Chapter 25 CHAPTER 25

Chapter 25 CHAPTER 25
Rafael's POV

A few minutes ago.

"Turn left here," Emma said from the backseat.

I did, my hands tight on the steering wheel.

"Okay, now right at the next light."

Mathias and Emma were still bickering about something. I was not really listening. Their voices faded into background noise as my mind stayed locked on one thing.

Vivienne.

Her scent lingered in my car from earlier. Strawberries and vanilla. It was driving my wolf crazy, making him pace restlessly under my skin.

I had told Emma I would choose to die rather than hurt Vivienne. That if it came down to her life or mine, I would pick hers without hesitation.

And I had meant it.

At least, I thought I did.

But now, driving through the dark streets, reality was starting to sink in. When the time actually came, when I was faced with that impossible choice, could I really do it? Could I actually let myself die?

My wolf snarled at the thought. He wanted to live. He wanted to be with our mate. He wanted everything the universe was telling us we could not have.

I pushed the thoughts away. There was no point in spiraling about it now. I would deal with it when the time came. If it came.

Right now, I just needed to know where she was. To know that she was safe.

"After this corner, we will be at her building," Emma said quietly.

I nodded, slowing down as we approached the turn.

The neighborhood was getting worse with every block. Broken streetlights. Boarded up windows. Groups of people lingering on corners who watched the car pass with calculating eyes.

I hated that she lived here.

"It is just up ahead," Emma added. "The blue building on the."

I slammed on the brakes.

The car screeched to a stop in the middle of the street. Mathias grabbed the dashboard to steady himself.

"Dude, what the hell?" he started, but I was already throwing the car into park.

"Rafael?" Emma leaned forward. "What is wrong?"

I could not answer. I could not speak.

Because I could smell it. I could feel it through the mate bond.

Blood.

Fear.

Vivienne.

My wolf exploded to the surface, howling, clawing to get out. My hands gripped the steering wheel so hard the leather creaked under my fingers.

"Rafael, you are scaring me," Emma said. "What is it?"

"She is hurt." The words came out as a growl.

"What? How do you."

I was already out of the car, running.

My feet hit the pavement hard, carrying me toward her building. The scent was stronger now, terror and pain and blood, and it was coming from the third floor.

"Rafael, wait!" Mathias called behind me, but I did not stop.

I could not stop.

My mate was in danger.

I took the stairs three at a time, my wolf pushing so hard against my control that I could feel my bones starting to shift. My vision flickered between human and wolf, colors bleeding into sharper focus.

Third floor. Left side. The apartment with the half closed curtain.

I could hear voices inside. A man's voice, slurred and angry. And underneath it, a sound that made my blood run cold.

Choking.

Gasping.

Vivienne trying to breathe and failing.

The red haze descended over my vision completely.

I did not think. I did not plan. I just acted.

I kicked the door.

The entire thing exploded inward, the frame splintering like matchsticks. Wood scattered across the floor as I stepped through.

And then I saw her.

Vivienne. Against the wall. A man's hands wrapped around her throat, squeezing. Her face was turning blue. Her eyes were rolling back.

She was dying.

The growl that ripped from my chest was not human. My wolf was fully in control now, and he wanted blood.

"Let. Her. Go."

My voice came out wrong, deeper, doubled, with that inhuman quality that made humans' instincts scream danger.

The man, her uncle I realized, turned to look at me. Drunk. Pathetic. His hands loosened slightly on Vivienne's throat.

She crumpled to the floor, gasping and choking.

"Who the fuck are you?" the uncle slurred. "This is my house! You cannot just."

I moved.

One second I was in the doorway. The next, I had him by the throat, lifted off the ground, slammed against the wall hard enough to crack the drywall.

But that was not enough.

Not even close.

My wolf was in complete control now, and he wanted this man to suffer. He wanted him to feel every bit of pain he had inflicted on our mate.

I pulled him forward and slammed him back again. Harder this time. His head cracked against the wall with a sickening thud.

