What the hell would our alpha want with me? Our politics are filled with the notion of things being done for the greater good. A beta wolf with no talent to speak of. I’m amazing at creating art, but that will not better the pack.
“I asked for this extraction to ensure it went smoothly. Are you going to make a liar out of me, Yl?”
The childhood nickname on his full lips enrages me. He’s trying to use our connections and memories to tame me.
It’s a sick betrayal. I won’t let him place me back in manacles because he brings up memories that give me the warm fuzzies.
Growling, I snap my teeth at him.
“You can make this easy or hard. Either way, you’re coming back home.” Cadoc’s voice is melted butter, easing over my frayed nerves.
I fight against the compulsion he works into his words effortlessly. A powerful alpha in his own right, the older wolf is one of the best at what he does.
“Should I feel flattered you choose to honor my father by forcing his only daughter into a life she doesn’t want? I was declared an independent pack member, which means I get to choose my path.”
He flinches. I’m happy to see him hurt.
“Stay back. Ylva is mine,” Cadoc commands the other men.
“Wait. Don’t hurt her.” Kez’s frantic voice drifts in from the hallway.
“This is pack business, vampire. You’ve fulfilled your part of the deal,” a tow-haired man with icy dark blue eyes says.
“What?” I whisper. I peer through the crowd and meet her shame-filled gaze.
“Oh, you thought you’d made a friend?” The tow-haired man chuckles. “No. We paid her to
pretend and report your every move. You never escaped the pack.”
It’s all been a carefully constructed lie.
The truth crashes down on me like a pile of bricks, extinguishing the fight that’s driven me for the past four years. I’ll never run fast enough to evade their long reach. Sever your ties. Renounce your pack.
Considering the devil on my shoulder, I open my eyes to reject the pack. My throat swells to silence me. We’re tittering on the verge of extinction as the magic wains and births continue to decrease.
I can’t deliver a killing blow to an entire group for the sins of a few. Eyes darting around, I weigh my options.
Books and laws helped me once before. They can lead me to a loophole again if I can be patient and diligent. Breathing hard, I calculate the odds. Shit.
Spinning, I charge toward the window, holding my breath as my body crashes through the pane. I land in the green shrubbery.
Sticks gouge me, and my body aches from the impact of the thick bushes. Ignoring the cuts from the slivers of glass, I force myself to keep moving. I untangle myself from the greenery wrapping around my body like helping hands.
On my feet, I run for my car. Pulling the keys from my pocket, I hit the key FOB and hop inside the small forest green sedan.
The remote starter is worth every penny. Shoving the key in the lock, I throw the car in reverse and pull out. I speed up as the wolves race toward me.
They’re not playing by the rules, and neither will I. Tires squeal as I take a sharp left and head toward the entrance.
The wolves play a game of chicken with me, leaping to the side when they realize
I’m not going to stop. I clip the blonde bastard who laughed at my pain and smirk. He’ll be
healed in minutes.
A massive weight slams down on the car’s hood, bringing the rear end up in the air as it dents. My front windshield cracks. I gasp at the sight of Cadoc, fist down, and blue eyes ablaze with rage and power like some sort of superhero.
“That’s enough.” He booms, voice echoing.
Power rolls off him, raising the hairs on my body and forcing the wolf inside me to bow in reverence. Reaching through the windshield, he grabs my robe.
“You are done running.” Cadoc’s other hand swipes the air, slicing through my seat belt as he pulls me out of the opening.
“I didn’t want to resort to this, but you’ve given me no choice.” A needle pierces my neck.
The lemon-scented liquid pumping into my veins burns. Vervain. I open my mouth to shout silently as the darkness rushes in.
Kez’s screams are the last thing I’m aware of before I convulse.
Prying my heavy lids open, I blink to bring the blurry room into focus. I recognize the familiar white canopy of my pack home.
Closing my eyes tight, I hold in the scream threatening to bubble up in my throat. After everything, I’m back under the same roof with Aunt Gerda and Uncle Terrel.
All the studying, late-night projects, and work I did selling custom sketches and paintings online to save money has been for nothing.
Shoving my fist into my mouth, I let my body shake as tears roll down my face. I’m allowed this chance to grieve.
