Page 54 of Knot Your Kismet

“Shut up!” Will hollers. “Shut your goddamn mouth or I’ll kill him.”

“You won’t. You’re a coward.” My breath quivers, my knees threatening to buckle.

“You know I’m capable, you little bitch. You just fucking wait until I get my hands on you. I’ll—”

“Coward!” I scream, cutting him off. “You’ll never be anything more than a stain on your pack. You’ll never have an omega.”

Will bares his teeth. His cheeks redden with anger, and he shakes Nolan’s head, forcing his limp limbs to thrash. “I’ll kill him!”

“You won’t! You’re weak! You’re a cowa—”

Will drops Nolan to the floor and charges me, his hands outstretched. I stand firm in place, refusing to submit. I won’t let him break me. He will learn he’s not the powerful guy he believes he is. I know the truth in my very being.

“Will!” Ivy screams.

“Lis, move!” Lucas shouts from behind me.

I don’t move.

I won’t back down.

“I’ll kill you like I killed that insubordinate fool. No one disobeys me. No one!” Will snatches me by the neck and slams my back into the wall.

I cry out in pain and kick my legs, but he doesn’t budge.

“Cali!”

The edges of my vision darken, yet my entire being refuses to give in. I’m stronger than this. I’m not weak. My mom raised me to stand up to alphas. She raised me to fight back.

I close my eyes and go still, pretending to succumb to Will’s power.

“No!” Ivy and Lucas yell in unison.

Will loosens his grip on me until my feet touch the ground. I use all my strength to shove into him, knocking him on his back. He doesn’t have a chance to react before I press the knife Lucas gave me to his throat.

I didn’t think I had it in me. Just hours ago, I knew with my whole heart I wasn’t a killer. But here I am, now unsure. It’s all I can think to do.

“You’re a coward,” I say, pressing the knife harder into Will’s neck.

He tenses, his eyes widening. “Cali, okay. I get it. Please, you’re not a killer. You said it yourself. You’re not a murderer.”

I heave a breath, my mind whirling. “Admit the truth. You know I didn’t kill Alexander.”

Will swallows hard, his gulp pushing his skin to the knife. “You didn’t. He was a fool. He deserved to die.”

I stare him dead in the eyes. “You killed him.”

“I killed him,” he repeats. “You’re not a murderer.”

Two arms engulf me, yanking me off Will. Lucas drags me to him, putting space between us and Will. I stumble to the floor beside Nolan, his eyes beaten black. Blood drips from a cut on his lip, and he’s still unconscious but he’s breathing.

“Both of you get on the floor and put your hands on your heads. The authorities have been notified. You’re being detained for the murder of Alexander Loomis and the attempted kidnapping, coercion, and assault on Pack Kismet.” Lucas stands with his back facing me.

“Please, I’ll give or do anything,” Ivy says, begging while still complying with Lucas’s commands. “I was just protecting my pack. This is all Will’s doing.”

“Me? Had you listened and done things my way, we’d have been fine.”

Ivy ignores Will’s comment. “I will cooperate and give you everything you need. Just show me some mercy.”