CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Kyle
Dread entered every part of me, making it harder to keep my mind calm enough to try and find a way out. It was an inbuilt survival kicking in.
I shared a glance with James. The blond Keeper was still standing a few feet from him.
"You started this. And this will end with you." Travis' words brought my attention back to him.
It was one thing to punish someone for betrayal but this was beyond that. There had to be more than just that going on between the two elder Keepers. Was this some sort of power struggle? And now that Travis had won, he was going to destroy him before he took his life.
"First will be this one," he said, his eyes on James. "Think of this like a domino of grief and pain. When we finish his life, they will be devastated. And you will feel responsible. Then..."
His eyes drifted from James to me.
"This one will be next."
My fate was sealed. I would be killed before Crystal. She grabbed my hand and a couple of silent tears slid down her face.
Kyle. I can't. The sound of her voice was uncontrollable with emotion. Her eyes pleaded with mine.
We had all walked into this situation knowing there would be no way out. But the reality of watching the ones we loved and cared for being mercilessly murdered was too horrific to face.
It's okay, I told her through our mind-link, trying to soothe her. I held her, trying to ease the array of emotions.
Travis watched as Harrison took in his crying daughter.
"You will watch your daughter lose her mate and the grief she experiences will be your own."
Harrison remained quiet as he watched Travis. It took a sick individual to enjoy the pain of others. Travis was worse. There was a whisper of a smile on his lips as he relayed his execution plans.
"And then, when her life seeps from her, you will watch your offspring die and you will know that every second of her pain you caused."
While Travis seemed to be enjoying the whole thing, the rest of the Keepers stood watching with stone-like features.
I hugged Crystal, trying to block out the fear and sadness, forcing myself to concentrate on only the love I felt for her. The anger and betrayal I felt before was no longer relevant.
She looked up at me with a tear-streaked face and I felt a pang of guilt that despite every fiber of my being wanting to protect her, there was no way to escape our deaths. There was no way to stop it.
I had already run through every scenario possible but there was no way to fight off the Keepers surrounding us. They were simply too strong for us. Even with the bottle of wolfsbane, I would have to get close enough to spray it in their faces and somehow prevent myself from being exposed to it.
"Do you have anything to say for your actions?" Travis asked Harrison.
Two fewer Keepers and we could have had a fighting chance. It went against my DNA not to fight even if I couldn't win.
"You know that you live a life filled with lies. You know the truth," Harrison said. Travis shook his head. "Our kinds are meant to mix. You know it as well as I do."
Travis struck him across the face. "That's blasphemy!"
His eyes darkened with fury as his chest rose and fell. Harrison stood still but a red mark began to appear on his face. Crystal broke from me and reached for her father but the look Travis shot her stopped her.
"There is no point in prolonging this," Travis said, turning to Flynn.
There was no time left. We were going to die and there was nothing we could do to stop it.
Crystal hugged me closer, closing her eyes to shut out the reality around her. The fear in her features made me feel helpless.
Don't be scared, I told her. I will be on the other side waiting for you.
She shook her head and opened her eyes to look up at me. The pain in the depths of her eyes took my breath away.
I love you. If I can't spend a lifetime with you, I'll settle for an eternity.
I swallowed hard, hating that our lives were ending but taking some solace in the fact that it would be together.
Travis smiled at us. I wanted to be able to rip him into pieces but I stopped myself.
I released Crystal and she looked at her father, taking his hand in hers. The look they shared was touching and sad. They would not have the time to get to know each other.
When Travis and Flynn walked to James, he looked at them with defiance.
"We may let you live if you beg for your life," Travis offered. He stood back with his arms crossed as he gave James the chance.
"Go to hell," he spat at him.
He knew there was no way they would let him go.
"I gave you the chance but now it's time to make you pay for your association with these people," Travis said. He looked at the surrounding Keepers. One grabbed me from the back. Another grabbed Crystal.
It was like a steel vice-grip, and as hard as I struggled it wouldn't budge. Defeated, I looked at Crystal. She struggled and the Keeper couldn't get a firm grip on her. The blond Keeper stepped forward and grabbed her. The other keeper moved to Harrison, who didn't try and break free. He seemed to have accepted his fate.
Travis and Flynn stood in front of James, who stood tall and refused to cower in fear of his coming demise. A Keeper stood behind him.
"Flynn," Travis said to the Keeper.
I should have killed him when I had the chance, I told myself. Flynn gave a slight inclination of his head as he accepted the unspoken order.
He flexed his hands as he took a step closer to James. I wanted to protect my best friend but I couldn't. Helpless, all I could do was watch.
"Don't make it quick," Travis instructed.
I swore under my breath. Flynn's eyes met mine for a moment before he gave James his full attention. The first swing of his fist was too quick for James to dodge. It hit him in the face and sent him reeling backward.
