Chapter 32
Caught again
“KAIDA!”
Jarek runs towards me, his hair flying out behind him. The world slows; I see every detail about him, the colour of his hair, the way his clothes hang on him, his eyes, the fury on his face.
All my pain and fear fade. I lift my head higher, sit up straighter.
My heart lifts, the fear slides away. I shift so my legs are under me, my mouth falls open, and my chest just fills with this warm feeling that pushes all the darkness away. I shove up onto my knees, ready to run to him, to meet him halfway.
“Jarek,” I say his name almost silently.
He’s come to rescue me.
He didn’t leave me alone.
“Who is this, then? One of your boyfriends? It’s too bad I won’t suffer anyone to touch what is mine.”
His voice shocks me; I’d almost forgotten he was there. The Fang’s voice is cold, angry. The tone makes my stomach clench.
I look up and see him with a crossbow. He lifts it and aims; I follow the line, seeing Jarek in its sights.
“NO!”
I throw myself at his leg, and the bolt goes wide. He hisses and kicks out at me. I scream as the steel-toed boot bites into my ribs. Worth it.
Jarek roars.
I roll away from the second kick but can’t evade the third. It lifts me off the ground. I cry out and land heavily, gasping for breath. All I can feel is the pain, the blindly agony. I curl up in a ball, willing it to stop so I can get up, so I can run or fight or something.
I’m not giving up; Jarek is here. I have to get up. He’s running; he’s coming to me. I have to reach him.
“You’re going to behave yourself now, you little omega whore.”
He drags me up the road by the wire. It cuts into my ankle, and despite me clawing at the road, I’m helpless.
“Hold this and do not let her go.”
And then he stalks past me, going to meet Jarek in battle.
No!
I stand up and look back when the wire on my ankle tightens.
A faceless beta is holding my life in his hands, leering at me, its blank mask revealing only his gleeful, dead eyes and the happy smirk giving me no illusions over what will happen if I even attempt to escape. There are thirty more behind him.
A small army of them. My heart leaps and crashes as I realise we’re not escaping.
“Keres, run!” Jarek shouts.
He can’t see the wire. He doesn’t know I’m trapped.
I stare at the alpha and beta as they collide. The Fang has a sword, and he meets Jarek’s metal rod and slides along it, sending out sparks.
“Let her go!” Jarek hisses.
He won’t win this. I can’t bear to see him hurt. Not for me. I’m not worth it.
“Run, Jarek!” I shout, though it breaks me to do it.
They both ignore me, circling each other like sharks. Jarek lifts his free arm and wipes his hair out of his face and manages to just dodge a sneaky blow that would have cut off his arm.
Jarek gets a hit on the beta because of his nimble feet. It’s just a glancing blow, and as he spins away, I can see how elegant he is. How skilled. The clash of metal on metal continues as they dance together.
Maybe he can win.
I know the Fang doesn’t play fair, and, sure enough, just like my worst fears have painted, he throws a vial of liquid at Jarek, who roars and wipes frantically at his eyes.
“She’s cost you your sight, but don’t worry, it’s temporary, not that you’ll live to know. What else are you willing to give up for her, Alpha scum?” he mocks. “I had her first. I took her body apart and created what you see before you.”
I shudder, bile filling my mouth.
Jarek roars in rage that makes me shiver. I’ve never seen an alpha so angry before.
“Jarek, run!” I repeat my plea, begging him to listen. My throat aches, and I swipe my wet hair out of my eyes.
“She’s mine,” Jarek says strongly.
Those words break and remake me. He doesn’t care what happened before. The Beta’s Fang was wrong, I’m not his, and there is someone who wants me.
Jarek can’t see; even from here, I can see the red burns on and around his eyes. I hobble as far as I can and almost fall when the wire holds me back.
I call out a warning when the Beta’s Fang moves, showing all his skill and training. Jarek dances back, putting space between them, but it’s not enough.
I focus on the wire, tugging and pulling. I get it loose and dive just in time to evade the blow that cuts through the air.
I turn and let out a tiny squeal of pain as I’m punched hard in the stomach, doubling over, my eyes watering.
