Chapter 155

***JAXON***

Kara smiled at me, her eyes held words I couldn't comprehend but the specks of light in her eyes were enough to reassure me.

She opened her mouth, about to claim me as hers when suddenly the deafening sound of gunfire shattered the serene atmosphere of my wedding scene, sending shockwaves through the air as confusion erupted in a flash.

What was going on?

Heads turned around, victims dropped to their knees, some dying instantly while some writhed in pain as blood stains spread across their once pristine outfits. The sudden attack left everyone stunned, our faces etched with horror and disbelief.

Braden strode into the midst of the chaos, his presence like a dark cloud looming over the celebration. Armed to the teeth, his troupe followed closely behind, with their weapons aimed at the terrified pack members. Kara’s grip tightened on my hand, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she trembled with fear.

“It's okay, let me go. You'll be okay,” I whispered to her. “Where’s Riley?” I asked as I scanned around the crowd.

“Please don't go, please stay with me,” she pleaded.

A huge protectiveness washed over me as I gazed into her eyes, my heart pounding with a mixture of dread and determination. “I'm the Alpha Kara, I have to take charge,” I reminded her.

The fright in her eyes made me terrified. I had never seen her that scared since I had known her.

“What do I owe this pleasant surprise?” I asked in a loud voice as I faced Braden.

He ignored me and reached for Riley who had walked up to him and wrapped his tiny arms around his leg. He yanked the baby roughly by the collar.

“Braden,” I growled.

Kara’s desperate plea filled the air, her voice thick with anguish. “Let him go, please,” she begged, her words a desperate cry for mercy as she fell on her knees in front of him. “Please take me and leave my son.”

But Braden’s grip only tightened, his eyes gleaming with malice as he raised Riley.

“Offering yourself without being forced to,” Braden tsked, “Are you that impatient? Wait for your turn Kara, it will get to everyone,” he said.

My jaw clenched with uncontained rage as I stepped forward, my voice cold and demanding. “Put him down,” I ordered, my eyes flashing with anger. “It's me you want. You can hurt me, but leave my family out of this.”

Braden's twisted grin only widened. “Alpha, I want all of you,” he revealed, his voice dripping with venom. “I'm tired of playing cat and mouse, it gets me nowhere. It's time to end this once and for all.”

Without warning, Nana rushed forward, determination burning in her eyes. She charged at Braden, driving a fork in his eyes and the compact made him release Riley. We all gasped in shock. No one saw that coming.

Braden gritted his teeth and groaned out in rage as he pulled out the fork. Blood oozed from his damaged eyes. Without wasting any time, he drove the blade of his knife into Nana’s neck.

“No,” Kara cried out in grief as she rushed to Nana’s side. She tried to stop the blood flow but it gushed out. I knelt by Nana’s side as Kara pulled her close to herself and cradled her head on her lap.

She wasn't going to make it. I knew. She smiled weakly at me and kara and rubbed my hair. I leaned forward, pain digging at me as I watched her eyes slowly lose color. I leaned forward to kiss her forehead and she mouthed the word “fight” before her eyes lost their familiar twinkle.

Braden smirked at me as he pulled out the knife, “Oops. Another one down.”

“Rest Nana,” I said hoarsely as I closed her eyes, anger boiling in my veins as I watched the woman I had grown to know as family take her last breath.

“Fight Alpha, fight,” Braden spat at me, “Again, you're not going to save your family from death? You're just going to watch me win?”

"You cursed bastard, I swear I'm going to kill you, " Kara muttered under her breath.

He grabbed Kara roughly and glared at me, silent malice passing through us. With a cruel smirk, he held the knife to Kara’s belly, his eyes alight with sadistic pleasure. “Did you think I was going to lay low and watch you have a blissful wedding? Whenever you're a step ahead, I'm always two steps faster. The whole place is covered Alpha. And I'm going to burn down the whole place along with myself.”

Kara looked as though she was going to suffocate from his grip and pass out. Fear gripped me as I watched Braden prod her stomach with the knife. Just one gentle push and the knife was going to pierce into her skin.

Braden’s men had their guns aimed at everyone and tears slipped down Kara’s cheek as she looked at me with eyes full of fear. Pack members, families of families and friends of friends huddled together as they wept for fear of being Killed.

"You ruined my mating ceremony Alpha. My sister turned against me for you. I lost so much already, there's nothing to live for, but I'll die a happy man if I end our lives together. All of us, " Braden said bitterly.

I swallowed hard and reached for my son, "Braden please."

His eyes widened, confusion swirling in them, "You begged me? You begged me??? " he said in shock.

"Don't hurt my family, please. Don't do this to yourself Braden," I warned in a menacing tone.

"Get him," Braden yelled to one of his guards.

The guard seized me and pointed a gun to his head while bringing me to my knees before him.

"I've planned this moment in my head. The day I finally kill you, Jaxon. I've anticipated this moment for a long time and now that I have it, I can't let it go. "

As he spoke, his men began blocking every way of escape as they poured fuel everywhere and on everyone. Kara wept. She was too weak and my son cried. My heart ached. The repugnant odor of fuel began to make everyone throw up.

I scoffed, "I'm a hybrid, Braden. I've lived for a very long time, do you think I'm afraid of dying? Death is bliss because we don't grow old and we don't die again.”

The crowd gasped, their eyes turning on me.

I nodded, "Yes it's true my family were vampires. I was a born hybrid. I've lived all of your lives for many years. Nothing excites me anymore, nothing surprises me either. I know what to expect. I lost my family once and it will never happen twice," I muttered as I began to shapeshift, my red eyes flashing at everyone, "I protect all I love at all cost and destroy anyone that stands in my way."

Braden stuttered, fear clawing at him. "One more step Jaxon and I promise I will drive this knife in, rip open your mate's stomach and uproot the unborn child she has in there.”

My expression shifted from threat to calm. I glanced at Kara and tried to give her a reassuring look but she appeared pale like she had just seen a ghost.

"You'll have to kill me first," I announced.

"Gladly, Alpha. Just one click of my lighter and this whole place will burn down," he said and grinned like he had been anticipating this moment.

He snapped his fingers and without wasting any time, one of the guards flicked the lighter.