Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
THISTLE
I’d barely had it a day, and the bracelet Ace had given me was already coming in clutch.
The Alpha before me was on the ground, breathing unsteady, his chest rattling in ragged growls of panic as I gathered myself.
Okay…
What next?
Really, I should go find the others, but…
For a flash I pictured Bella standing above me, ripping Bunny in two. I’d lost Knox, and she was making him watch as her Alpha tried to claim me. Trying to take everything from me.
Forcing him, when he didn’t want her…
Nope, nope, nope.
A little rumble of a growl rolled up my throat. Maybe it was anger, maybe it was desperation at the idea of leaving now.
I… I needed this…
It’s been so long, Bunny… and he really deserves it…
I could be quick. A little time with just me and him…
His eyes darted between mine as I loomed back over him. He couldn’t move at all, but I could see his terror.
This bracelet had done that—another gift from my god Alpha.
When Ace had first brought me home from Dan’s, he’d given me something like this. He’d stayed and watched to see what I would do. It was the only time I’d ever felt he might be proud of me.
But it was more than that… a little voice whispered.
Not just him.
My blade slid slowly up his arm, and I watched in fascination as the crimson bead bubbled up before tumbling down to the cream rug beneath us.
I smiled, my chest loosening, the tang of iron rising in the air.
One of the best scents in the world.
This was mine. A perfect place where everything made sense.
He was making panicked sounds, thick, terrified groans in his chest as I made the next cut, nice and slow.
I redirected the blade, slowly carving doodles along his arm. The cuts weren’t shallow—I always tried to be careful with my own Alphas, leaving them marks that would scar, but not cut that tougher layer of muscle. I didn’t want to hurt them, not really.
But this Alpha?
Rodrick Banner was a monster—one who’d tried to come for Knox…
It’s what made this so perfect.
I could do this, and it wasn’t even wrong.
“You took my Alpha away,” I whispered, as his scent of cheap leather soured with fear. There was a happy hum in my chest as I took my time, a trance taking over me, helping me forget that at any moment someone could come in and stop me.
Wouldn’t happen…
Not when everything was so right .
I wasn’t sure how long had passed before his shuddering groans turned into words I understood.
“H-help… p-please.”
I giggled.
Where did he think he was?
“No, silly,” I whispered, patting him on the forehead. “You said you wanted to spend some quality time together.”
The stupid Alpha shuddered, another desperate groan slipping from his chest. His breathing was thick and wet.
I peered across at his chest, which was well decorated. I pried back his shirt, seeing one of the wounds I’d made…
Pretty deep, Bunny. Probably ? —
Oh.
Yup.
With the next seizing cough, thick blood oozed from the corner of his lips.
That’s okay.
This one doesn’t need to last that long. Just a bit more, then we can sneak back out and find the others…
My god Alpha was gonna be so fucking proud when he found out.
I hummed happily, flipping the knife in my grip and setting back to work. There was a big ol’ bleeder down by the thigh. It was thick and strange to squish, and I always loved to see if I could get to it without blowing the whole vascular system wide open.
Good thing Ace took you from me, Bunny. You’d just get all mucky in here.
I trailed the knife down to his chest, pressing it in right below his belly button.
I poked his fist, peeling it open to a flat palm where I pressed my fingers to his, seeing the difference in size.
“You’re shaking...”
My back still ached from when he’d thrown me into the wall.
“What were you gonna do in here?” I asked, cocking my head and looking back up. “You dragged me all the way in so we could have special time together.” The knife slipped lower, pressing hard enough to pierce the skin of his muscles. “Bella said you dreamed about me. Is this what it was like?”
The sour tang of leather mixed with the scent of piss.
Uh.
Ew.
Well, that’s one hell of a defence mechanism, Bunny.