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There was a struggle and thensomeone—he suspected it was Chris—landed next to him. Kash had justenough strength to open his eyes and see the ladder being liftedout of the cellar.
“What you don’tunderstand, Chris,” Carver said darkly, “is that you’re just apawn. You always were. The pack can’t move on with anyone from yourfamily still alive, and that includes your mom, your sister, andyour grandfather. The entire family line has to die and then I’lltake over and lead the pack the way it should be led without thealbatross of your dad’s incompetence taintingeverything.”
“No,” Chris said. He sat upwith a groan and grabbed his head. “I thought you were trying tohelp me.”
“You helped me just fine,”Carver said with a laugh. “You were so desperate and pathetic, itwas easy to make you think we wanted to be friends. We’ll come foryou when it’s time for you to die.”
One of the other maleslifted the cellar door and smiled at them, his eyes amber with hiswolf. “Enjoy the last hours of your lives, gentlemen. I’d say itwas a pleasure but it’ll only be a pleasure when your family lineis wiped out and we can take over the pack.”
The door slammed down, making dustrain down on them.
Kash couldn’t keep his eyes open anylonger. Everything hurt. He was weak and dying. All he could thinkabout was Bella.
Stay away, love.Please.
“Why did you put yourselfbetween me and those guys?” Chris asked.
“You’re Bella’s brotherand that makes you family, whether you see me that way or not.She’d want me to help you, it was the right thing todo.”
“I started all of this,” hesaid. “I just wanted…I wanted them on my side. I had myselfconvinced they were my friends even though I knew deep down theyweren’t. They used me, and now my family will die.”
“Don’t lose hope,” Kashsaid, his voice petering out at the end until he was barelywhispering.
“What hope is there inhere?” Chris asked. “No one knows we’re here but the four guys whowant to kill us. Bella is most definitely on her way here and myparents and grandpa will be caught off guard when Carver and hisfriends come for them. Shit. Fuck!”
Kash inhaled enough to be able tospeak clearly. “Your dad might not know what’s going on, but I knowin my heart that Bella is on the way here with my dad and pack. Ikeep warning her away through our connection as mates, but I knowshe’s not listening to me.”
He was proud of her,actually. But also hated it. He didn’t want her to get hurt, and hewas in no position to help her or even help himself. He’denvisioned himself as her protector, and he was failingmiserably.
“You think they’ll findus?”
“I hope so. I just met yoursister, I don’t want to end things so soon. But if I have to die soshe can be safe, then that’s the way fate has arrangedit.”
“I’m sorry, Kash. I’msorry for everything. I should never have interfered in your matingand I should have supported Bella. If we get out of here, I’llstand up for both of you. Assuming that iron poisoning doesn’t takeyou out first.”
“Thanks,” he saidwryly.
Although he tried to hold onto hisconsciousness, he felt it slip through his fingers, his body goinglimp and his eyes refusing to open. Darkness engulfedhim.
His last thought was ofBella.
Be careful.
ChapterSeventeen
Bella climbed from the SUV the momentthey reached a park at the edge of Rhone’s city limits. She’dplayed there as a kid, pushing Chris on the swing, burning her legson the old metal slide.
But there was nothingsweet and welcoming about what she saw—her parents and grandfathersurrounded by a dozen pack members. And man was her dadpissed.
His whole body seemed to be vibratingwith barely contained rage.
“Tell me where Kash is!”Bella demanded, not even bothering to say hello, as she racedtoward her parents.
Her grandpa stepped forward. “Bella,we don’t know where he is.”
“You’re lying!” sheshouted. “He’s here. I feel him! And his mom cast a spell to locatehim. He’s in Rhone. Bring me to him!”
“I’m not lying,” her dadsaid. He wasn’t looking at her but staring past her to where theTressel Pack moved into place behind her.
