Chapter86
Hervoiceechoesthroughmymind,thewaythe hitshammeredinto heralreadysicklyfleshsendsamurderous shudder through my spine. The bile risesfasterthan IexpectasI turn myheadtotheside and trytoswallow it down, welcoming the burn. A tiny sacrifice for the pain she issuffering.
Mylycan, who shouldberoaring inanger,isinsteadwithering in agony, angered by not only her distance from us but the choice that lays in our hands. Not that it is muchofachoice.Thereisno choosing between Colette and our species. Because there is only one option and only willeverbeone optionforaslongasIlive.
I have alwaysbeenan alpha first,puttingmypack,my kind above everything else,everyone else. But this time I am choosing her, not for me, but for them. Withouther,theydon’t have an alpha. They have a shell of a man playing a part I would no longer have a passion for. Colette is the soul of me. Withouther, there is nowerewolfor lycan kind.
I stand and rush from the room,no longer willingtowait and play these stupid useless games.Nolonger do I care about their reasoning behind why theyaredoing this and what they truly want. Because for once, what everyoneelsewants doesn’t matter. It’s what I want that matters. And I want my damnmate.
“Merikh,”IhearHayescall out before his frantic footsteps echo in the silence behind me. “Merikh! Whereareyou going? We need to discuss this.”
Ispin on my heel,asneeron my lips,asanger takes over my body.
“There is nothing todiscuss.”I grit out. He frowns and shakes his head.
“That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“I am going to retrieve Colette.”Isay, enunciating every word just to make sure there is no misinterpreting my intentions. “No amount ofdiscussionor trying to convince me to think of the pack will change my mind.”
His brow knit together in confusion, and a hint of surprise flutters over his features before he scoffs.
“Did you seriously think Iwascoming to talk you out of going for her?” He asks, offended by my tone, not that his offensive is any of my concern since I am the alpha.
“What else would we possibly have to discuss, Hayes?”I ask.
“Well, forstarters, how it’s a blatant fucking trap that will end with you getting killed before you even have the fucking chance to see Colette again?” Hegrowlsout.
He makesasolid point,soI pause, dragging my hands through my hair, feeling utterly helpless.
“Ijust–I can’tstayhere and do nothing,Hayes. Colette is out there, being tortured and I’m here, doing what exactly?”Iask him, trying and failing to keep my emotions in check.
“Wearetrying tolocateherand plan a way in to get her.” He reminds me and I roll my eyes.
“We don’t need to locate her any longer. They told us where they are.” I say,even though I know what he means.
They could be lying about where they are, and they most certainly are leading me in to a trap. I may be overwhelmed and desperate, but it doesn’tmakeme an idiot, it just makes me dangerous and predictable. What I need is to be dangerous and unpredictable to them.
“Merikh,” He sighs andshakeshis head. “Brother Colette needs you sane, not drunk of murderous rage and a spark of hope.”
“Whatwouldyouhaveme do?”Iaskhim,feeling defeated.
“Leandramayknow abetterway,” he says,and I canseethe conflict in hiseyes,but thereisalsoa hint of determination.
“Sheneedsto beapart of our community,”Iremind him, and he nods.
“Ifyouwouldgivemetimetodiscussthings with her,wecan make that happen. But what we need is time, not a lot, but enough to formulate something.”
“Likewhat?”Iscoff,andheglaresatme.
“Something betterthan running out thefuckingdoor like anupsetteen and rushingtowarddanger without any thought.”Hesays.
I chuckle dryly,knowingheisrightand hatingeverydamnsecondofit.Coletteneeds me, butsheneedsme notjustfor a fight, butformy wit and cunning skills. I am not the AlphaofDeathjustfor my ability to kill,butformyprecision andexecutionof mymoves. Thisis agame of chessnow.
Theymakeamove,andInow mustmake mine.
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lingersandwhenheseesusheturns the volumetomax and hitsplay.
Asoftwhisperofa voice, her voice.
“Forgetme,”shesays.
My skin tingles and my mouth goes dry atherwords. Does she truly think I wouldeverbeable to forget a force like her? She came into my life likeasoftbreezeand but thesecondshewasin; she picked up speed and whipped up a hurricane in me. There is no forgetting someone who can do
that.
“Hayes, you need togospeakwith Leandra and bringherouthere.”I say, snapping into alpha mode.