"If you ever," I growled, my voice barely human, "touch her again."

I did not finish the sentence. I just drew back my fist and drove it into his face.

The impact sent blood spraying. His nose shattered under my knuckles. I felt it give way, felt the bone crunch and collapse.

He made a gurgling sound, trying to speak, but I hit him again. And again.

Each punch landed with brutal precision. Cheekbone. Jaw. Temple. I was not thinking anymore, was not calculating. Just acting on pure instinct. Pure rage.

Blood covered my knuckles. His face was a mess of red and purple, swelling already distorting his features.

I dropped him, and he crumpled to the floor like a broken doll.

But I was not done.

My wolf demanded more. He demanded he never get up again. He demanded he pay for daring to hurt what was ours.

I grabbed him by his shirt and hauled him up, slamming my fist into his ribs. Once. Twice. Three times. I heard them crack under the impacts.

He coughed, blood spraying from his mouth, but he was barely conscious now. Eyes rolling back. Body going limp.

Good.

I threw him across the room. He hit the coffee table, shattering it, glass and wood exploding everywhere. He did not get up. He did not move. He just lay there in the wreckage, blood pooling beneath him.

But my wolf still was not satisfied.

I started toward him again, ready to finish this, ready to make sure he never hurt anyone ever again.

"Rafael, STOP!"

Hands grabbed my arms, trying to pull me back. I snarled, whipping around, ready to throw off whoever was.

Mathias.

His face was pale, eyes wide. "Dude, you are going to kill him. You need to stop. Now."

"He hurt her," I growled, my voice still wrong, still doubled. "He was killing her."

"I know. I know. But he is done. Look at him." Mathias did not let go, his grip firm. "He is not getting up. It is over."

Emma rushed past us, dropping to her knees beside Vivienne. "Oh my God. Vivi, can you hear me?"

I tried to move toward Vivienne, but Mathias tightened his hold.

"Not yet," he said quietly. "You need to calm down first. Your eyes are still red, man. Your wolf is still in control."

He was right. I could feel it, the rage still burning hot in my chest, the overwhelming urge to go back and finish what I had started.

But Vivienne needed me. Not my wolf. Me.

I closed my eyes and forced myself to breathe. In. Out. In. Out.

Slowly, painfully, I pushed my wolf back down. He fought me every step of the way, snarling and snapping, demanding blood.

She is safe, I told him. We got here in time. She is safe.

That seemed to satisfy him enough to retreat. Just barely.

When I opened my eyes again, the red haze was gone. My vision cleared. Mathias was still holding my arms, watching me carefully.

"You good?" he asked.

"Yeah. I am good."

He let go slowly, ready to grab me again if I lost it.

I turned toward Vivienne and Emma. Emma had her arms around Vivienne, helping her sit up. Vivienne's hand was still at her throat, and even from here I could see the bruises forming. Dark purple marks in the perfect shape of fingers.

My wolf stirred again, but I shoved him down hard.

"Is she okay?" My voice was rough, but at least it sounded human again.

"I think so," Emma said, though her voice shook. "Vivi, can you talk? Can you tell me if you are hurt anywhere else?"

Vivienne tried to speak but only managed a raspy whisper. "I am. okay."

She was not okay. Not even close. But she was alive, and that was what mattered.

I took a step toward her.

And my legs gave out.

I hit the floor hard, pain exploding through my chest. It felt like something was tearing me apart from the inside out.

The curse.

"Rafael!" Mathias was at my side instantly. "Shit, what is happening?"

I could not answer. I could not breathe. The pain was too intense, too overwhelming. It felt like the poison in my blood was burning through my veins, attacking every organ at once.

Blood filled my mouth. I coughed, and it sprayed across the floor, dark and thick.

"Oh my God." Emma's voice sounded far away. "Mathias, do something!"

"I do not know what to do!" He had his hands on my shoulders, trying to steady me. "Rafael, talk to me. What do you need?"

I tried to speak, but another cough wracked my body. More blood. So much blood.