Chapter 6 #3
I exhaled loudly, trying to make sense of the impossible turn of events that fate had just thrown at us. Edward stared at me, expression tight, intense, almost angry, yet there was also a guarded, reluctant respect simmering beneath the surface.
“We’ve just been handed the most dangerous complication imaginable,” Edward growled. “Three wolves, one mate, who clearly doesn’t want anything to do with us. And who just tried, with alarming skill, to kill all three of us.”
Jamie gave a humorless laugh, running one hand through his hair, his expression wary and tense. “If this isn’t a mess waiting to happen, I don’t know what is.”
My gaze locked onto the darkened space she’d vanished into, pulse still hammering unevenly, the possessive wolf inside me snarling with intense need.
Every instinct pushed me to follow, to hunt, to claim, but now, knowing Jamie and Edward felt the same undeniable connection, this changed everything.
Declan and Aidan approached from the far end of the alley, their eyes wary, alert, scanning for danger. Declan’s voice broke through the tense silence, low and cautious. “She got away?”
Edward released a tight breath, jaw set, gaze still locked with mine. “She did. But we’ll find her again.”
Aidan frowned deeply, noting the charged silence among us. “What’s going on?”
I exchanged quick looks with Jamie and Edward, knowing the truth was going to complicate everything we’d built between us. Still, we couldn’t hide from this.
“She’s our mate,” I finally said, voice rough with lingering disbelief. “Mine. Jamie’s. Edward’s. All three of us.”
Aidan’s eyes widened visibly, his surprise mirrored in Declan’s expression. Both wolves remained silent for a long moment, processing the revelation. Then Declan gave a low whistle, shaking his head slowly.
“Well,” Declan said dryly, mouth curving into a wry half-smile. “This just got a hell of a lot more interesting.”
Edward met my gaze again, resignation mixing with the determination in his eyes.
“Interesting doesn’t even begin to cover it,” he said tightly.
“We can’t let her get away,” I swore and the two of them nodded in agreement.
“Then let’s go get her,” Jamie said gruffly.
Edward took the lead. Jamie moved alongside me, quick and agile. Declan and Aidan flanked us closely, their presence reassuring.
Ahead, the narrow alley widened slightly into a courtyard cluttered with discarded crates and broken glass, and garbage piled high in shadowed heaps. Edward slowed briefly, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Watch your footing,” he warned, scanning the ground cautiously. “This place feels off.”
I barely registered his words before a sickening metallic snap echoed through the night.
Aidan let out a strangled howl of agony, stumbling sharply, body jerking to a brutal halt.
My heart lurched violently as we spun to see him trapped, the massive steel jaws of a bear trap hidden beneath flattened cardboard and garbage clamped viciously around his lower leg.
Blood streamed from the wound, staining his skin crimson.
“Aidan!” Declan shouted, moving quickly to his side. Edward cursed, eyes blazing with furious realization. She had planned this, anticipated us. Our mate was clever and ruthless. Fierce pride warred with intense frustration inside me.
Declan and Edward knelt rapidly, trying to pry the trap open, but it refused to yield.
Then Aidan growled, grimacing in agony. Grabbing the metal jaws with raw, brute strength, he roared with effort, muscles corded and straining, forcing the rusted steel open inch by agonizing inch.
He freed himself with a loud curse, staggering back and collapsing heavily against a crate.
“Go!” Aidan rasped, pale and shaken, blood dripping down his leg. “She can’t be far—go after her!”
Declan glanced at me briefly, and we exchanged a nod before racing forward again. Aidan’s snarl of pain followed behind us. She’d pay for hurting one of my own.
We followed swiftly, Edward’s keen gaze tracking her expertly. Ahead, I caught a glimpse of her sleek form slipping around a corner. We surged forward, closing the gap. Just as we rounded the turn, she spun out suddenly, blade flashing through the shadows, slashing violently.
Declan’s howl of pain pierced through me. He stumbled backwards, hand pressed against his side, blood seeping rapidly through his fingers. She’d sliced deeply, efficiently, before darting back into the darkness.
Declan dropped roughly to one knee, face pale with pain. “Damn it!” he cursed, eyes flashing angrily. “She got me good.”
Edward stopped beside him, assessing quickly. His jaw tightened sharply. “You can’t keep going like this. You’re losing too much blood.”
Declan shook his head sharply. “I’ll be fine. Go!”
Edward hesitated, frustration flickering across his expression. I stepped forward, meeting his gaze with ferocity.
“We have to move now, or we’ll lose her for good,” I growled, my instincts driving me harder with every second. “Declan, stay with Aidan. We’ll come back for you.”
Declan grimaced, nodding reluctantly as we took off again, the chase narrowing once more to three: Jamie, Edward, and me. Determination surged white-hot through my veins. This woman—our mate—had wounded two of ours, and every instinct within me demanded she answer for it.
The chase stretched interminably, each street and alley becoming a blur of shadow and sound, her scent leading us forward like a guiding flame.
She leapt fences and scaled rooftops with stunning ease, effortlessly evading our attempts to corner her.
Each near miss only fueled the fierce determination burning inside me.
Edward growled, frustration radiating from him. “She’s good. Ridiculously good. Her expertise is off the charts.”
Jamie breathed heavily beside us. “Aye, she’s a damn force to be reckoned with.”
We rounded another corner, finally catching sight of her again.
She spun, eyes narrowing dangerously, knife raised in a silent threat, daring us to come closer.
Her chest heaved, breath steaming faintly in the night air, fierce and defiant as ever.
The wolf within me howled desperately at the sight.
I took a step forward, fists clenched, breathing ragged. “Enough!” I snarled, voice echoing harshly through the empty streets. “This ends now. You belong to us—stop running.”
Her vivid blue eyes flashed with challenge and anger. “I belong to no one, wolf,” she spat. “Least of all you.”
Then she bolted again, slipping swiftly through a narrow gap between buildings.
Edward cursed under his breath, frustration clear in his voice as he raced after her. Jamie lunged forward, matching Edward’s speed, but she moved faster, like smoke slipping through our grasp.
I followed, pulse thundering furiously in my ears, anger mixing with the raw desperation that surged ferociously within me. My mate needed to learn her place.
And I was going to be the one to teach it to her.