Wolf crowned, p.11
Wolf Crowned, page 11
So they suspected. Fantastic!
I wasn’t as worried about Drake as I was about my dad. If I could convince my dad I was on his side, it wouldn’t matter what Drake or Fiona thought.
I picked up a shirt from my dirty laundry and blotted at my bloodied chest. There was a lot of blood, but the cuts were superficial at least. They stung like hell and it made me wonder if she had wolfsbane on her nails.
Bitch probably does.
I mopped up the blood as best I could and then set the dirty shirt on the outside of the hamper. It would probably need thrown away now.
I looked between Drake and my dad. “I’ve spent most of my time with Ruby. I didn’t see Luke often. Most men are kept separate, but you know that already, and you’re there the most, Drake.”
Dad shifted his gaze to Drake. “He brings up a valid point. You spend more time there than anyone.”
Fiona crinkled her nose and stomped her foot on the floor like a petulant child. “But he doesn’t smell like that Ruby girl. He smells like someone else.”
She made a dramatic effort of sniffing the air while lifting her chin. “See! Come smell him. He smells like a woman, but not like that girl.”
Shit, did I smell like Sloane? I wasn’t sure how it worked. I was there with Lincoln and Sloane, but not physically. I couldn’t smell like them. But what if I did?
My mind ran rampant, thinking of all the scenarios.
No I couldn’t have their scents on me. I’d been here in my bed. But we’d been intimate, touching, about as real as you could get.
I had to play my cards carefully.
My dad rolled his eyes and held his hands out and laughed. “Son, are you hiding a woman in here? Should I lift up the bedspread and check under the bed for her?”
I chuckled. Humor was a good sign. “There’s no girl in here, Dad. I promise. And if there was, why would I hide her from you?”
Fiona threw her arms out to the sides and let them clap against her thighs. “But he smells like one. And not Ruby.” She jabbed her finger in my direction. “Smell him, Drake. Tell Alpha it’s not Ruby.”
I shrugged my shoulders and arched a brow, inviting Drake to come sniff me if he desired. My hope was he wouldn’t and find this whole thing with Fiona bizarre. She was a jealous girl throwing a tantrum. Because if I did smell like Sloane, I was in trouble.
Drake shifted his feet but didn’t move.
I waited another moment and when no one made a move; I turned my attention back to Fiona. “I’m around a lot of people, Fiona. I’m not sure what you smell, but it could be anyone.”
I pointed toward the door. “Not to be rude, but if there’s really nothing you guys needed, I was kind of sleeping before someone obnoxiously woke me up.” I narrowed my eyes at Fiona.
Fiona being in here wasn’t an accident. My door had a lock and Dad and I were the only ones able to get in. Dad had let her in. He must doubt me at least a little bit.
No one moved, which sent my adrenaline spiking through the roof. My heart thumped in my chest, and I worried it was so loud everyone could hear it.
Fiona stomped her foot on the floor again. The pictures on my nightstand rattled. “Drake!”
Drake’s brows knitted together and his nostrils flared as he exhaled loudly. “Ruby has a birthmark. Where is it?”
I frowned and narrowed my eyes. “How do you know Ruby has a birthmark? She’s with me, not you. You shouldn’t be looking at her like that.”
Had he seen her? Did she have a birthmark? How would he know?
Luna, was he creeping on the women? I pumped my fists at my side. If he was, I was putting an end to that.
Maybe this was a trap. Maybe she didn’t have a birthmark, and how was I to know?
Drake stood straight and inched forward, a smug look on his face. “Oh she has one all right, and I want you to tell me where it is.”
Dad pursed his lips. “Drake, how would you know if she has one? She’s not yours to touch.” He pumped his fists at his sides. “I gave you explicit instructions to leave Ruby alone.”
Drake cleared his throat, glancing away as crimson scorched over his cheeks. “Before I found out about Sawyer...ahem...I peeked in the bathroom a few times.”
What a disgusting jerk. “You son of a bitch! Are you serious? They might be prisoners, but they still have rights and are allowed some privacy. They don’t need you peeping in on them.”