“Caspian,ifyoudon’t mind,pleasegogetJohannes,” Iaskhim.
“Johannesishereandaccountedfor.” His voicesaysas he saunters in and leans against the wall. “You all look like you are ready to make a move.”
“Something like that,”Hayessays ashewalks out of the room to fetch Leandra.
“What do you need from me,alpha?”Johannesasks,arching a brow. His usual cocky,annoying demeanor is replaced with one of respect,orrather morerespectthan normal.
His nose scrunches up and he stands upright,spinning around as he sniffs theair, his vampire senses in full gear, as he rummages around until he finds the box. He liftsit,inspecting the blood and inhaling it with a shudder before he zeros in on me, a question in his eyes.
“Colette’s,” I tell him and he frowns,placing the box down.
“They offered a ransom then?” heasks.
“Something to that effect.” I mutter, pointing
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the television. “They sent a torture tape and forced her to tell me where she is.”
He looks surprised, his head tilting to the side as he hums in thought. Then he walks over and takes a seat, propping his feet up on the couch in a comfortable position.
“And you invited me to watch the show?” Heasks, “If I were still human, I might ask for popcorn for the entertainment.”
Igrowlat his shitty comment.
“Iwasjusttrying to lighten the mood.” He grumbles and rolls his eyes.
“I am going touseyou to compel Leandra in order to tap into her mind and see if you can help her unlock the memories she has lost from when shewasunder Lily’s spell.” Isay,crossing my arms over my chest.
His eyebrows shoot up and hesitsup immediately, leaning forward with his hands on his elbows before he barks out a dry laugh. Johannes pacesawayfor a moment before spinning back around and nodding.
“Fine. But itdoesn’tcomefree,” hebitesout. I smirk at him, knowing he really doesn’t understand how this oath works.
“No?”Iarchacockybrow and he groans in annoyance.
“Sorry, old habitsdiehard.” He shrugs.“But it will be very taxing on not only me, buther.”
“This isourcontingency plan.Hayesand her marking each other is thefirstplan, but I don’t like the idea of rushing their bond. I want them todecide, butIwantyouto be aware of this option beforeIspring it on you.”
Job
frownsand dragsahand down hisface,shaking hishead.
“Merikh, for this work I need to drink from her too.” He says, hiseyesmeeting mineasHayesand Leandra walk into the room, both of them lookingupsetwith theother.
༈༙རྗ
“I don’tcare,”shesays,rollinghershouldersbackand puffing up her chest.“I will do it.”
“Thehellyouwill.ItoldyouIwouldjustacceptyou, Lea.”Hayessays in anger,hisjawclenchingashegrabsherwrist.Sheyanksit out of his gripandstepsawayfrom him.
“Youarethe one who didn’t wanttodothisearlier,butnow thereisanother,easierwayand suddenlynowyouwillbe mymate?”She snaps at him.
“Itwasyourideainthe firstplace,but nowyouhave allthese feelingsabout it,”Hayesgroans.
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Chapter86
“Let’s proceed with the vampire. I refuse to let my mate accept me because he is suddenly jealous.” She says, glaring at Hayes, who throws his hands
“It has nothing to do with jealousy,you don’t understand-” Hayes tries to explain.
“There is nothing to explain. This way is for the best. If you can’t handle it, you can leave.” She says, moving over to Johannes. Leandra yanks at her long sleeve and holds her wrist up for him. And he looks at me for permission.
Hayes pleads with me in his eyes, but ultimately it is not my decision to make, but Leandra’s.
“Leandra,” I say, needing her confirmation. She looks at me without an ounce of fear and a soft smile on her lips.
Alpha, I will be fine.” She nods and I clear my throat.
“Do it.”1 exhale.
“Biting two mates from the same family.” Johannes mutters with a smirk directed at Hayes. “Not quite a record yet,”
Hayes launches himself at him, his lycan coming out in full force as Leandra rolls and falls to the ground hard. Johannes slams into the wall, his head cracking against the drywall, splintering the plastering around it.
“Hayes!” I roar, trying to control my beta, but he is locked in as his teeth gnash and try to tear at Johannes, who is hardly keeping him at bay.
“Mine!” Hayes lycan roars before he yanks Johannes from the wall and throws him across the room. Then he bounds over to Leandra.
“Hayes, no!” I yell out, but I am too late as he sinks his teeth into her neck, marking her as his own.
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