24. Morgan
MORGAN
I know that roar.
He’s here, and my heart fucking soars.
For the first time since I entered this ring, Fox loses the smug, cocky expression. Wariness creeps in, and his scent changes. I don’t know what the fuck it means, but he’s unsettled for sure.
“Take care of that,” he shouts to the side, and I glance over to see Birch now standing there with one of the other hunters.
Wanker.
I daren’t watch to see what they do next, because Fox is too fucking fast to take my eyes off him for more than a second.
“You think he’s gonna help you?” Fox taunts. “He’ll be dead before he gets anywhere near here.” On the surface he seems to have regained his confident swagger, but my shifter senses tell me otherwise.
I catch the way his fist clenches around the knife, the sudden tension in his shoulders. Despite the fire burning my skin from where he cut me, I smile.
“Something funny, Webb?”
“He’s going to kill you,” I say softly but loud enough for Fox to hear.
“He’ll tear through everyone you put in his way, and he’ll come for you last.” Every word feels like the truth as it leaves my mouth.
I know it down to my bones. I cock my head, more for show, but then I hear it. .. muffled cries and snarls.
Fighting.
“Yeah?” Fox smirks. “You’re just a prospect in his stupid little club. What makes you so fucking special?”
Clearly Birch left out some information when he handed me over.
Fox seems blissfully unaware of the chaos headed his way, and it makes me smile even more.
“Because I’m his mate.”
I get to enjoy the shock on his face for one glorious second, and then all hell breaks loose.
He presses that button, lighting me up again and dragging another desperate roar from me. The pain goes on and on, and I’m dimly aware of the answering roar that’s full of unholy rage.
He’s coming, I know he is. I just need to hang on.
Panic erupts around the ring, spectators pushing and shoving each other to get out of the way. The pain stops suddenly, and I manage to lift my head enough to see a beautiful black wolf with silver markings, teeth bared, stalking towards us.
Blood coats his fangs.
Good .
I think of Luke and my father, and my lips curl back into a snarl.
I hope he made them suffer.
“Fucking shoot him,” Fox yells, but instead of gunfire, there are only snarls and screams.
My healing’s kicked in, erasing the after-effects of Fox shocking me, and I’m on my feet in the blink of an eye. I get as far as turning round before he presses that fucking button again and again.
I collapse to the ground, the skin around my throat on fire, as I tear at the collar until my muscles spasm, and I can’t fucking move. Breathing hurts, my heartbeats feel wrong, and through all of it I barely register the knife at my throat.
But Lynx’s warning growl cuts through everything.
The pain stops abruptly once more, but I can’t focus on anything, my brain still buzzing and my body in shock.
“One more fucking step and I’ll gut him like the animal he is.” Fox presses the knife against me, and I feel the skin give, feel the trickle of blood run down my neck to the ground beneath.
And fuck, that burns.
Aconite , I remember.
My head clears enough to know that I’ve only got minutes, maybe seconds before he presses that fucking button again.
Fox isn’t stupid.
“Kill him,” I grit out, hissing when Fox presses harder with his knife. “He’s got hunters here somewhere, and Birch...” I cry out as more electricity floods my body, my back arching before I collapse back on the ground.
“I reckon if I do it enough times,” Fox sneers, “it might just kill him.” He does it again to prove his point.
I black out, I must, because when I open my eyes again, the wolf is gone, replaced by a very naked and very angry Lynx.
Magic coats the air, thick and heavy, and so many other scents that I can’t separate them out.
“ Stop ,” Lynx grinds out.
“Get on your knees,” Fox orders.
“Don’t.” I never want to see Lynx kneeling for this fucker. But Fox presses his knife in deeper still, and the blood flows that little bit faster.
And Jesus Christ , does it burn.
“Kneel and I might give him the antidote. It’s in his bloodstream now. You can smell it, can’t you?”
“Fuck you,” Lynx snarls, but his eyes are desperate.
No, don’t do it.
He drops to his knees, and Fox laughs.
“Look at him,” he whispers, yanking my head up so that my eyes meet Lynx’s. At this angle, the knife is no longer pressed against my throat, and I see the moment Lynx notices. “You really want to be mated to that ?”
Yes .
It’s like he hears it, because Lynx’s eyes darken, lips curving up into a feral grin, and he whispers, “Shift.”
It happens so fast.
Power slams into me, that tug in my belly exploding outwards, and this time I don’t resist it’s pull . Can’t . White-hot pain steals my breath, bones snapping, my whole body on fire, but it’s over almost before I have chance to register it.
I stumble back, unsteady on my feet—no, fucking paws— turning in time to see Fox raise his arm, silver-coated knife in hand.
“ No! ” Lynx yells.