Luna, how many women had he snuck a peek on? This was the kind of man my dad wanted in our pack? He’d gone completely bonkers. Maybe I should’ve convinced Sloane to move up the timeline. The sooner we liberated everyone the better.
Fiona picked up the sheets and put them to her face.“I’m telling you, Alpha, it smells like a woman in here. And it’s not Ruby.” Her top lip curled up like she was trying to smile, but it just made it look like sneer. “I know what that little bitch smells like.”
Had she done something to Ruby? Cold dread washed over me. My hand fell to my stomach as it began to cramp. This was my fault. We needed them, but I might’ve just signed both the siblings' death sentence by asking for their help. Luke was already dead.
Luna keep Ruby safe. This isn’t her fault.
Focus. Breathe. Dad is watching you!
I forced out a laugh. “I mean, look under my bed if you want. There is nobody else here.”
I pointed to the bed with an open hand. Nobody moved.
Dad blinked a few times and looked at the floor his face an unreadable mask, a hard wall of stone that I couldn’t place. His jaw worked, and he opened his mouth and then closed it.
After an eternity, he looked up at me. “I don’t know who the woman’s scent is, Sawyer. But I’d be lying if I said something wasn’t amiss. I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t realize it until now.”
His eyes gleamed as the vein by his temple throbbed. “You smell like your brother.”
He knew.
Sweat beaded my brow. I shifted my feet. Dad would know the difference between us. He always had when we were younger. We’d made a game of it as kids, trying to sneak candy or cookies from the kitchen late at night to see which one of us could do it without getting caught.
I was done for unless I could come up with some reason I would smell like Lincoln.
My mind spun, trying to come up with something, anything that I could say to get myself out of this. But nothing I said would matter. I knew that look on my father.
Rage. Hatred. Murderous.
It was the look he had when he was killing. It’d never been directed at me. But I knew it and and there was no reasoning with him.
I had to get out, and it had to be right now.
Sixteen
Sawyer
Dad took a menacing step. He flexed his hands at his sides. Hair crept across his flesh as his hands partially shifted into his paws.
I gritted my teeth. It wouldn’t be a fair fight. Drake would jump in to help dad, and Fiona too. Other enforcers were just down the hall, probably waiting to come to my father‘s aid.
I had one last ditch effort to try.
I pumped my fists at my sides. Tendrils of doubt and fear pressed down on my shoulders, leaving every muscle on edge. “You’ve gone astray, Dad, leading this pack down a path I can’t follow. Mom would be ashamed.”
He snarled, but I held my ground.
My lip curled up as anger replaced fear. “It doesn’t have to go down like this. We can fix the pack. Together. Make Mom proud.”
He stomped toward me. “Enough! Your mother has nothing to do with this.” He shoved a finger at me. “How dare you bring her into this. You betrayed our family. Our pack.”
I stood toe to toe with him, my hackles raising. “No. You did!” I wasn’t done. Here went nothing. I swallowed hard. “I challenge you for the role of Alpha.”
He blinked a few times, surprised, before he snarled, sending spittle flying. “No. This is my pack.” He jabbed his pointer finger at the floor. “You won’t disrespect me. And you sure as hell won’t take it away from me.”
The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. “I’ve challenged you. By pack law, you have to accept.”
He threw his head back and laughed like this was some joke. “You’ve forgotten who your alpha is boy.”
He was refusing my challenge. It stung, but didn’t surprise me. He’d spent so much time building his army he thought he was the only one capable of running it. Any other alpha would have to defend their position.
He didn’t have to. The people running around the pack were all men and women who had promised themselves to him. They’d taken an oath, swearing to always stand by him. None of them would care. They were too far gone on the crazy train with him.
If I stayed to face him, I’d be fighting the whole pack by myself. And I would die.
A wave of nausea washed over me. I was trapped. My gaze darted around the room. There were only two exits. The door which was blocked and the window. “I’m sorry it’s come to this. I didn’t want it to.”
