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“Father, please.” Jax stepped forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “This isn't who you have to be. It’s not too late.”
“Don’t bother, Jax.” Tomas sneered, a cruel smile twisting his lips. “You were always weak. Never fit to be my son. You could’ve been so much more than this, but you chose them over your own blood. Pathetic.”
“Think about Rosalind,” Jax said, drawing his father’s attention away from Evan as he moved to the side. “If you continue down this path, there will be nothing but destruction for all of us. Are you really willing to lose your entire family?”
“Stop your nonsense. You’re nothing but a traitor to the Hawthorne name,” he said, the venom in his words making me flinch.
The tension was thick as Jax continued to reason with his father, though we all knew Tomas was beyond saving. He was buying us time, and we needed to figure something out, and fast.
There’d be no backup coming to help us tonight. Not when Evan had clearly stated the rules the clan should abide by when the alarm sounded. That also meant there’d be no accidental casualties.
Evan still watched me, his eyes trying to convey a message, and when Tomas continued his rant about what a worthless piece of shit his son turned out to be, fury turned my vision red.
I frowned when Evan pointed toward his own crotch, his claws extended as he mimed swiping his hand, but when Evan made the gesture again, I realized what I had to do. Determination settled over me like armor, steeling my resolve.
Keeping my body still in Tomas’s grip, trying my best not to alert him to anything, I watched Evan as he slowly nodded.
He held three fingers down by his thigh. My dragon tensed, ready to make our move.
I breathed in deeply and steadied myself. Two fingers now. My nerves were frayed, but I couldn't afford to let fear hold me back. Too much was at stake.
One finger. Then Evan mouthed, “Now.”
I sprang into action, my dragon at the ready as my claws extended in an instant, razor-sharp and deadly. Channeling every ounce of my newfound strength, I drove them into Tomas’s crotch with all the force I could muster.
A guttural scream tore from his throat as he released me and clutched at his mangled flesh. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, mingling with the bitter taste of victory. The shock and pain on his face gave me no small amount of satisfaction.
Evan didn't waste a second. He charged forward like a vengeful force of nature, tackling the monster to the ground. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the earth beneath them. Then Jax was there, shielding my body with his own as he whisked me away, guarding me from any potential harm.
Evan growled, pinning the older man down. His eyes blazed with the golden fire of his dragon. “You've lost, Tomas. It's over. Stop this madness before more lives are destroyed!”
“Never!” Tomas snarled, his voice full of venom. “I will see your precious clan burn to ashes before I concede defeat!”
Evan's jaw clenched. “If that's your choice, then so be it.”
I watched their struggle, my dragon demanding to be set free, demanding to extinguish the threat to our mate.
Jax seemed to sense my internal battle as he gripped my arms tightly. “Don’t. Stay here with me. Evan’s got this.”
I swallowed, my eyes trained on Evan and Tomas, ready to rip myself from Jax’s hold if there were any indication Evan was weakening. But he held his advantage, pinning Tomas to the ground with his claws at his throat now, his fangs bared as he reared his head back.
With a swift, brutal motion, Evan's claws raked their way down Tomas’s chest, then, at the same time, he ripped into Tomas’s throat with his fangs.
The alpha’s eyes widened in agony and disbelief, but the scream died on Tomas’s lips as his blood gushed out. At last, with one final, powerful thrust, Evan drove his claws deeper into Tomas’s chest, severing his life force.
His eyes glazed over, and his body went limp. Evan released him, pushing himself to his feet as he stared at the lifeless form on the ground. The finality of the moment hung heavily in the air.
“Is it over?” I breathed, slumping against Jax’s body.
Evan turned toward me. “It’s over.”
He was by my side in the next minute, taking me from Jax and wrapping me in his arms. A sob of relief escaped as I clung to him. It was too good to believe. We were finally done with this man.
“It’s over,” he murmured again, and I nodded, tears welling up in my eyes as I looked at my mate. My hero.
“Thank God you're okay,” I choked out between more sobs, my fingers digging into the warm solidity of his back, proving that he was real, and that we’d truly been victorious. “I thought I might lose you.”
“Never,” Evan whispered fiercely into my hair. “I will always be here for you, Mariah. We're stronger together than any enemy we face.”
