\[William’s POV\]
I stare ahead, taking in the scene in front of me in disbelief. How? How could this be happening? I knew that my father was a monster for power, but to go as far as killing his own brother in order to achieve it was not something I believed he could do.
As I watch on, so many memories begin to flash before me—images of his kind smile, though those were rare—and of him comforting me. Were all those actions a lie to trick me into believing that he was good?
“Why?” I growl quietly. “Why the hell is this happening?”
Even if it was my father doing everything, I still felt as though I was also guilty. It was because of his absolute need to make me the alpha of Crystal Fang that he was doing this. Didn’t that make me guilty by association?
“Stop.” I hiss, drawing my father’s crazed gaze toward me. “STOP THIS!”
Beside me, the woman who my father wished to marry me off to gives a giggle, causing the anger that is slowly building to begin to bubble over.
“You’re cute,” she sighs when I turn my gaze to hers. “Are you really so soft hearted that something like this offends you?”
Something like this. Was this woman actually saying that she was fine with murder in order to get what she wanted? What kind of pack did she and her family run?
‘Kill them.’ Rue growls, attempting to take control. ‘Kill them all.’
A red haze begins to appear in front of me as his words slowly trickle through me.
Right. Kill them all. Every fucking body that was present here right now didn’t deserve to live. Even if it meant committing mass murder, I wouldn’t let a single one of them get away, but once I was finished with the ones here, how many more would be waiting?
“Sorry for the interruption.” My father announces, wiping the blood from his hands with a handkerchief. “Shall we continue with this wedding?”
I watch in disbelief as he makes his way back to where I and the woman stand.
“No one else should bother us.” He says, producing a book from his pocket. “Let’s…”
The rest of his words are lost as a howl rips through the room.
Eyes widening, I snap my gaze in the direction it came from as I immediately recognize the sound. While I watch on, a large wolf rushes into the room.
“Elise,” I breathe, feeling both relief and fear rush through me. “Why are you here?”
At my words, her gaze snaps to me, and for a moment she doesn’t move as she takes me in, clearly checking to make sure that I’m okay. When she is sure I am, she moves, rushing toward the group that continues to surround Uncle Hamilton’s body.
When she reaches them, she dives into them.
“NO!” I roar while they begin to swarm her. “GET OUT OF THERE!”
As the words leave my lips, two more wolves rush forward, joining in the fight.
“What the hell is this?” My father growls, taking in the scene in frustration. “How did they...”
Smirking, I let a laugh escape me. Was it really that hard to believe that there were others out there who were stronger than his men? But someone was missing; shouldn’t he be here since Elise was?
‘That doesn’t matter.’ Rue points out. ‘We need to get free and help them.’
‘Right.’ I murmur, starting to pull at the cuffs that are clamped tightly around my ankles and wrists.
Where they touch my skin, it burns like hell, but I continue to pull while ignoring the scent of burning flesh that reaches my nose and the pain that shoots through me.
“Come on.” I hiss, strengthening my efforts.
With each passing minute, I can feel the bones in my wrists and hands slowly breaking, but as they do, the closer I get to freedom.
"No, you don’t.” The woman beside me murmurs, moving behind me so she can press her body against mine and clamp my chin. “You’re just going to stay here and watch as more people die because of you.”
‘She’s crazy.’ Rue hisses. ‘Your father sure knows how to pick them.’
“Get your hands off me.” I growl, continuing to fight. “Who the fuck do you think you are to touch me?”
“Your future wife.” She purrs, leaning close enough for her breath to tickle my neck. “Isn’t it obvious?”
Growing quiet, she runs her tongue along my skin, causing a shiver of disgust to rush through me.
“Looks like we have a show to mark each other.” She continues, kissing my neck. “Your father really went all out.”
“No… we won’t…” I growl, getting closer to freedom. “We aren’t…”
“DON’T FUCKING TOUCH HIM!”
The voice rings out loudly around us, and as I turn my gaze to where it is coming from, I find Elise, who is covered in wounds and blood, making her way toward us with a look of fury in her eyes.
“And who are you?” The woman behind me asks.
“Me?” Elise chuckles, grabbing a wolf that attempts to attack her by the throat and sending him crashing to the side. “Your worst fucking nightmare, bitch.”
As she continues to move, the other two wolves who joined her fight on, easily killing anyone who dares get too close.
“Now,” Elise continues, reaching us. “Who the fuck do you think you are to touch my man?”
“Your man?” My father laughs before anyone can speak. “I don’t remember approving of you being with my son.”
“Approval?” Elise repeats, a laugh escaping her. “Who the fuck asked your permission? Sorry to tell you, but I don’t need a crazy man’s permission to be with someone.”
Honestly, if this were any other time, I would be extremely turned on by how possessive Elise was being toward me, but given the circumstances, I could only feel fear growing.
“You aren’t worthy of being with my son.” My father growls, stepping between me and Elise.
“Is that so?” Elise asks, cocking her brow. “And how the hell do you plan on keeping me from claiming him as mine?”
Instead of responding, my father begins to shift, and once he is in his wolf form, he attacks, aiming straight for Elise.
“Come at me, you old geezer.” She grins, holding up her hands and catching him before he can hit, and when he does, she clamps down against his body.
Together, they begin to slowly move away from me and the crazy bitch behind me.
As I watch the scene, I feel my panic growing, and that alone spurs me to finally pull one of my hands free. However, my other doesn’t seem to want to budge, and neither do my ankles.
“Calm down.” The woman behind me giggles. “All this will be over soon, and when it is, you’ll be all mine.”