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I trembled at the thought though. I wasn’t a violent person. I’d never killed, never even been in a fight, but I couldn’t deny the anger coursing through my veins and seeking vengeance for everything that had been taken from me.
We only had one chance at this, and I was going to be ready.
I gritted my teeth as I pictured Darrin’s severed head served up to my parents like a birthday gift.
Alpha Dane was going down, and I was going to be the one to do it.
Eight
Loud bangs drew mefrom my slumber for the second day in a row. I grumbled and hauled the black sheets up to my chin as I sat up.
Lincoln scrambled to his feet from his makeshift pallet on the floor. He gathered the blankets he’d slept on and tossed them across the bed.
The banging grew louder and more intense. “Lincoln, open up.”
My pulse pounded, and I drew in a sharp breath. Sawyer. I hadn’t seen him since the disastrous dinner two evenings ago.
Lincoln turned back and gave me a look before he opened the door and ushered his brother inside.
The breath whooshed out of my lungs as their combined scents of pine, dew, and earth swirled around me and wrapped me in a cocoon of warmth. My shoulders slumped, and the tension in my muscles slipped away.
This was heaven.
Sawyer closed the door and leaned against it, letting the back of his head rest against the white pine.
I pushed back the blankets, slid out of bed, and padded softly over to them.
Both their gazes snapped to me, their eyes following my movements. Their scent was stronger up close. A low moan slipped out as my nipples pebbled beneath my borrowed shirt.
They both took a step toward me, but Sawyer stopped short, his arm jutting out and blocking Lincoln’s path as a tick formed in his jaw. “We have to fight this. Father will know if something happens.”
Lincoln took a few steps back and raked a hand through his hair. “Why are you here?”
Sawyer glanced at me, his face softening. “Father is going to town. He is allowing me to accompany Willa and Sloane to the mall for a few hours to get some belongings.”
I tugged on the way-too-big shirt. “My own clothes?”
I fought the urge to jump for joy. I’d only been here a few days, but the walls were closing in around me.
A chance to get out. Freedom. I’d take it.
Lincoln paled and put his hand on the wall, almost like he needed it for support. “Leave?”
Sawyer put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Hey, you aren’t going.”
Lincoln blew out a breath and leaned forward, putting his hands on his thighs as he drew in deep breaths.
I went to him, my own heart racing, but Sawyer shook his head. “Don’t. The more we touch, the harder this is. Just being in the same room as you is hard enough.”
“But…” I motioned to Lincoln, who was drawing in controlled breaths.
He was hurting. In pain. I had to help him. What was wrong with him anyway?
He glanced up at me. Some of the color had returned to his face. “I’m fine. You should go with Sawyer, and don’t mention this to anyone. If our dad gets wind of it, he’ll punish me.”
“But…” I shuffled a few steps forward, but stopped. I wrapped my arms around myself, wishing it were Lincoln I was hugging.
Sawyer squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “It’s just a panic attack. He doesn’t like to leave the house.”
