CHAPTER THIRTEEN
– KAREV –
“Shouldn’t we follow them? Help out with Levan?” Lea asks.
I glare at her father and sister when I grunt, “No. My brothers will handle it while we settle the shit with your family. They were the ones who didn’t make sure they weren’t followed and led the fucker right to the clubhouse.
Drexel killed Zara and put Levan’s life in the balance along with it, and it’s their fucking fault. ”
“Now wait just a goddamned minute,” her father snarls. “Who the fuck do you think you’re throwing accusations at?”
Stepping closer to the asshole, I grit, “You, motherfucker. I’m blaming you and your egocentric drama queen of a cunt daughter.”
Alora steps in front of her father and with it goes toe-to-toe with me when she states, “Oh, you must mean my baby sister since she’s the egocentric...”
I have the cunt by the throat the next second. Opening my mouth, I can feel the heat of the furious flames inside my throat.
“Karev?” Lea’s voice is the only sound pulling on my brain like a beacon in this fury-filled fog I’m caught up in.
A grunt of acknowledgement vibrates through my chest, and at the same time I feel her touch on my wrist.
“Sevrin is not here to help if you set fire to the clubhouse. I’m pretty sure your club brothers will be super pissed to discover you burned down the clubhouse when they come back. So, let’s keep the fire-breathing to a minimum inside when Sevrin’s not here to...”
Cassia steps out of the hallway with a baby monitor in her hand and cuts Lea off, “I’m here if you need water containment. So, go ahead. I got your back, VP.”
Her voice holds the anger in her eyes and it’s then I realize Zara was her friend as Sevrin said before he left. It’s probably the reason why Levan met her. Why else would a shark shifter and a dolphin shifter hook up?
I give Cassia’s statement force by letting a puff of red smoke billow from my nostrils. Alora finally has the sense to look afraid. Being an immortal might mean you have the power to heal and death will be final only when your head is chopped off...but I’m the motherfucking loophole here.
Alpha hellhounds used to exist to guard the underworld; preventing the dead from escaping and the living from entering. We breathe the fires of hell and it’s capable of consuming the souls of the dead and undead. Meaning the fire from within us can kill any-fucking-one. Dust to dust, gone forever.
Which we all just witnessed in the parking lot when Drexel killed Zara.
When Levan bit off one of the heads its breath must have scorched his insides.
Fuck, I do hope shifting kicks in regeneration.
Triton was right with his premonition that something was going to happen.
He wasn’t able to save Zara, but whatever the man did by winging it?
I hope it worked as a backup plan to save Levan.
Focusing back on the here and now, I drop my hand and give Alora a glare while I address her father.
“You two might have caused all this shit, but as of now the Kings are taking over. That fucker killed on club grounds and took the life of a woman connected to the MC. Besides, why the ever-loving-fuck haven’t you managed to kill a low level hellhound if you have the ability to drain the strength of others?
Which is why you make sure your daughters never leave the house, right?
So you have a powerful weapon at your disposal at all times. ”
“Me and my sisters were all blocked of our powers when Drexel attacked. We couldn’t help our father,” Alora huffs.
I file this little piece of information away for later, because it supports my earlier assumption that Drexel is working with someone.
It’s also interesting to know Drexel specifically blocked their powers.
This time he either wasn’t prepared for shifters or the one who is working with him has limitations.
“Which is another reason for you guys to stay out of this.” I throw a glance over my shoulder. “Did you leave your other daughter in the car?”
I shake my head. All families have their own issues, but come the fuck on.
“Leave. Lock yourself up in your mighty castle and let the werewolf pack keep you safe.” Another detail I add to my mental list, and to clarify I ask, “Drexel never attacks when werewolves are near?”
“No, he fears them.” Calvania waves a hand in the direction of the front of the clubhouse. “Which is why I left my two men in the car with Annetta.”
Well, at least that’s something. Fucker. On the other hand...a hellhound being afraid of werewolves? What a load of crap. Another piece of information I save for later.
Firming my voice I state, “Like I said, go home and stay there. We’re taking over and until then you won’t interfere or reach out. Clearly you put everyone else at risk when you do.”
Alora steps forward, her voice and features seductive. “I can help.”
