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Declan pinned Eric to the wall. Eric’s screams intensified, eyes locking with mine.
“How the fuck did you pull it off?” Declan snarled. “Who’d you hire for the spells when you shot me?”
Despite his panic, Eric looked at him like he was insane. “I didn’t shoot anyone—”
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Eric,” Declan snapped. “I know you—”
Catching Declan off guard, Eric dropped downward beneath his grasp. Declan stumbled forward, but caught himself against the wall.
Eric had only made it a few steps when Declan dropped onto his back, rolled him over, and buried his face in Eric’s neck.
Eric’s scream fazed into a stomach-churning gurgle as Declan yanked his head backward.
Crimson doused the floor as Eric’s body dropped to the ground, only red filling the cavern that had once been his neck.
“Told you I’d tear your throat out if you hurt her,” Declan murmured, wiping blood from his lips. His fangs sparkled red as his gaze turned to mine. “Let’s get you to the hospital.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
BROOKE
Asplint was necessary for one of my sprained wrists, my leg needed ten stitches, and my forehead needed five. We weren’t sure what exactly happened to my leg, but the cut looked like an accidental gash. Maybe Eric scraped my calf on a rusted piece of metal in a doorway as he carried me into that room. We didn’t know, but they gave me an extra tetanus shot to be on the safe side.
I wasn’t excited for the face scar, but I hated the numb, tingly sensation throughout my cheeks even more. A tox screen confirmed that I had, in fact, been drugged. Eric had given me clonazepam—a heavy benzodiazepine. Likely a large quantity to knock me out for as long as it had.
Aside from some lethargy, I was feeling okay by the time the nurse left the room to get my discharge papers. But I still had questions.
Maybe it was the aftereffects of the drugs, but I didn’t understand why he’d done it. I kept replaying that conversation between Eric and Declan over in my mind, but I didn’t know what he’d done to Misty that infuriated Declan the way it did, or what Abe had to do with it.
Just as soon as I’d gotten cozy in the slippers and sweatpants Ria brought me, a soft knock tapped on the door. Before I could say ‘come in,’ a familiar face peeked around the corner.
His damp, wavy brown hair dangled to his shoulders. He wore a fresh black T-shirt and a pair of clean jeans. A gentle smile spread across his lips. “Is it alright if I come in?”
“You did save my life and all.” I smirked. “Guess I owe you a conversation at the least.”
His smile inched a bit higher as he stepped inside. His whole body came into view, including the bouquet of flowers the door had blocked. A paper bag swung around his wrist, and he held two coffees stacked atop each other. “Considering last night, you don’t owe me more than that.”
“I’ll take that coffee and whatever’s in the bag as a consolation,” I said.
He laughed as he sat on the bed before me, extending both. “Doughnuts. I gave a few to Ria and Misty though—I hope that’s okay.”
“Yeah, of course. How is Misty? Is she okay?”
Exhaling slowly, Declan rubbed his mouth. “Physically, yeah, she’s fine. Mentally though… I don’t know.” He paused. “He turned her. That’s the main reason why I killed him. He turned her against her will.”
My chest constricted, and my stomach bubbled. Misty was human when she disappeared. She knew nothing of the supernatural world.
Then Eric ripped her life out from under her.
But I knew how these things worked. People turned without permission of the alpha were a threat to the pack—a threat to the entire supernatural community. Hunger was an obvious issue, especially for bitten wolves opposed to born. Born wolves had better calming techniques to soothe the hunger, and they were taught them from a young age. But a new wolf with no knowledge of this world at all was a risk to everyone in their vicinity.
Oftentimes, they were punished for the crime they didn’t commit.
Now though, I understood why Eric had held her captive, and why he kidnapped me.
He must’ve hired her, lost control, bitten her, and turned her. Then he panicked because he didn’t want Abe to find out. He could’ve killed her to cover his tracks, but maybe his heart was too big for that. Hard to believe with all things considered, but since he’d only tied me up, I could see it.
That also explained why he’d taken me. He needed me to stop digging. He saw me at Abe’s and figured I was getting closer. I wasn’t sure if he considered killing me to get me out of the way, and again, he couldn’t find it within himself to do so, or if he had some other plan.
