I have to find a way.
I twist a foot free of the Shifters that have me. Now that Rhysan is not at risk of death, I can take a couple of claws to the chest. My skin rips open, but I don’t care. My adrenaline is covering it for now beneath hot rage.
The camp guards scramble to control me me, but I heal fast like they do. And Aegeris are not rule followers. We have moral codes we live by. We serve the intergalactic federation. We know how good the traditionalists have it, living in their ignorant bliss.
And the goddess’ power flows through our veins.
I am a weak, bloodied mess, but I manage to kick a foot into Tahliel, shoving him into Kinross. A loose bullet punches into the dirt by Azrim’s feet, but it doesn’t faze him. He’s calling to his son and plowing his way through the crowd. Shifters pile over him. Several of the ones holding me down turn on him.
Blood coats my clothes and my shredded armor. Rolling onto my side, I punch the last one in the nose and he backs up, snorting. Forcing myself up, I brace a gash closed in my side, collect my handgun from where Kinross has dropped it, lock it into my holster, and run after Azrim. My body screams with pain so loudly that it blurs my vision. Sweat beads on my forehead. I barely make it three paces before I’m tackled to the ground again.
I shove someone off of me with a boot, tear another off of my shoulders, and wrestle a third from around my waist. But they just don’t stop.
Claws dig into my shoulders, arms, and legs. They pull me down to my knees.
The crowd parts for Scarnis, while three of his soldiers keep my brother and me under their control.
“Zorin.” Scarnis sounds so disappointed. “You showed the most promise of the two of you to come into our pack and find a place here. But you have disobeyed orders like your brother. You have caused chaos and harmed pack mates.”
Azrim roars in his wolf form.
I agree, brother. Fuck you, Scarnis.“You attacked us. You betrayed Jezza’s faith you would keep her safe.Youbetrayedher!”
I slump forward from the effort of shouting at him. I’m out of breath and bleeding out.
“I must disown you to keep this pack safe.” Scarnis opens a hand and whips out his claws. “To be sure no other pack ever trusts you again.”
I close my eyes hard. He slaps me across the face, his claws scratching deep enough to leave permanent scars. Then Scarnis stalks to my brother.
I shake my head as blood drips down my nose, pooling on my bottom lip until it leaks into my mouth. “Spare him a mark,” I splutter. “He has lost enough.”
“He deserves what he gets for letting her die.” Scarnis is telling himself a lie. I don’t think he allows himself to feel guilt. And it is infuriating.
“He didn’t. Azrim loved her, changed for her!” I call after him.
My brother slumps on his knees, silently crying, his head hanging forward. The agony I feel for him lights a wildfire in my heart.
I have to fix this. I don’t know how I will. But I will.
“Why didn’t you get everyone into the shelter?” I rasp. “Why?”
“Because I don’t trust you.” Scarnis glares at me and raises his claws.
“It was never about us. That was all for her.” I swallow the blood to clear my voice. I jerk, trying to free myself from the males that hold me down. “You should have let her in. She would be alive. Youlet herdie!”
Azrim takes the hit to his face, and I feel fresh pain for him all over again.
A soft gasp in the crowd breaks up the silence. Emarza pushes through, Rhysan clutched to her chest and bound in a fabric sling. Her blue eyes are pale like Jezza’s were. Her dark hair is pulled into a long braid today. “Father! Why do you disown them? Have they not endured enough?”
She’s in tears, and I don’t blame her. She was Jezza’s best friend.
“Do not become soft,Em.They cannot be trusted.” Scarnis curls a lip and looks back at his daughter.
She bares her teeth at him. “Then you did not trust Jezza, or you believed her to be an idiot. She was neither.”
Emarza leaves the group behind and walks toward us. Tahliel protests and tries to hold her back.
“Get off of me!” She stops and swats his hand away. No male dares touch a female, let alone the daughter of the alpha or one carrying a pup of any age.
