Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Two Days Later
Time felt like it didn’t exist as the sun washed over me, scorching the top of my head from dawn to dusk There was no sleep for me as I stood in the dark.
Honestly, the blackness around me didn’t feel so comforting.
“God, if you give me another day, I won’t waste it,” I prayed.
Asking him relentlessly to forgive me of my hardened heart.
I’ve had everything I’ve ever wanted right in front of me, and I’ve done nothing but push it away.
The sun creeps gradually into the sky light, illuminating the warehouse with a soft orange glow.
A peaceful aura surrounds our cell. My body doesn’t recognize it though.
My knees tremble beneath me, threatening to buckle after two days of being forced upright.
Every muscle quivers from exhaustion, my legs locking and unlocking for blood flow.
The edges of the room blur, drifting in and out of focus.
Shadows linger where there aren’t any, and for a fleeting second, I swear I hear my mother humming somewhere beyond the walls.
I blink hard. Nothing. Delusion is beginning to feel more comforting than reality.
Suddenly, the door screeches open, the sound screaming for me to run. But I can’t. Boots march my way. A lot of them. Greer’s in the lead, her grin sharp and eager. Right on time. Jett follows closely behind her, his head dipped low and eyes cast to the floor. “Rise and shine!” Greer chirps.
Kova is already on her feet in a flash, immediately attacking the bars.
Her snarls and lashes are vicious. Greer’s nose is still stinted, her bruised face now colored a deep blue and purple.
The rest of the B.A.I.T men flow in, entering through a side door to a different wing of the warehouse.
It looks like the entire B.A.I.T agency.
Vincent and Johnathan take their time hanging back, watching like this is their theater.
“To what do I owe this early pleasure,” I ask hoarsely, my spine cracking as I straighten.
“Your file closes today, Florence,” Greer pauses tapping a finger to her lip. “I’d say rest in peace, but you’ve never done that well, have you?” Her laugh echoes, causing my toes to curl.
I fake a yawn, stretching my arms as far as my restraints allow. “Good. I was getting tired of waiting.” I sneak a quick look at Jett, but he won’t meet my eyes.
“Is it too cliché to ask for any last words?” Greer asks, clasping her hands together. She looks shamelessly around to the men surrounding her.
No denials.
“Go, now.” She barks, dismissing the agency. They leave in a blur, returning to their posts elsewhere. Vincent jerks his head to two members. The men say nothing as they hang back, flanking behind Greer. She gestures for me to speak.
I look at Jett. My Greyline member stands solid, peering at me beneath his brows.
“Bury me shallow,” I mutter to him.
Greer scoffs as my gaze settles onto her. “It never had to come to this,” I say evenly.
The room falls silent, the men exchanging confused glances, including Jett.
Greer’s cheeks pale, but she shakes her head, clearing her ears of my voice and looks over to Vincent. “Get on with it,” he commands.
The two men shoulder themselves to the front and unlock the cage gate. The chains rattle around me softly as they approach. Neither one looks eager to be here. Almost sick to their stomachs. Clearly this isn’t their first time witnessing a wolf maul a human to death.
One of them stops in front of me, as the other circles behind.
I remain perfectly still, despite myself.
The way a loaded gun stills before erupting.
My pulse hammers beneath the collar. The first man crouches carefully and reaches for the shackles securing my wrists to the bars.
The metal clicks. The restraints fall away, revealing my swollen wrists.
Raw, purple, and bruised. I shiver slightly as blood rushes back into my hands with pins and needles shooting through my fingertips.
I flex them slowly. The man behind me swallows.
I hear it. The collar shifts as he reaches for the buckle hidden beneath my hair.
Every muscle in my body locks, my nerves seizing tightly.
His fingers fumble as he struggles with the leather strap.
The chains rattle once. Then— Click. The pressure disappears.
The sudden absence nearly knocks the breath from my lungs.
The men step backward immediately as I collapse to my knees, fighting the urge not to reach for my throat.
The chains still hold tight overhead. I lift my chin, watching the collar sway above me.
Rich black leather now worn smoothly on the inside dangles mockingly with blood caked around the edges.
