45. Ava
Blood drips down my lips and over my chin, and my throat tenses like I’m breathing through a straw. Pike glares at me from across the dimly lit room, his fingers itching to get in another punch, but Julia wants to keep me alive.
The past few minutes have felt like hours, but I know Jaxon should be here any second. He won’t let me down—not after his declaration. But by the looks of these five evil wolves, I fear he won’t make it out either. What if he comes alone and she hurts him? I didn’t want him to get into this—not when I can take the fall.
Julia releases a long sigh at the ceiling. “How long does it take?”
I pray he’s making a plan, stalling. He wouldn’t be careless about this situation; he”d think it through like a headstrong Alpha. I know he cares about my safety, but if he makes one mistake it could cost us both our lives.
There is a warmth in my brain, wrapping around my aching nerves in a soothing motion. I smile down at the ground, trying to conceal it before Julia sees. Jaxon can feel my pain, and he’s taking it away. He’s silently reminding me he’s here, and I’m not alone. Tears swim in my eyes, but it’s not from what I’ve endured; it’s from knowing our bond is strong enough to coax me through this nightmare.
“Why don’t we see if we can make her cry again?” Pike flashes another devilish grin.
Julia rolls her eyes and swats her hand into his broad chest. “No. Stop getting ahead of yourself. This is my plan. No one else’s. Don’t ruin it before it’s even begun. What did I promise you all?”
My gaze follows Pike’s as his shoulders dip and he nods. “I remember.”
She walks towards me in long, purposeful strides before I look up at her through my blackened eyes and blood-smeared face. My pain is numbed, but that’s because Jaxon is here with me mentally.
“I wonder,” she slides her sharp nail over her lips, “how much would it take to break you? If you survived Lucien, then your fight must be better than I imagined.”
My eye twitches at the mention of his name. Julia’s face brightens, and I despise myself for reacting. “Oh…” She trails off. “Is that a trigger for you? Lucien?”
“No,” I spit.
“What did they do to you? Hmm, poor little Ava. I knew exactly what that man was capable of, and I directed you straight to him. It’s amazing what a little magic can cause.”
My nostrils flare at the tone of her imperious voice. “They taught me to build resilience against people like you.”
Julia releases a loud laugh. “Did you build resilience when they raped and abused you?”
“Shut up,” I hiss through my teeth.
That word. That word.
My stomach gurgles, and I press a hand to my neck to keep the bile back.
She sinks down to my level again and gives me a once-over. “Did they ravish you, Ava? Did they make you scream and cry? Did they make you wish you were dead?”
I ball my hands into fists that are bound to the chains. “Fuck you, Julia.”
“Oh, I hit a little nerve.” She wipes her hand over her blonde hair. “Do they still haunt your dreams? I bet you can’t get away from them, no matter how hard you try, because you’ll always be nothing but a useless, pathetic fuck doll.”
My jaw clamps down as darkness clouds my mind. I’m fuelled by deep hatred and fire that roars in my soul. “I’m not pathetic,” I seethe. “I’m not useless.”
“No? You haven’t stopped to think that Jaxon needs a Luna that is strong and powerful. You are neither of those things, and you’re kidding yourself if you believe he’s going to stick around for you. He’s in the honeymoon phase, and it’ll wear off.” She releases a morbid sigh. “Once the bond settles and he realises you have nothing of worth to bring to the pack, the relationship, or his life, he’ll drop you faster than you can blink.”
A heaviness sits on my chest. “You’re lying,” I snarl, my voice ten notches deeper than it usually is. “You’re trying to fuck with my head. I’m not falling for your manipulation.”
“Mmm, am I?” She slides her lips together. “Do you know what Jaxon used to tell me?”
My throat releases a growl that comes out of nowhere. I don’t shake my head or speak. She’s going to tell me anyway, and I have no choice but to listen.
“He told me I am the love of his life.” She claps a hand over her heart and wipes away fake tears. “He told me I am the most beautiful girl he’s ever laid his eyes on. He told me that nothing and no one could replace me—no matter who came after me, they’d never compare.”
I attempt to calm my shaking body, but I can’t. I’m trembling all over in red-hot rage. My eyes flick down to her throat, and I want to rip it out and tear off her head. Then, I’ll cut open her stomach and empty out her insides until her intestines are splattered everywhere.
“That I have the most perfect body, perfect lips, perfect face,” she carries on, and my vision becomes blurry and unfocused. “That the sex we have is out of this world. That he lovesthe way I taste. That he loves to make love to me.”
My mouth opens to release a scream in her face, but she only snickers in response. The blood inside me turns to lava, and my fingernails begin to claw at the ground in desperation. It takes over my body with anguish. It’s electrifying and foreign all at once.
“Look how upset you’re getting.” She stares back at me with wild eyes. “Don’t like hearing that I am the best he’ll ever have? You’re nothing but a side piece he has to entertain, otherwise, the bond will actually kill him.”
“Fuck you,” I yell. “Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you.”
A wheeze falls from my throat. It’s rough and husky. My body doesn’t feel like mine—every instinct I have makes me want to act out of character. Julia stands and turns her back on me, peering over her shoulder with a slick smirk.
“The second he gets here,” she sways her hips, “is the second I destroy everything in his pathetic little life.”
