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“No. It’ll take too long. The back entry,” I say, pointing to the way I first entered the settlement. “If there are guards, we’ll deal with them and get over the fence. We have to get to Dušan quickly.”
They both nod in unison.
Checking the grounds, we make a break for it and sprint across the lawn toward the explosion of trees higher up on the rising landscape.
I keep glancing over to the spectators. No one pays attention to us, but the guards are definitely staying close to Mad. Some cheer, but many cry out from what I assume is fear at seeing their Alpha being offered up as a sacrifice.
My heart bleeds for all of us. For the devastation Mad is about to unleash once he gets rid of Dušan. He’ll treat everyone like a slave and punish anyone for not obeying him.
Please, let Dušan be alive by the time we arrive there.Don’t let there be too many guards at the rear door. I push myself to go faster to reach my Alpha.
Swift and silent
Swift and silent.
Swift and silent.
Dušan
The rope burns into my wrists and around my chest, my shoulders screaming as my arms remain pulled taut around the pole at my back. I thrash and wrestle against my restraints, attempting to find some movement in the pole. But Mad made sure his guards dug it deep into the ground, and any chance of me knocking it over or wrenching it out is impossible.
Fury lashes over me and I jerk my attention over to the asshole. He stands on a platform behind the wall within the safety of the compound, while I’m left outside. An offering to the starved zombies.
And the siren wails around us like a roaring demon. There is no zombie breach in the pack grounds, but a calling for them to come outside the settlement and find me.
This is his final gift to me after everything we’ve gone through together. Growing up with his abusive father, when I took most of the beatings so he wouldn’t have to. I guarded him in the pack, gave him a high ranking position. But nothing was good enough. I should have seen this coming, should have fucking seen it.
Dozens and dozens of faces are climbing up the fence to gawk at me, and I meet every one of their gazes. Dread twists in my chest, but I want them to watch me fight to the end against a tyrant.
Fear fills most of their eyes. All part of Mad’s plan… Show them what happens when someone crosses him, and no one will stand up against him. I ache for these Ash Wolves who are left behind under the control of a monster.
But the depth of my pain surges for Meira.
For the agonizing heartache he will bring her. I fight against my restraints to escape and seek my retribution against my stepbrother. The whispers in my mind repeat,Break free and kill him. Every fucking flying, deceitful, arrogant inch of him.
I want blood.
Revenge.
Death for Mad.
He barks a laugh, standing up there, making sure no one misses the joy this brings him.
The crowd gathers behind the fence, climbing up to watch me, and they murmur their own whispers.
I seethe on the inside, my wolf crashing into me for escape, but changing will still leave me tied up, my back plastered to the pole just the same. Tugging against the pole, I won’t stop. Not even as the hollow ache in my chest spreads through me, swallowing me with the threat that maybe it’s too late for me.
Time drags too slow, and I suck in a hot breath beneath the scorching heat. Dread crawls through me as I keep picturing my death. Breathing heavily, I struggle to focus on nothing else but breaking the restraints holding me in place.
“How does it feel, to be on the receiving end, brother? If only you had trusted me instead of turning against your own family.” Mad’s words are like a whip, lashing over me.
“Fuck off! You are not my brother.” My response seems to echo. I have no time for his gloating. I’m barely keeping it together and not losing my shit.I’ll get out of this. I will.
And still the siren rings.
Then instead of his mocking voice, which I expect, comes a deep moaning sound that sends shivers down my spine.
Someone screams, and I twist my head toward the woods at my back.