The men step wide around me as they scamper for the exit. I bare my teeth, then lunge. The snap of my jaws echo through the warehouse. The younger man yelps and bolts through the open cage gate. I laugh, shaking my head.
Greer’s smile stretches wider. Exactly what she wants. Exactly what she thinks she’s created. I sink, falling onto my butt and plant my hands onto the cold concrete as the cage slams shut, inhaling in as much free air as I can.
Greer wastes no time, as if I’m still a threat behind these bars and flips open a plastic case against the wall, pressing her palm onto a black nob.
The barrier between Kova and I begins to shake, rust and debris floating into the air as the bars rise.
Kova frantically stumbles backward, her paws sliding against the floor for traction.
Foam drips as her lips curl back into a snarl.
I lower myself, crossing my legs, and fold my hands gently in my lap.
I blink, glancing at Jett. A bead of sweat slips from his forehead as his hand discreetly glides to the holster on his hip. I barely my head. No.
The warehouse pauses with me. I’ve faced death before, but never like this.
I’ve always said it would be God or these wolves; I’m sticking to that.
Kova’s growls vibrate my teeth as Greer steps back beside Vincent, their faces eager for my blood.
The snarling nears, the wolf’s nails slowly clicking as she inches forward warily examining the now open area.
Her snout twitches as she takes in my scent.
Hot breath hits my face, and I swallow dryly.
I will not give them the satisfaction of my fear.
I wound my eyes shut and lift my chin exposing my throat, hoping she’ll go right for it.
A wet sensation flows over my fingers; I crack an eye open.
Kova’s massive head is lowered, her eyes locked on mine.
She darts her tongue out once more across my skin; the same way I tasted the water from the Styrofoam cup.
Kova presses her head to my knee gently, before turning her focus to our audience.
I follow her gaze and flinch at the expression on Greer’s face, her porcelain skin now sizzling red.
Jett releases a shaky breath, his hand hovering over the Glock at his side.
“Animals don’t bite the hand that feeds them,” I mutter. Greer sneers, her nostrils flaring. I turn to her, my lips curling into a brutal smile. “But I do.”
Vincent roars, the sound echoing brutal and ugly.
Jett withdrawals his gun, slamming the end of the barrel to Jonathan’s temple, his other hand darting to the burly man’s belt, disarming him of his pistol.
Two shots echo through the warehouse as the B.A.I.T members behind drop to the floor.
One barrel now presses to Greer’s temple, and the other hovers steadily aimed at Vincent’s chest.
“Open the gate. Now,” Jett demands.
Vincent shakes furiously, his eyes zeroed in on mine.
Greer steps stiffly up to the gate, obeying.
The iron whines open. Kova doesn’t charge.
Every muscle rolls beneath her gray fur as she slowly straightens to her full height, towering with a quiet, terrifying purpose.
Her hackles lift in a jagged ridge from her neck to the base of her tail.
A low growl vibrates through the warehouse floor, building into a savage snarl that bares every ivory fang.
Her golden eyes lock in on Greer. One deliberate step after another toward the open gate. Toward freedom.
Greer’s bravado evaporates. Her breathing fractures as she instinctively stumbles a step backward. Jett’s hand shoots out, shoving her hard between her shoulder blades. “Move.”
Greer pitches forward, catching herself on her trembling hands and knees.
A broken sob escapes her as tears begin to splatter onto the concrete.
She doesn’t dare look up. Kova closes the distance with measured, predatory steps, her snarls growing deeper with every inch.
There is no hesitation in her gaze— only the unmistakable promise of retribution.
Then, the wolf explodes forward, jaws wide and locked as they close onto Greer’s head.
Screams explode. I jump to my feet and bolt out, charging Vincent. Jett repositions to the B.A.I.T leader, his finger tightening on the trigger. Behind him, Jonathon moans, rising slowly to his feet.
“No!” I scream, turning back to Vincent. “It’s you and me.”
We crash together, his cane driving into my ribcage.
I slam my forehead into his nose, jabbing my knee repeatedly into his abdomen.
He answers with a brutal hook that grazes my cheekbone.
Pain blooms white behind my eyes, but I welcome it.
I pivot inside his reach and bury my knee into his ribs.
Something cracks beneath the impact and Vincent grunts, stumbling backward.