Chapter 31
Ican’t believe my ears.
Bursting through the thick overgrowth and into the clearing that has filled my dreams for the last seventeen years, I shout, “NO!”
The words come out as a strangled sob, the details of Tyson’s deal with my former alpha ripping my heart to pieces.
Tyson whirls around, features harsh; those red eyes that I was starting to find warm and charming look vicious. Stumbling to a halt, I shrink back; it’s not my Tyson staring at me with eyes narrowed, ready to attack.
It’s a version of him straight from anyone’s worst nightmares.
Instantly, his expression changes to one of guilt. Completely stunned by my unexpected arrival, he looks me over quickly. Weston emerges from the shadows behind me and shoves me forward with a chuckle. Tyson rolls his shoulders and clenches his fists, trying to regain control while he looks at Weston with a hatred that could make blood run cold.
“You were supposed to stay inside.”
Meant for me, his words are harsh, spoken through gritting teeth, and I bristle at the reproach. It’s not like I went outside to pick daisies. Before I can answer, Weston places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a hard squeeze, his finger digging painfully into my flesh, and making me squirm to get away. I can sense his amusement as Tyson’s eyes flash red in the darkness.
“In an unexpected turn of events, it appears your guard dog came from my pack. We had a pup go missing ten years ago, after a pack member made an ill-thought-out bargain with the witches. I’d love to know how he ended up living with bloodsuckers, but that’s for another day.”
When Wilson edges closer, eager to get a look at the woman he’s been so eager to find, Weston brushes my hair back from my shoulder, revealing my fresh mark. Tyson’s growl becomes deadly as Weston’s hand skims over the raised, still-red skin. “Your precious mate here swapped places with him. Very brave indeed.”
The tendons in Tyson’s jaw twitch, the only sign he heard what Weston said. Refusing to give him the reaction he clearly wants, Tyson’s half-shifted form remains perfectly still.
“Mates!” Wilson looks between us with a look of disgust on his face, but it’s quickly followed by glee. “This abomination has a mate? And it’s her? Oh, this is just perfect.”
Tyson’s gaze darts to me, and I can see the fear and misery there.
This is not good.
“Mandy here promised to tell where her son is, but only if she could tell you herself.” Weston narrows his eyes at Wilson, then gives me another hard push in the back. “I’ve held up my side of the bargain, you can take it from here.”
Everything else around us melts away, the warriors, the memories of Lee catching me here, and Tyson coming to the rescue, the two alpha’s bickering over whether Weston’s debt is cleared. He was told to bring me here if he wants his secrets kept, and he’s done it. They fade into the background until it’s just Tyson and me, gazes locked, my heart breaking apart at the idea he could betray me like this.
“Don’t tell him,” I whisper, shaking my head, pleading with Tyson to ignore every instinct inside him telling him to do whatever it takes to keep me alive. “Don’t. You cannot give Noah to this man. I’d prefer to die myself.”
Tyson glances around, torn, his anguish palpable. The six enforcers standing in a semi-circle at Wilson’s back watch Tyson warily, ready to do their alpha’s bidding, but more than aware that the creature before them is not going to be easy to take down. If he attacks, at least a few of them won’t make it home tonight.
“It won’t take us long to figure it out anyway.” Weston steps closer to my back. “How about you make this easier on everyone, and just tell us now? Then you can take her home and get on with your lives.” He rests a clawed hand on my neck. “Or I’ll slit her throat. Your choice.”
Shaking my head, I plead with Tyson to listen to reason. “They’ll kill us no matter what. You know they will!”
He growls at the sight of Weston’s hand near my throat, not listening to my words.
“I’ll never forgive you, Tyson. Never.”
Tyson blinks, his clever mind spinning. I can see by his body language that he’s not sure what to do, even though I’m telling him. His wolf’s instinct is to keep me safe at all costs and worry about everything else later. But there will be no later if he does this.
“Please,” I whisper, voice cracking.
Tyson’s eyes glaze over. Looking away, he stares at the ground, jaw clenched, sorrow pouring off him in waves. Closing his eyes, he starts to speak, stops, mutters a curse, then shatters my heart.
“Grey Ridge. He’s at Rex Jones’ camp.”
His voice is quiet, but in the eerie stillness of the forest, nobody misses a word. Through the tears welling in my eyes, I stare at him in disbelief. This man is a monster. A monster that I let mark me. I gave myself up to save Seth, and he’s just handed Noah over like it was nothing.
“How could you?” I fall to my knees in the dirt, a gut-wrenching sob building up inside me as I watch Wilson, with a mere click of his fingers, send three of his warriors to track him down.
Tyson stares blankly at me, like he can’t fathom himself what he’s just done.
