest of the pack joined in.