Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
The fighters freeze, their hands raised mid-throw.
The pack turns facing my direction. Heath’s face isn’t blank anymore, and his disdain is clear.
Micah moves silently, as does Quinn, and they position themselves at different corners.
Bash glides from the back hallway, his maker and friend, Ryker, the King of Vampires, beside him.
The lions enter from the front door, and Atlas and Luca come in behind them.
My chest feels tight. I wasn’t aware anyone else was coming, and their presence, more than anything, solidifies my welcome into the family.
“What's this?” Tawney hisses, turning back and forth. I can smell her fear of the newcomers.
“Lawson’s pack,” Heath says, gripping his cane tightly.
“He doesn’t have a pack,” Frank snarls, squinting. “He left his.” He glances around the room. “His family.” Hunter growls.
“You were never my family,” I say quietly. My mind buzzes with the show of support and the shock of being in their presence again.
“Who? Them?” He lifts his chin toward my brothers. I eliminate the space between us in a second, coming to a stop inches away.
“Yes,” I hiss. My chest rises with my rage. “They have always been my family. You took me away from them.”
“Boy,” he snorts. “They threw you at me.”
I press my arm to Hunter’s chest as he lunges.
“I’m not a boy.” I look down his body, and back to his face. “You aren’t my dad. Never were.”
“He’s right,” Tawney says, tilting her head. “Do you have a hug for Mom?”
“Shit,” Bane rumbles.
“You didn’t act like my mom when you wanted me to fuck you,” I say.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Remy steps beside Hunter.
“No.” I jerk my chin. “You were pissed when I turned you down. Three times.”
“You little shit,” she growls.
“Why are you here?” Frank asks, and I slide my gaze back to him.
“I thought I needed answers,” I say, taking a step back, looking around. “I’m not so sure anymore.” Hunter and Remy move with me. Bane stares at Tawney.
“Did she touch you without permission?” he asks.
“She…” Tawney steps forward next to Frank. “Doesn’t need permission in this pack.” She puts her hands on her hips and grins.
“In our town, you do.” We turn and see Juliana walk into the room.
She moves directly toward Heath, presses against his side, and slides her arm around his waist. “I’ll let Lawson do what he needs to do, and then you're mine.” Tawney loses her cocky expression and backs up.
“Too late. Don’t try to run now. I don’t appreciate anyone flirting with my mate.
I really don’t like it when someone does it naked. ”
I look at Heath, and he shrugs. “I don’t lie to her about anything,” he says, and waves his hand. “Go on.”
“Who the fuck are these people?” Frank pushes Tawney behind him. “Why are we here? This was a setup.”
“Heath was doing me a favor. I needed to see you.” As a child, I was terrified of him.
He was big and gruff. His arms seemed so strong, and he could snap a man’s neck in a second.
Even as I grew, he remained intimidating.
He messed with my mind for so many years that I couldn’t fight him.
Now, I can smell his fear. The pack is frozen, waiting for his instruction.
The vampires in the room would cause anyone to hesitate.
We were taught to respect them, so as not to offend them, and to stay as far away as possible.
I hadn’t interacted with their species until I came here.
“I challenge you to fight.” No one breathes. “All these years, I never fought you. Not fairly anyway. You taught me not to fight back when you hit me. I allowed your control and abuse.”
He laughs. “You can’t fight me.”
“Why not?”
“As much as you said you hated being in the pack, you loved me.”
“Maybe, but that was the only way to survive.” I move, holding my arms out and facing the pack. “I am challenging your leader. What is the rule when someone is challenged?” They look at the others in the pack, and I wonder who will have the guts.
“You have to accept it.” A man whom I don't know steps forward.
“Or what?” I ask him.
“You drop to the bottom of the pack,” he answers.
“The person at the bottom of the pack is worthless.” I turn back to Frank. “Isn’t that how you describe them?” He glares at me, knowing I have him.
“Terms?” he grits out.
“The one who doesn’t die wins,” I say. My brothers tense but don’t say anything.
“What? You're going to lead the pack?” he sneers.
“Do you not have confidence in your skills?” I ask, and he looks down.
“Fight him,” Tawney says. “If by some miracle, he wins, I’ll lead the pack once I fight him.”
“We won’t be fighting.” I laugh. “Juliana will have that privilege.” She glances quickly at the mated snake shifter as if she forgot she was here.
“Do you accept the challenge?” I hold Frank’s eyes.
If he doesn’t, he’s showing weakness toward the pack rules that he set up.
If he walks away, the respect of his members will be broken.
The system of the pack will die, and his loyal members will take over.
“Fine. Give me time—”
“Right now. I’ll give you a minute to prepare,” I say.