Fox pivots, quickly switching his aim to Lynx as he charges towards us.
No.
A red haze of fury sweeps over me, and something else takes over. I’m moving almost without conscious thought, barrelling into Fox before the knife leaves his hand, teeth sinking into the soft flesh of his neck. Blood fills my mouth as I bite down hard, not stopping until I feel the crunch of bone.
“Hey.” Hands grip my fur, tugging me backwards.
I turn to snarl, but I recognise that face, that voice.
“He’s dead. You can let go now.”
Slowly, awareness returns as my mind comes back online.
I let go of Fox’s limp body and step back into Lynx’s arms. I should be horrified.
I just killed someone with my bare fucking teeth, but all I feel is a smug satisfaction.
Even a mouthful of blood doesn’t make me want to throw up like I expected it to.
Lynx buries his fingers in my fur, and I lean into him, shamelessly rubbing against his body, making him chuckle. “As much as I’m enjoying this, I need you to shift back so we can get out of here before more hunters come. Can you do that?”
Can I?
Fuck, I don’t think so.
A whine escapes me, and Lynx cradles my head, coaxing me to look at him. “I’m going to help you, okay? But it’ll hurt, and I’m so fucking sorry, but we need to hurry.”
I whine again as I feel the first stirrings of panic.
“Do you trust me?”
Yes .
I knock my head against his hand in answer.
“Is that yes?”
I do it again and he nods.
“Okay.” He shuffles back away from me. I cock my head, wondering where he’s going when he stops and faces me. “ Shift .”
Just like before, I can’t help but give in to the pull in my chest. And it hurts just as much going this way, and by the time it’s over, I’m on all fours, gasping for breath.
I glance to the side, reeling back when I see Fox’s lifeless body.
Fuck, now I’m horrified.
“Hey,” Lynx catches me by the shoulders and hauls me upright.
“Don’t you dare feel guilty about that fucker.
He tortured you. He tortured your father .
” He pulls me into his arms and holds me tight against him.
I melt into his embrace. “He would’ve killed you, Morgan. Don’t doubt that for a second.”
I don’t, but that doesn’t change the fact that I killed someone.
It’s going to take some time to wrap my head around it.
“Come on,” he says, urging me forward. “We need to get out of here and get you the antidote for those cuts.”
As soon as he says it, my skin starts to burn, as if he’s activated it or something. I wince and Lynx growls.
“I know it hurts,” he whispers, pulling me close. “I’m sorry we took so long to find you.”
“We?” I glance around, not seeing anyone else. The crowd is long gone, and I neither know nor care where the hunters fucked off to.
“Yeah.” He leads me forward, arm still wrapped around me. “I didn’t come alone.”
Two figures appear from behind one of the vans. I recognise Flint easily enough.
He gives me a quick once-over, followed by a wince. “Aconite?”
I nod.
“Hurts like a bitch, but we’ve got the antidote back at the bikes. Here…” He tosses a small rucksack over to us. “Put these on if you can.”
Lynx snatches the bag off the ground and quickly divides the clothes between us. It’s not easy, but I manage to work the joggers and t-shirt over my wounds.
As soon as I’m dressed, my gaze shifts to the person beside Flint, and I come to a grinding halt as recognition kicks in. The growl is immediate, rumbling up from my belly as I stare at Tanner Grey. A fucking hunter . I don’t realise I’m moving forwards until Lynx pulls me back against him, hard.
“Stop.” Something about the way he says it makes me pause enough to glance at him.
“He’s a fucking hunter .” I hiss the last word, lips curling back over teeth that ache suddenly.
“I know, but he’s on our side this time,” Lynx promises. “He came with us to help get you back.”
Grey holds up his hands and wisely doesn’t come any closer. “I know you don’t trust hunters right now, and I don’t blame you. But I’m not here to cause you trouble, I promise.” His gaze shifts to Lynx. “I’ve called it in. The others’ll be here within the hour. You need to be gone when they do.”
Lynx nods. “What will you tell them?”
Grey shrugs. “Not sure yet, but I’ll make sure none of this comes back on you or your club.”
“You staying here?”
“Yeah. Gonna wait for them.” He glances at me again. “I’m glad you’re alive. I’m sorry for what they did to you.”
I can’t bring myself to thank him, but I incline my head enough for him to see. That’s all he’s getting. He might be nothing like Fox, but they’re both hunters. Someone somewhere had to know what a fucking loose cannon Fox was.
“Come on,” Lynx urges, “it’s a bit of a walk to where we stashed the bikes and we don’t have much time.”
“Take my car.” Grey tosses Lynx the keys and gestures to me. “I don’t think he’ll be up for a bike ride home.”