“Keres!” Jarek howls. I look towards him. He’s trying to get to me, so he doesn’t see the way the Beta’s Fang spins his sword, how it catches the light and how, in slow motion, it slides deep into his stomach.
The world goes silent, still.
Jarek staggers back, two steps. His mouth opens as if he can’t believe it.
The beta, who is my worst nightmare, pulls his blade free.
Jarek goes down hard, and he doesn’t get up.
I see blood pooling out on the road, glinting ruby. The skies open, pouring icy rain down on me. It’s like the light has gone out. I’m on my knees, my mouth forming his name over and over.
The ringing hasn’t stopped; it's louder and louder still.
I’m suddenly dragged backwards. The wire bites in painfully, and I think I hear something laugh. These betas used to be people. They are just monsters now in people skin.
I’m dragged back another foot. I kick, fighting, wild and out of control. He’s dead. He died for me; I never wanted that. I don’t deserve that.
“JAREK!” My scream is louder than I’ve ever screamed. It’s a rending inside me, a breaking.
All thoughts of what could happen to me disappear; I don’t care. All that matters is him and that growing red stain.
“Please, help him. Please. I’ll do anything. I’ll crawl, I’ll beg, I’ll say what you want. Please, please, help him. Don’t let him die.”
The Beta’s Fang looks at me with wide eyes. “You care about him so much? You didn’t even beg like this when I killed the omegas in front of you.”
I shudder, pushing the images away and the guilt that comes with them.
“Please.”
He turns, kicking Jarek hard enough he lifts his body off the ground. “He’s already dead, my dear snow.”
Then he throws his head back and laughs.
The change in my temper is explosive. I’m lying on the ground with aching fingers, clinging to the cobblestones like they will save me, then I’m on all fours howling. I stare at Jarek, willing him to rise.
I want to see his smile, the laughter in him. He was so full of life, how can he just be dead?
No, I just need to reach him. He’s not dead!
“GRAB HER!”
I throw myself towards Jarek, fighting, but the wire holds me back. I whirl, attacking my own leg, but the monsters yank, and I’m dangling in the air, whimpering.
In a tiny piece of glass, I see my reflection. My stark white hair and my shocked face hanging upside down by her leg surrounded by monsters in black robes. I don’t even recognise myself.
“You think you can beat us? For what, snow? Are you going to go over there and lie on his cooling body? Cry your mournful song? Have you finally realised you’re just an animal?”
He laughs.
They let me down. I hit the ground hard enough to bruise my chest, and I charge towards Jarek, determined to get to him. They pull me up. I land heavily and charge again; this time, my shoulder catches the brunt of it.
I can see him lying so still on the street. He’s not moving. Is he dead? I need to touch him; I just need to be with him.
I fight, digging my nails into the road, leaving grooves.
My scent is tart and bitter, almost burnt. I let out a horrific whine before I smother it into silence.
I’m ripped off my feet, hoisted into the air, and then slammed back down again.
A growl tears out of my throat, pure omega rage fills. I’m hoisted up and dropped again.
And again.
I struggle, dazed and heaving for air, but that’s not going to stop me.
I fall again. And again.
I lose count, but the road is wet with my blood when I collapse, trembling, to the ground.
I yelp as my hair is suddenly grabbed and twisted. I let out a whine and get punched in the face.
“You just keep getting better and better, Keres.” He follows my gaze and chuckles. “He’s dead. No one is going to save you. Are you going to walk quietly or are we dragging you?”
I stand up on trembling legs and force my aching body towards Jarek.
They let me get within five feet of him. I’m almost there before they yank me back. This time, they don’t stop. I lay my head down…and let out a mournful whine. I don’t fight them when they drag me away.
I don’t think I’m coming back from this.
I don’t think I want to.
With the last of my strength, I lift my head and let out a ghostly scream. I shudder when I hear the sinister and furious roar of the Ravage Wolf that silences the city.
As that howl dies, I’m too lost in my grief to hear the final call, the last howl, that mysterious and achingly painful song of the Anarchy Wolf rising in challenge and promise.
I’m coming, it says.