“What about them?” He motions to my family. “You're lying if you tell me they won’t defend you if I beat you.”
“I won’t lie. If I’m dead, I can’t control their actions. My brothers love me, so there are no guarantees on what they'll do.” I shrug. “I could say the same about your pack.”
“They know the rules,” he says.
“Exactly.” I never thought I would want to laugh so many times when facing him.
My world has changed. I have changed. “I’ll give you two minutes.
” I turn away, and my brothers follow me to the ring.
I’ve avoided fighting, afraid to lose control.
All I feel is the urge to teach Frank the lesson he’s needed for years.
Once he’s dead, my nightmares will go with him.
“You’re sure,” Hunter whispers.
“Yes.” I stop, looking over my shoulder at them. “You know what to do if something goes wrong.”
“It won’t,” he grits out.
“We won’t let it,” Bane says.
“Fuck him up, Brother,” Remy says, and I grin.
Jumping on the platform, I slip between the ropes and roll my neck as I stand in the corner. Frank moves slowly. I can see the gears turning in his head. I take off my shirt and shoes and hand them to Bane. I roll my shoulders and watch Frank step into the ring.
“Are we shifting?” he asks.
“At the pack fights, it was encouraged.” I bounce from foot to foot. “Remember, you encouraged a female wolf to shift and kill her opponent who was unable to shift without pain.”
“I remember,” he says, taking off his shirt. “She won.”
“And you made the loser's mother serve the winner dinner that night.” I circle to the left and move, keeping the same distance between us.
“What the fuck,” Hunter growls.
“She ran away the next day,” I say, moving in the other direction.
“Weak,” Frank grits out. “The mother was weak. She knew the rules.”
“Rules.” I tilt my head. “You loved to preach about the rules, but you didn’t follow any.” I lunge forward, and he scrambles back. “I think you were afraid.”
“Never.” He runs at me, and I step out of the way. His momentum sends his body crashing into the ropes. He’s slow and sloppy. “How did they find you?” He glares at my brothers as he straightens.
“They found a human who saw me fight. He saw my animal.” I run toward him, jump, and punch him in the face as I land. I grin as his blood flows.
“Shit.” He leans over and spits the blood out of his mouth.
“Do you still invite humans to see the fights?” I ask.
“No.” He lies. I can smell it.
“Should I ask the pack?”
“They are loyal to me,” he snarls, and I let his fist connect to my jaw. My head turns with the force of the hit. I smirk as I face him.
“We’ll see.” I throw three consecutive punches to his face. His attempt to shield his face is useless. My anger is more powerful than his skills.
“Frank, fucking hit him,” Tawney shouts.
“You incite fear, not loyalty,” I growl, backing away.
“Your attitude is why I didn’t look for you,” he says, brushing the blood from his eyes.
“Good riddance. You were ungrateful.” He looks from my face to my feet and back.
“You’re still the wild animal I raised, and you’ll never change.
You abandoned your family. The pack wanted to search for you, but I refused.
I waited for you to come crawling back home. ”
“You weren't my home, and I would never crawl.” I rush him, attacking his ribs. When he’s wheezing, and I back off.
“I didn’t need you,” he gasps, holding his side. “I have new children.”
“What?” My surprise costs me two hits, and I grit my teeth. Yes, we're shifters, and can take more pain than humans, yet it doesn’t mean we feel nothing.
“I didn’t want to bring the young ones so far away from home.” He grins.
“You adopted more.” My stomach churns thinking about their fear.
“They need a man to guide them,” he laughs, and I meet Hunter’s eyes.
“Did you know?” I ask.
“Yes,” Hunter says, and I frown. “That was part of the plan we didn’t tell you.” He looks at Frank. “Some of our family is rescuing them now.” My nausea lessens.
“No,” Frank cries.
“We will get them real homes with shifter parents who will understand them,” Hunter continues.
“Brother,” Bane calls, and I glance at him. “Are you done toying with him? I’d like to wrap this up.”
“Yeah.” I stare at Frank. “I’m done.” I shift in an instant and jump.
Flying through the air, I land on the man who twisted my mind and abused my body.
As my teeth sink into his flesh, I take back the pieces of my soul, his terror soothing the beast inside.
His death will free the lost children who only want a home, and put an end to his pack, who pretend to be family.
True family protects you, even from yourself.
Hunter knew my head would be fucked up if he told me about the kids.
His screams blend with Tawney’s as I sink my claws into his neck. As I stare into his eyes, watching his life drain, his mouth opens, but no sound emerges. The only noise is the drip of his blood and Tawney’s cries.
Until Juliana makes her move.