Chapter 44 #2
She closes her eyes as if the fight has gone out of her. Her head hangs as she speaks quietly. “She came at thirty-nine weeks, and I gave her up for adoption. That was right at the beginning of my sophomore year. I never told your father.”
And then the world tilts once again. “Adoption?” Bane asks. “Adoption?!” he roars at her. “She’s my daughter! I raised her!”
“You...she...” my mom’s sputtered words die out.
So many feelings flood me; it’s overwhelming.
I don’t know what to say, what to think.
“We have a sister?” That’s all I can get out.
I feel sick, betrayed...like everything I’ve ever known is a lie.
But there is no processing this, not now.
My mom sags, and her head falls forward. “She’s lost too much blood.”
Bane laughs, and it’s chilling. He flips the blade he’s holding in the air. “I can end her suffering.”
Horror crashes through me. “No.”
He steps closer to her. “It would be the humane thing to do.”
“Leave her alone.” I struggle against my chains for the hundredth time. He holds the knife to her throat and slides it across her neck. He doesn’t add enough pressure to do any damage, but still, I suck in a breath. “Please don’t.” I’m not above pleading at this point.
He looks over at me. “I think you’ve had your mother long enough.
My daughter never had a mother.” A look of absolute hate covers his face, and I know that the man that was once in there is no longer there.
The dark magic has stolen whatever good there used to be.
I also know without a shadow of a doubt that he’s going to kill my mom.
He lifts the knife, and adrenaline shoots through every part of my body.
My heart slams in my chest, and I summon what strength I can.
I have to break these chains and get free.
I search deep inside, trying to wake my wolf.
I don’t wake her, but deep down, I find the bond between Reid and I pulsing with life.
I have no idea if this will work, but I focus on that bond and pull with all my strength.
I feel resistance at first, but then I feel the wall between us come crashing down.
I can feel his strength flooding me. I still can’t reach him mentally, but I can pull from his strength.
The well seems to deepen, and I feel Alpha power filling me...
tons of it. I don’t know how, but my brother and my father are both feeding Reid their alpha power as well.
I yank hard and pull as much power from them as I can and focus on keeping it controlled.
Then I use all of that power and push it outward.
Power explodes out of me, and two things happen at once.
The chains binding me rip free of the wall, and my bracelet breaks.
Bane whirls towards me. “Alpha power,” he breathes. “How’s that possible? The bracelet...”
My wolf rushes to the surface, all rage and anger.
I let her take control to do what needs to be done.
I shift instantly, and she launches at Bane.
He yells and falls back, but my wolf takes him to the ground.
“Kill it!” he screams at his men, but none of them approach us.
My wolf is hyped up on an intoxicating combination of Alpha power and anger.
She rips Bane’s throat out. Before I even have time to process that, she leaps at the other men.
Some of them scream; others run away. I sort of lose myself to the violence all around us.
My mind is on overload with all this power; I can’t really make sense of things.
When things finally settle, I look around the room through my wolf’s eyes.
I feel her contentment and sense of rightness, but I can’t contain my horror.
It’s a blood bath down here. Only my mom and I are still alive.
We did what we had to, to survive and to protect family.
I try to pull back control, but she doesn’t let me.
She noses around the huge metal door, but it’s closed.
There’s no way out unless she lets me shift and take control.
She walks over to my mom and sits down right in front of her, guarding her.
I need to check on her, I communicate to my wolf.
I try to take control once again, but she doesn’t let me.
Riley! Reid’s voice thunders through our connection, and I latch on to it.
Reid. So many emotions flood me, I don’t know what to say.
Where are you?
Panic floods me. I don’t know. They put a cloth over my head. We drove a long time, but I don’t know how long.
It’s okay, Baby. Take a breath. I’ll find you; just tell me what you see right now.
I take a breath and try to push my fear and panic aside. It’s harder to think in this form. We’re in a basement, a huge basement. It’s much bigger than a house. We drove for a few hours. I don’t know for how long.
We’ll find you. Riley, your dad can’t reach your mom. Is she—
He pauses, and I know what he wants to know. She’s alive but unconscious. She—
Riley!
My dad’s voice in my head drowns out Reid’s. Dad!
We’re coming for you. Now that I have a connection to you, we can find you. Is your mom—?
She’s okay, I interrupt, feeling his need and panic. She’s been through a lot. She...just get here.
I feel his determination through the pack link. We’re coming.
Riley. Reid’s voice is back in my head. Your dad has a feel for where you’re at. I think we’re a few hours away. Hang in there; we’re coming.
Over the next few minutes, hours, maybe, my wolf kills anyone else who enters the room.
She’s still being fed Alpha power; I can feel it.
It’s not as strong as that first blast, but it’s still powerful.
Because of that power, I can’t force the shift.
She’s totally in control, and there is nothing I can do about it.
Time ceases to be relevant. Every time I’m coherent, I try to check on my mom.
But I can’t shift to do so. She assures me she’s alive, and then I sort of fade once again.
A loud thud pulls me from my comatose state. My wolf is instantly alert and ready for whoever’s coming in. Her growl shakes the room.