I exhaled as a lump formed in my throat. “There was a time when all I wanted was for you to love me the way you and Mom did when I was a kid. But that man, that alpha, he’s dead.”
I trembled as the truth of my words washed over me. It affected Dad too.
A wave of emotions crossed over his face. His jaw went slack, and he blinked a few times. The forlorn expression shifted as red tinged his cheeks. He gritted his teeth and growled so loud I swore the entire house shook.
He charged me. I ducked to the right, but not fast enough to miss the first attack. He was much faster than a man his age should be. He dove for me again. This time catching my arm and dragging me to the floor.
I landed with a thump, hard enough to knock the air out of my lungs, leaving me gasping. He pressed his arm against my throat and snarled. Spittle splatted against my face.
He was going to kill me.
I drew in a breath and let it out, letting my training kick in. I brought my free arm up and threw a punch, hitting him in the jaw, then lifted my hips, throwing him to the side.
He scrambled across the floor, grasping for purchase, a look of shock on his face.
Yeah, Dad, I can take care of myself and I’m not afraid of you.
Only afraid of what you intend to do.
His surprise didn’t last long. Dad was on me again in an instant, pinning me beneath him. He swiped his claw and then the other as he attacked. I jerked to the side, but not fast enough. His nails sliced into my shoulder.
I wiggled my knee, lifting it up and hitting him in the gut. I rolled, so I was on top. I threw a punch, hitting him in the jaw, but my triumph was short-lived.
Drake hit me from behind, sending me pitching forward just as my dad clobbered me with his fist. Drake wrapped his arms around my waist, lifting me up and throwing me to the side. My upper body collided with the bed, shoving it to the side with my momentum. I scrambled to catch myself but couldn’t and ended up in a heap on the floor, jarring my elbow.
Drake didn’t give me a chance to get to my feet. He threw a couple of punches that I blocked with my forearm. Pain ricocheted up my arms, sending tendrils of heat through my wrists. I kept my arms in front of my face, protecting it as best I could, waiting for the opportunity to strike.
Now!
Drake reeled back and laughed like he’d beaten me.
I jerked my knee up and into his groin. He pitched forward. I caught him by the shoulders, lifted my hips and rolled. I jerked him up and then slammed him to the floor, hard enough his head bounced.
Fiona shrieked. I’d almost forgotten about her.
Something cold splashed my face and chest. It burned my skin. I cried out as the cool liquid turned to molten lava against my flesh. Wolfsbane.
Fiona held a pitcher and jumped up and down like a giddy cheerleader. I shuffled backwards. Everywhere the water touched was on fire. My vision blurred. I could hardly see.
The wolfsbane worked through my system. I wouldn’t be able to shift and they could.
I had to get out of here. Fast.
The window. I grabbed the comforter and tossed it at Drake. He slipped on the edge and tripped, falling to his knees. I scrambled across the floor, tripping over my feet so I was crawling more than anything. I grabbed the ledge and hauled myself up, punching the glass.
The shards ripped my hand as it went through the window. Blood dribbled out of the wounds, falling in droplets on the ledge.
I shoved the window the rest of the way open and rolled out. The roof was sloped on this side of the house. I couldn’t catch my footing. I tumbled across the shingles.
I tried to stop myself, but it was no use. There was nothing to grab. I flinched, grunting as I toppled over the ledge.
I flailed, swinging my arms and legs wildly as I ungracefully plunged twenty feet to the ground. I hit with a thump. The air whooshed out of my lungs. Everything burned. I was on fire.
I couldn’t move. My limbs weighed a million pounds, leaving me paralyzed. Had I broken something? My back?
It’s the wolfsbane. It’s in your bloodstream, and it’s making everything worse than it is.
At least that’s what I hoped it was.
Breathe. Focus. It’s going to be okay.
I stared at the sky through the canopy of the trees. The moon shone brightly, like a beacon. Almost a full moon. It was breathtaking.
Luna, help me!
I’d never been one to pray to our moon goddess. Mother had.