A noise I never knew I could make escapes my throat. My spine straightens at the same time my neck snaps in a fashion that makes my eyes water and a scream erupt into the room. The chains from my wrist burst open as my arms bend and crack in positions I had no idea was possible.
The deep-rooted pain in my veins is almost unbearable. I can’t see. I can’t breathe. My throat aches from how loud I screech as my body warps and moves, and I’m left trying to catch up because my head is reeling.
My ears prick, and I hear, “Oh my Goddess.” It’s sharp against my eardrums. The vibrations make me wince at the heightened sensation.
I tilt my gaze down, and I’m met with paper-white paws. My eyes widen in fear and surprise. No. I must be dead. For real this time. I must be.
“Holy shit,” Pike’s voice is so loud I almost cower.
I raise my head in the air to find my back bending in an arch. My senses intensify; I can smell everything. The body odour from Pike’s damp armpit stains, the sweet perfume on Julia’s neck, and the murderous blood in my veins.
My claws spread against the floor, and I launch myself at Julia. The first instinct that takes over my new form is to attack. I don’t know how to use this body, but I let it guide the way.
Pike pushes her out of reach, and I open my jaw to take a bite of whatever falls between my teeth. I clamp down on his shoulder as he attempts to push me off, and his blood swarms my mouth. It’s a foul, bitter taste that invades my tongue, but it’s the least of my worries when I hear his agonising screams. With all the strength I can gather, I tear his shoulder from his body without hesitation.
The two men shift into their wolves, while the other attempts to protect Julia. She’s my target, but I’ll take them all out. They will pay. They will see the wrath of my wolf and her years of suffering.
A growl vibrates through my nose as I stare back at the two dark brown wolves. I don’t think. I attack. The adrenaline that pumps through my body encourages me to do what will keep me alive. Yet, there isn’t a guilty bone in my body. I’m ready for the consequences, though not a single one has crossed my mind.
I’m not thinking logically; I’m thinking on impulse.
They both run towards me, paws grinding against the floor. I swerve out of the way at the last second but extend my front leg, claws flying from the tips of my paws. When I turn around, I swipe at the wolf closest to me, dragging my paw down his hind leg. Blood trickles down his fur towards his feet.
Their growls are vicious, but I act quick on my feet, ignoring their attempt at intimidation. I lunge forward to attack him again. I aim for the neck. One bite and his veins are spread across the floor with blood squirting in every direction. He stumbles back, but I’m already onto the next.
His jaw snaps in my direction, his teeth sinking into my side. I howl at the sharp twinge but kick him off with my legs. His body flies across the room. My bones sting from being in this form for the first time. I twist on my paws and dart towards him, despite my convulsing joints screaming at me for a break.
I let my canines do the damage. Blood drips everywhere, and I’m swarmed with the taste of copper. I rip and pull at his flesh, tearing his organs out one by one until there is nothing left and he takes his final breath.
My head glances around to find the three dead bodies, but I find Julia shortly after. She shoves the guy forward, and his clothes begin to rip as he shifts.
My snout twitches. Once I’ve taken him out, I’ll have her all to myself.
He races towards me, but I meet him halfway. There isn’t a single part of my mind that feels sane. My veins are overflowing with a desire for revenge, for blood, for their pain.
I’m so damn close.
We clash together and struggle on the floor. I try to press down on my legs, but his claws slip down my ribs. A pang of tenderness makes me howl. I move my paw and aim it towards his cheek, ripping off the flesh on his face with my sharp claws. My back scrapes against the uneven floor, and I kick my legs as hard as possible. He yelps when I wind him, knocking him onto his side.
My claws swipe and slash his face and neck until his eyes glass over with his expected fate. I keep going, even when his body lays still, trying to maintain the build-up of craze in my body. I step back and turn towards Julia, her perfume stronger than the stench of their rich blood.
I don’t have time to blink. She’s right behind me. Before I can claw her eyes out, she shoves her hand towards me. My gaze barely notices the reflection of the large knife in her hand. She plunges it deep in my abdomen.
Everything freezes for a long moment. The look on Julia’s face is victorious. She releases the knife that’s still deep inside me, and I stumble back. I hear my bones snap, but I’m desensitised to everything except my stomach.
My head rocks against the floor, and I groan, blood seeping out of my mouth. I shiver when I glance to find my bare human arm against the cold ground. Julia stands over me with pure hatred in her eyes.
“I wanted to wait for Jaxon,” she huffs, sticking her tongue into her lip. “But I guess this will have to do. It’ll still destroy him. You might be a wolf, but you’re not strong enough to tear me down, too.”
I raise my shaky hands to my wound and wince when she grabs onto the handle again. I stare at her as she shoves it deeper and twists. My throat closes around the blood flowing up my windpipe.
There is an urgent tapping against my head. Jaxon is trying to get in. But the torment my body has endured shut off our connection. My lips tremble, tears finally escaping my eyes. Julia bends down and smears her thumb across my cheek. “Poor baby,” she pouts. “I can’t wait to watch the light leave your eyes…and his, too.”
My body wants to let go, but I force my mind to keep fighting. Jaxon will be here soon. I know it. Even if his face is the last I see, it’ll be a sendoff worth waiting for.