Chapter Forty-Seven
Vince yelled as he tossed me to the ground.
Morgan kicked me as soon as I hit the dirt, chunks of grass and twigs flying, the swift kick to my stomach sending me into a tree.
I yelped as my shoulder broke, along with a few ribs, but Vince just looked at me with surprise as a chunk of his face slowly knitted itself back together.
I looked at him through hooded eyes, but I watched with satisfaction as his cheek slowly rebuilt itself.
Blood poured from his left side of his face.
The lip hung loose, cut adrift from the portion of his cheek.
I ripped away. His teeth were visible, and the surprised look in his eyes made the slow healing a little easier to deal with.
Brandon looked at his father with wide eyes. “Are you okay?” He went to move closer, but that was the moment I spat out the hunk of meat I had in my mouth, as if his blood was poison.
Vince didn’t look away from me. I sat up and wretched, like I was going to vomit.
His blood and bits of flesh clung to the inside of my mouth.
Once it was clear, I sat, babying my one side that had the broken shoulder and ribs, then I looked at Vince.
I allowed the anger, the hatred I had for him to bubble up.
He watched me transform into a wolf who absolutely hated his existence, and as far as he was concerned, he had never even met me.
“Who are you?” His cheek finally knit itself together enough that he could speak without dislocating his jaw. I just sat and tilted my head. His eyes narrowed. “I don’t recognize your wolf or scent. You are on my land…who the fuck are you?”
I tilted my head the other way and let out a low growl.
I felt my shoulder and ribs heal, the snap audible around the clearing as the bones snapped into place, but I didn’t flinch.
The men, all of them. I watched the skin tighten around their eyes as I put weight on my leg and then settling back onto my haunches.
They thought I would shift and beg them to let me go. They had another thig coming. I waited. I watched. And when I see them vulnerable, I’ll strike. Rick watched with his arms crossed, face dead, but I could see a tiny flash of panic.
And he should be. I wasn’t expected to be back for a few days. How was I supposed to heal the kids up again by the end of the week? I felt worry bubble up, but I pushed it down. There was no way I would allow them to see that I was worried.
“Make her shift.” Brandon walked closer to me and reached out a hand towards me.
“Are you fucking stupid?” Vince went to pull him back, but I lunged.
He was quick, but I was quicker. I snapped my jaws, and Brandon screamed, blood pouring from his hand.
Vince pulled him back and turned him to face him.
Morgan and Rick turned to look, and both winced when they saw I took three of his fingers.
Brandon was screaming, holding up his hand and watching the blood pour down his arm.
Vince was holding his hand up and looking at the severed stumps.
“What the fuck were you thinking? We cornered her, and she already took off half my fucking face. Why would you try to fucking pet her like a fucking dog?” I watched Vince mutter a few words, and the blood stopped.
We all watched the fingers start to grow back, slow and painful.
Brandon dropped to his knees and vomited from the pain. “Stupid fucking whore.” The retching made the name calling amusing, and I allowed my smile through.
“Is she fucking smiling?” Morgan watched my face as I grinned wider.
“Who the fuck is this?” Rick’s question would remain unanswered.
“We will find out.” Vince walked closer and crouched a safe distance from me. “You think you are safe, girl, but you’re not. I can force your shift.”
I chuffed out a laugh and shook my head.
Vince’s eyes widened as Rick nearly screamed out a laugh.
“Did she just say you can’t force her to shift?
” I turned to look at him and I allowed my anger, my rage, to enter my eyes.
Because how fucking dare he. How dare he play the victim when he was one of the perpetrators?
He took a step back. “What the hell did I do?” He laughed, but I could tell it was forced.
“She looks like she fucking hates you, Ricky.” Morgan teased, and so I turned to him. I might be mad at Rick for putting me into this situation, but Morgan…Morgan I just want to kill. And for the very first time, I could allow him to see it.
“She looks like she is going to fucking kill you there, Morgan, and by the look in her eyes, she is going to enjoy every fucking minute of it.” Rick’s voice wavered as he stared between me and Morgan.