“You’ve done enough,” I bark and give the cunt a disgusted look.
I can feel the shift of power in the air before me. The stench of black smoke hits me as it starts to surround Alora.
Calvania snaps his fingers. “Alora, outside.” He turns to face me. “Your loyalty is appreciated.”
The fuck he just say?
“I’m not doing this to save your sleazy ass, motherfucker. I have no loyalty to you. This is personal, and the only damn reason me, and the club are stepping in. Now get the fuck out of my clubhouse before I send you to hell,” I snarl.
The fucker has the nerve to narrow his eyes and say, “Azalea, come. We’re all going home.”
Does he really think he has me on a leash because of his daughter? Taking her home means I’ll follow like a fucking dog?
The heat in my throat intensifies and I’m ready to send this fucker to hell when I hear my old lady firmly state, “My home is here, with my mate.”
Pure pride flows through my veins and a smirk tugs my lips. There’s nothing anyone can say due to the statement Lea just made. She’s mine, I’m hers; we belong together from here on out.
Calvania’s anger is written all over his face as he stomps out of the door, Alora walking out ahead of him. We watch as they get into the car and drive off.
“I have a feeling there’s more going on than Drexel getting dumped by Alora. She’s a hot head, and it’s clear Drexel has some serious mental issues, but somehow it doesn’t make sense,” Lea murmurs.
I turn to face her. “You’re right. And why wouldn’t he attack when the pack is protecting them? Hellhounds aren’t afraid of werewolves.”
Lea nods. “His two men were still in the car when Drexel attacked. They didn’t even so much as try to help.”
“We need to look into it. Shit. Triton might know what kind of demon is afraid of werewolves or has enough history with your family to make a long-term plan. Your father is afraid of something bigger, and it’s not just the Drexel issue.
” I rub a hand over my face. “I hope whatever Triton ‘winged’ helps save Levan’s life, even if it didn’t do shit to protect Zara. ”
“What? What do you mean?” She frowns.
Releasing a sigh, I explain, “Before this shit happened Triton came into church with a bag of lemon cookies for you as an apology. He swung by Zara’s place to get them; she owns a bakery.
Anyway, his reasons for swinging by the bakery were a little different because he had some kind of premonition or a ripple of warning bad shit was going to happen to Zara and Levan.
Since those two were going head-to-head, he didn’t exactly know what.
So, he couldn’t use his magic for a specific thing and winged it. ”
“Winged it. Magic. Winging magic?” Her eyes go wide. “That sounds dangerous because the chance of having it backfire is freaking huge. Wait. Magic. Witches and werewolves. I’ve read somewhere that witches use werewolf entrails in their potions and such.”
Her line of thought is brilliant. “Which means that if Drexel attacks werewolves they would know who’s working with him by smell. This could be why he didn’t attack your father after his first attempt to kill him.”
“Definitely. Though, it wouldn’t make sense unless he doesn’t want to expose the witch...or has some kind of deal to keep her out of it? Ugh. We need to know who is helping him,” Lea grumbles.
“Triton might be able to pick up on a trace of magic,” Cassia states, making me jolt.
How the hell did I forget she was near? Fuck. I’m so caught up with the shit going on and my old lady standing in front of me that I ignore my surroundings. Definitely not something I can afford right now.
Movement out the window snags my attention. “They’re back.”
They park in the parking lot and stomp inside, faces grim.
It’s Sevrin who speaks first, “We got him into the sea and once we were waist deep Levan partly shifted. The screams were fucked-up. He shifted back before fully shifting to his great white shark form. For a moment he did nothing, sinking to the bottom until he suddenly sped off and in the distance we saw him leap his massive form out of the water.”
“So, he’s okay?” Cassia asks.
The brothers stay still and it’s Triton who shrugs and says, “We won’t know until he comes back.
We can hardly search the whole damn sea for him.
On the other hand, his final shift was fluid and the jump out of the water was impressive enough to know he must have regained his strength.
It makes sense for a shark shifter to stay in the saltwater after suffering a major injury. So, yeah...I think he’ll be okay.”
At least that’s something. Although, I don’t think the fucker will be okay ever again once he realizes Zara is gone forever.