Page 60 of The Wolf

“You won’t be ending anything today, Aric. Now, tell me where Kane is,” I proclaimed, my voice steady but laced with resolve.

“You think you’ve got this all figured out, don’t you?”

“Fuck you, Aric,” I spat. He wasn’t going to win.

My hands trembled as I squeezed the trigger, and the recoil sent a searing pain through my wrist. The deafening bang of the gunshot reverberated through the cabin, shattering the stillness of the night. The bullet found its mark, striking Aric squarely in the chest. I watched in disbelief as he staggered backward, a look of shock crossing his face. For a moment, it seemed like I might have gained the upper hand.

But victory was fleeting. He had fired his weapon too.

A sharp, burning pain erupted in my side as Aric’s bullet struck me. I gasped, collapsing to the floor, clutching the wound. Blood seeped between my fingers, staining the wooden floorboards beneath me. My vision blurred, and the room spun as agony coursed through my body. I was certain I was about to die.

As I lay there, struggling to stay conscious, the sound of Aric’s pained groan reached my ears. Through a haze of pain and dizziness, I watched in shock as he pushed himself to his feet. His movements were unsteady, his body trembling with the effort, but somehow, he was still able to move.

“What you don’t know, sweetheart, is that I kept a vial of the same poison I used to create Kane centuries ago. And I laced my bullets with it.”

My shock turned to horror as I realized the truth—his bullets were coated with a deadly toxin that was coursing through my veins. I was going to turn into a beast, same as Kane.

My strength waned with each passing second, and I could feel the poison working its way through my system, weakening me further. Aric’s smile widened, his triumph evident in his cold, calculating eyes. He seemed to relish my suffering, savoring his twisted victory.

“I’ll be coming back for you, Lexie,” he hissed, his voice dripping with menace. “Enjoy what little time you have left,” he threatened as he leaned in close, his breath chilling against my ear.

With a mocking bow, he turned and walked toward the cabin door, his movements slow and deliberate.

He left me there to die.

CHAPTER21

Kane

I needed to get back to her.

Now.

My thoughts were consumed by my Lexie. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to get back to her side, to protect her, to ensure her safety. With every ounce of my strength, I had to find a way to escape, to return to her, and to keep her out of harm’s way. She was my mate, my love, and my reason for living.

I pushed against the ground, trying to force myself to my feet.

Pain radiated through my body from the silver bullet lodged in my chest. I couldn’t shift, couldn’t tap into the power of my wolf form to heal myself. I was vulnerable, wounded, and unable to defend myself.

Fuck.

I watched with bated breath as the trees at the edge of the forest rustled, and then, like a dark omen, Aric emerged from the shadows into the moonlit clearing. His long, dirty blonde hair framed his menacingly familiar face. His massive form, rivaling my own in sheer strength, sent a shiver down my spine as I lay there injured on the ground.

But the thing was, he was injured too.

Aric’s gaze locked onto me, and a cruel smile curved his lips.

“Kane, my old friend,” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “I see you’re in quite a predicament.”

I clenched my jaw, my muscles tensing in frustration. “Aric, you always were a coward. Sending your lackeys to do your dirty work,” I growled, my voice laced with anger and resentment.

“Coward? No, Kane. I’m a survivor. Unlike you, I adapt to the changing world.”

My eyes flicked to the scar over Aric’s eye. “Like you adapted to that, huh?” I taunted.

“Ah, yes. You were always good at inflicting pain, weren’t you? But I’ve learned to appreciate pain, to use it as a source of power.” Aric’s fingers traced the scar, a cruel smile playing on his lips. The threat in his gaze sent a shiver of fear shooting through me.

“What did you do with Lexie? Did you hurt her?” I snarled.

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