Morgan, stupid Morgan, just laughed. “I’ll take my fill once Rick is done with her…
if there is anything left.”I sat still. I knew I couldn’t run away without being caught, so I would sit, watch, and wait.
I was going to hold back on any magic use until I was somewhere else.
Since Rick said the forest was covered in magical traps, this was once I was out I would be safe.
I just needed to get out first.
Vince narrowed his eyes. “You aren’t going to come quietly, are you?
” I just settled on the ground. I wasn’t stupid, but I wasn’t going to just fall in line, either.
He chuckled and turned to Morgan. “Watch my son. Don’t let him get close to the wolf.
” Morgan nodded, but Vince was already turning away.
“Rick, come with me. You can carry me back here with our shit and the pup.” Rick’s eyes tightened again and then he nodded.
He smiled. “Yeah. Poor thing has to survive another week.”
He shifted and left the clearing while Morgan and Brandon glared at me. “Are you seriously still going after Amy’s mom?” Brandon sagged against a tree. “I mean, I get it. She’s hot. And the power of the women in that family is especially potent. But she will kill you if she figures it out first.”
Morgan nodded. “Hell yeah she will, but that is a part of it. Plus, we really need their money.”
“Why?” Brandon pushed off the tree. “Who cares if some lycans survived?” What the fuck did he just say?
Some of the Lycans survived… “Who gives a fuck about the first family? Why is he so obsessed with either of them?” Morgan sighed as he looked at me, but Brandon just laughed.
“Who the hell is she going to tell…she’s going to be dead soon enough.
” I laid down, unimpressed or worried about his words.
None of them actually scared me. “So tell me, you said once I was out of college, you would tell me. It’s been months and I’m still in the dark. ”
Morgan watched me for a moment and I have never wanted someone to become a typical human bad guy in my entire life. Please monologue. Please.
Do you really think they are that stupid? Nix huffed out a tired laugh.
I can fucking hope. I turned my back on them, hoping that if I ignore them, they might talk.
“Look, your dad has his own plans. But the lycans and the first family are a focal point for a reason.”
I tucked my head on my back so I kept one eye on them. I watched as Brandon threw up his hands. “He keeps saying that, but why?”
Morgan huffed out a sigh. “The lycans are simple. They are stronger, faster, and fully support the king. Your dad spent decades wiping them out.”
Holy fucking Goddess. Nix growled.
“Well, Vince and the brotherhood.” Morgan paced away.
What the fuck is the brotherhood? Megan finally caught her breath and made her way back to the barrier.
Brandon groaned. “The brotherhood of bloodshed. Always the fucking brotherhood. Who the fuck are they? Why do they matter?” He turned and hit his head against the tree. Seriously? “Morgan, just talk to me like a man. Please.”
Morgan sighed again, as if this was a huge inconvenience. “Why don’t you pay attention? The brotherhood was formed by Garith. He formed it back when the king pushed out the older Alphas in lieu of their sons.”
“I know all this, but who are they? Who the hell is Garith?” The name was wiggling around in my brain. I knew the name, but I couldn’t place it.
“It doesn’t matter. You will get to meet him soon.
” Morgan looked back at me but my eyes were closed over, so it looked like I was sleeping, unbothered or concerned with their conversation, but I was watching them through the slit in my lids.
“Anyway, when the old king pushed the Alphas out, they banded together. But it was Garith that started meeting with the others.”
Brandon furrowed his brows. “Isn’t Garith the Alpha…” He trailed off, trying to think.
“Yeah. That’s Garith. But he’s the reason all of this is happening.”
Everything they are saying is too fucking vague. I screamed my frustration at my wolves, but they were quiet. As if they remembered what I was missing.
“Anyway. The brotherhood was born to kill the king’s line.
Garith was tired of being pushed around by Lycans.
They acted like they were better than us.
But we had a first family too. The wolves were born from the Goddess, the same as them.
Garith said we deserved to be in line to be king.
That we shouldn’t allow the lycans to run our kind just because they came first.” Morgan settled against the tree.
“That’s why we have to kill the lycans. If there is even one left, they will rule.
Same with the first family. We can’t allow the Goddess to keep dictating who runs our kind.
We have free will for a fucking reason.”