“Why, Tyson? They’re still going to kill me. The only thing I ever wanted was to keep Noah safe.”
Climbing awkwardly to my feet, I run at Tyson, rage fuelling me as I hit him as hard as I can, pounding his chest, over and over again, as fear floods my body with adrenaline. He lets me, making no effort to defend himself from my blows. As I tire, I wilt, slumping against him, still whacking his chest, but softer as grief washes over me.
I’ve lost my mate before I had him, because there’s no coming back from this.
Big, fat tears flow freely down my face as I cry against him, gut-wrenching sobs racking my body. The last sixteen years on the run were for nothing. My own stupid desire to live a normal life within a pack, to have a happy mating, got us caught.
“Shh, Mandy. It’s going to be okay.” Tyson’s voice soothes me, my body taking comfort from being close to him. In itself, that just makes me furious. He’s my mate. He should be protecting me, us. When his hand brushes against my hair, I flinch.
“No! Don’t you dare touch me!” I shout, pushing away from him, hands balled into fists at my side. “It’s not going to be okay. I hate you.” Turning to Wilson, I swipe at my tears with my filthy hands and lift my chin defiantly. “Take me with you to get him. If you’re bringing Noah back to the pack, take me with you, and let me say goodbye before you kill me. Noah will come willingly if you have me.”
Wilson’s twisted smile tells me he likes the idea of torturing both me and Noah with an emotional goodbye. Maybe it would be kinder to Noah to have Wilson kill me now so he won’t have to witness it, but I need to see him. To apologise and make sure he knows it’s not his fault.
“As you wish.” Wilson steps back and gestures for me to lead the way. I ran here once, terrified I wouldn’t get away. Never did I think I’d voluntarily go back. Except it’s no longer home. Tyson was my new home, but now I can’t even bear to look at him. I keep my head down as I pass, feeling like a broken woman.
At least I know Blake won’t rest until he works out what happened to us. We’re part of his family, and he looks after those under his leadership. Blake and Tyson may have their differences, but Blake understands the mate bond. Tyson would never kill me. The truth will come out eventually, and Blake will get Noah back. Matt and Max and Raiden will take him in, and he’ll have a good life. Even if it is without me.
“Mandy…” Tyson pleads, his hand flashing out to grab my wrist. “Look at me. Please.”
I know what’s going to happen as soon as I walk away, leaving Tyson with Weston and Wilson’s three remaining warriors. He’s going to meet the same fate as me. Weston is a far stronger male than Wilson, still in his prime, and he can’t allow Tyson to live knowing what he does about Jenna.
“I can’t believe you did this…” I let the hurt shine in my eyes as I face him, squaring my shoulders and standing tall, pretending to have more courage than I feel. “We could have run. Or you could have brought me here…”
Looking around at the warriors, that wasn’t realistically an option, either.
My brain sputters out, unable to see any scenario where we didn’t end up here at some point: both dead.
“I am yours Mandy. And Noah’s. I would never hurt you.”
Is he for real? He couldn’t have hurt me more if he’d tried. It’s not his fault Weston captured me, but he should know a mother would gladly die to keep her child safe.
“I love you,” he whispers, and my hard heart cracks a little, because he means it. Even if he has a fucked-up way of showing it.
Maybe this was always meant to be brief, a quick spark of happiness before we both left this earth. Smiling, I squeeze his hand once and let go. “Goodbye, Tyson.”
Tyson growls, eyes wild, his gaze suddenly locking onto mine, and his expression morphing into one of perfect calm.
“Listen.”
That’s it? That’s all he has to say?
I frown at him, wondering what he’s waiting for. The switch in his demeanour has me paying attention, though, so I do tune in to the noises around us. Or rather, to the deafening silence.
I can’t even hear the three warriors who trekked off in search of Noah. There’s nothing but the deathly quiet of a forest that’s holding its breath, waiting to see what happens.
My heart leaps when Tyson nods, lips pressed firmly together, no sign of any emotion on his face. It’s such a tiny movement, but I know what it means: get ready. Through our fragile bond, I feel his composed confidence.
He has a plan. This is all part of a plan.
“Let’s go,” Wilson snaps, yanking my arm and pulling me away.
Growling at him, my anger builds, ready to attack as soon as the opportunity presents itself. I’ll need the element of surprise, but it’s amazing how dangerous an angry mother can become. And this man has really pissed me off.
The wind picks up, leaves rustling in the trees, making it hard to hear or scent anything. All seven of us turn in circles, looking into the surrounding forest to see what’s going on.
Just as suddenly, the wind dies again, and a loud snap to one side has us all pivoting to see what it is.
Gasping, I press a hand to my chest as I see the one person who can help us. Tyson nods, like he’s right on time.
“I think you should stay right where you are.”