If she were watching over us now, she would be appalled. Her children had been her world.
“Sawyer,” Sloane and Lincoln said my name at the same time.
Did I will them here? Or had Luna answered my call for help?
Sloane and Lincoln peered down at me. Their fear wrapped around me like a vise. They were yelling something I couldn’t understand. They shook me, but I was weightless now. Unable to move or speak.
I had to fight for them. We were going to get our happily ever after. We had to. This was what we’d all been fighting for and I’d been foolish, staying with my dad for far too long.
I was an idiot.
Snap out of it. Fight!
I blinked, their voices crystal clear. Their hands warm against my gnarled flesh.
Get up.
I ground my teeth. Pain sliced through me like daggers as I pushed to my elbows. My vision darkened. The world buzzed.
Don’t you dare pass out. Not now. You need to run.
I rolled to my side. White hot heat scorched through my body. I panted, staring at the blades of grass peeking up through the dirt.
The tree line was so close but seemed miles away.
Warm hands pressed against my face, and I flinched. These weren’t angry hands. Sloane’s scent hit me first, bringing me back to reality.
She rocked me back and forth in her embrace. “Sawyer, you have to get up for us, please. They are coming.”
Lincoln tugged on my arm, rolling me and then yanking me to my feet. I grunted in protest. My knees buckled, and I would’ve pitched forward if Sloane hadn’t caught me.
Lincoln hitched my arm over his shoulder. “Come on. We are getting you out of here.”
Sloane took my other arm, and the two of them took a step forward, dragging me along with them.
She curled her fingers around mine. “How far to the waterfall and cave?”
I wasn’t sure if she was asking me or Lincoln. I tried to answer her, but only a croak came out.
Howls erupted. Glass shattered. My father‘s voice boomed, echoing for every enforcer to find me and drag me back to him.
The hunt was on. And I was almost out of time.
I stumbled, tripping over a rock. My leg was broken. I could barely put any weight on it. The wound on my shoulder was burning. I half expected to see flames coming from it. I’d been doused with wolfsbane multiple times. This was different.
I could hardly breathe. My chest hurt, making it impossible to draw in a deep breath.
I shouldn’t be hurt this badly. The fall was high but not horrible, and the fight hadn’t been overly debilitating.
I stumbled over the uneven ground. “I’m never going to make it.”
Sloane squeezed my hand harder. “Yes, you are. We’re going to get you there. Just keep moving.”
Lincoln took more of my weight and sped up. “She’s right. We’re not letting them get you. We’ve come too far, Sawyer. We are all walking away from this together. Now come on!”
The tree line enveloped us and my mates picked up the pace, practically carrying me through the woods.
Twigs snapped behind us. Barks echoed through the trees. They were on our tail.
Sloane grunted as she ran. “We have to keep moving. Come on, Sawyer. I need you to fight.”
I gritted my teeth as the memory of our time together just a few short minutes ago came back. That was everything that I wanted, and if I didn’t get it together, I would never have it, and neither would they.
I’d already upset Sloane and Lincoln enough by not coming when I should have. I wouldn’t let them down again.
I reached inside myself, pulling on the delicate string that connected me to my wolf. I couldn’t shift, but I drew on his strength.
Lincoln must have sensed my intentions, because he stopped running and pulled away from me. He kept a hand on my shoulder to keep me from collapsing. “We can’t get him there in time like this, but there’s something we can do to help him.”
Sloane tugged me forward almost tripping over her feet. “Lincoln, we’re wasting time. Help me!”
Lincoln shook his head and put his hands on her shoulders. “No. We have to give him our strength. Remember how he helped you fight? How I’ve helped you fight?” He lifted his brows, and she nodded.
He met my gaze and inclined his head. “It’s the same thing. We’re just going to give him some of our energy so that he can run even though he’s hurt. That’s what he needs, otherwise they’re going to catch him.
Her wide eyes landed on me. She put her hand on my cheek. “We’re here with you, Sawyer. Run like hell.”