Brandon’s mouth dropped open. “That’s what this is all about?”
“Of course.” Vince’s voice called out. He hopped off Rick’s wolfs back and dropped the child onto the ground. “Everything is about power.”
Vince turned to look at Brandon. He looked at its stumpy fingers and shook his head. “Why would you bring up the brotherhood in front of the wench?”
Wench? Is he trying to be a fucking pirate or something? Nix snorted and rolled her eyes. Vince is stupid.
But I watched him. Something was off in the way he watched us. Ever since I ripped off his cheek. I think…I think he likes us, Megan. She snapped her head to mine and then gagged.
Absolutely the fuck not. She shook her head.
But Nix watched him. I think she is right, Megan. Everytime he says something, his eyes flick to us. He is looking for our reaction.
She gagged again. No, you two have to be wrong. We ripped off half his face.
I think…I think he likes us because of it. The thought made my stomach clench. Sick fuck.
“Wench? Dad…come on we all know she is going to be dead soon. So why does it matter?” Brandon snorted as he passed me, kicking out, but I jumped up and snarled.
“I would watch yourself Bran. She is feisty. She already took your fingers. Do you want to lose your fucking foot? Do you know how hard it is, or how long it takes to regrow a fucking foot?”
Vince snorted. “It was fucking back in college Rick, get over it.”
Rick snarled. “You ripped off my foot for a girl! And you didn’t even get the fucking girl.”
Vince snarled and then looked at me. Jesus…you’re right. Holy Goddess, he is interested in me. Megan whined, and I laughed. Cause what else were we supposed to do?
Vince looked over at me. “Still won’t come?
” I growled low, and he just chuckled. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed.
“Hey.” There was a pause. “No, I didn’t call you for Rick.
Why the fuck would I call you for him? Verity.
SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LISTEN TO ME. We found a wolf.
” He looked over at me. “A random she-wolf. Yes, Verity, it’s a female wolf.
” He walked over to me and crouched down, staying far enough away that I wouldn’t be able to lunge.
“She was at outside our grounds. Yes, the fucking ritual grounds.” He leaned in.
“No, it’s not Amy.” He leaned back. “Well, first off I know her fucking scent you dumb cow.” I heard him sniffing me.
“I’ve never scented this wolf in my life.
I don’t know how she got through everything.
” He sighed and then closed his eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Verity. I can probably ask her until I am blue in the face. If she doesn’t shift, I can’t make her talk.
I can’t mind link her. She isn’t in my pack, and her wolf refuses to open a link. I tried that.”
I turned to look at Nix and Megan. Nix huffed. Well, I can’t fucking talk to him. He knows me.
I’m not talking to him. Megan turned away. The dude gives me the creeps. And I’m pretty fucking sure his wolf would, too.
I snorted out a laugh, and his eyes snapped to mine.
“I can’t force her to shift. I’m not her Alpha, and I’m not powerful enough to force a rogue to shift.
She is a Beta, or Gamma. I don’t know Verity, she might even be an Alpha, but I’ve never come across a rogue female Alpha.
” He stepped closer to me and I growled again.
He raised his hands. “She has to come, or she has to die.” He looked down.
“No, I don’t want to kill her…yet. I want to see what she knows and how she got onto our fucking ritual land.
The place you said no one would ever be able to get to.
” He ripped a growl. “Just fucking give me the ability to knock her out or make her obey.” He watched me. “If you can-”
I lunged to my feet and snapped at him. Not a fucking chance. I’d rather die than to have to touch him. Nix and Megan both agreed.
“Fine, if you can’t do that, then just help me get her into a cell. I’ll handle the rest.” He came closer, and I was able to catch her words.
“This will put her out, but her wolf will still be awake, as will her human. If you try anything that will harm her, or do anything that might kill her, she’ll snap out of it.”
“What’s the fucking point?” He shook his head as I snapped in his direction.
“It’s a gentle spell to help someone go to sleep. It’s all I can do from here. I’m already back in the car with the brotherhood. I’m not turning back around so I can help you fuck the bitch. Do you want me to do it or not?”
Vince looked at me and grinned. “Do it.”