James' hand went to his cheek and he looked at the Keeper with determination.
My heart began to race as I watched every slight motion between opponents facing each other.
The next hit from Flynn's fist connected with James' stomach. This time the force of it winded him and he fell to the ground. Instinct pushed me forward to help him up but all I could do was watch with growing horror.
The sound of a car approaching didn't get my attention until the gates swung open. Everyone turned to watch it drive into the property.
From the looks the Keepers were giving each other, they weren't expecting the arrival. James got to his knees, clutching his stomach. His breath was labored as he watched with us.
It was a black SUV. The darkened windows made it hard to see the driver. It stopped just short of us.
"It looks like we have a visitor," Travis said. That familiar feeling of dread stirred in my stomach.
If it wasn't one of them, then who was it?
The engine stopped and the door opened. To my absolute horror, Bay stepped out. She looked defiant as Travis studied her.
No. Not Bay, I thought. James was shaking his head. He, along with the rest of us, knew she would suffer the same fate that had been laid out before us. She would die.
"James," she cried when she saw her brother injured and swaying slightly on his knees in the dirt.
No one stopped her as she rushed to him and began to check his injuries. As she began to realize what was going on and what had happened to her brother, her eyes shot to Flynn.
He stood with stoic features as his eyes held her. The look she gave Flynn was heartbreaking. I had foreseen this. She had believed he was capable of more than what he was. Now she would see him for what he truly was: a ruthless killer.
Crystal
It was difficult to watch Bay come to the realization that we all had. Like her, I had held on to the hope and seen what I wanted to believe, that there was something good in Flynn. But standing where I was, there was no doubt that I had been wrong. So very wrong.
"One more to take care of," Travis said, and I saw what I thought was a slight stiffening in Flynn's back. But it happened so quickly I wasn't sure I hadn't just imagined it.
There was no more room for hope or disappointment.
Bay stood up. James tried to stop her but he was too injured.
She glared at Travis.
"She should be the second," he told Flynn. Flynn nodded. His eyes were intense and fixed on Bay.
"Move, Bay," Flynn told her, but she shook her head.
"You'll have to kill me to get to my brother," she announced, her voice strong despite the emotions I could see she was dealing with.
For a moment they just stared at each other, like a battle of wills. Flynn indicated for the Keeper to restrain her.
"No, please, you can't do this," Bay begged as the Keeper pulled her out of the way. "I know you don't want to do this."
But Flynn moved his attention back to James. The intent to finish what he started was clear. I struggled against Hayden, but he was strong.
Flynn moved closer to James, ignoring the panicked Bay beside them.
"Please, don't!" she begged.
Travis shook his head before he walked to her. He backhanded her.
The hit was so hard, the Keeper let go of Bay and she dropped to the ground. She was groaning in pain as she lay on the dirt.
"Bay," I gasped, trying to get to her but unable to.
"Bay!" James called out and he moved toward her.
For a moment Flynn looked at Bay. There was something there that I couldn't put my finger on in the way he looked at her. His dark eyes took in her injured form.
Then his eyes shot to Travis. It happened so quickly I never saw it coming. Flynn shifted from his position, taking hold of Travis and swinging him to hold him up against the wall by his throat with the swiftness and precision of a killer.
The fury in his eyes was scary as he tightened his hold on Travis. Hayden released me but before I could figure out what was going on he attacked the Keeper who had been restraining Kyle.
My mind was still playing catch-up when Kyle sprayed something in the face of the other Keeper who'd been standing by Bay. The hiss of pain and the way he cradled his arm told me some of the wolfsbane had touched his skin.
The other Keeper who had restrained Harrison released him and made a move toward Flynn, but Harrison stepped in his path, cutting him off.
The Keeper who was yelling and screaming, clutching his face, was getting to his feet. Kyle stood in front of him. I was already moving before I had even made the decision. I gave in to the anger that had been simmering inside of me, allowing myself to feel the full power of the emotion.
The Keeper dropped his hands, and I swung my fist, connecting with his jaw. The momentum of the hit sent him backward a couple of steps. I felt powerful as I gave in to my senses. It sped through me like a lightning bolt as I kicked the Keeper in the stomach. This sent him flying back onto the ground.
In an instant I felt myself shift and I stood in my werewolf form, growling at the injured Keeper who was struggling to get to his feet. His eyes, still red from the wolfsbane, took in my sharp teeth. There was fear.
In a moment I took in the dark fur of my paws before I pushed forward, intent on protecting the people I loved. And the only way to do that was to kill the enemy.
There was only one goal and no deviation as I sank my teeth into his arm and ripped. Again and again. Blood dripped from my mouth as I ripped into his stomach and then into his leg.
Stop, Kyle instructed. The drive to kill wasn't easily distracted and I bit the Keeper again. This time he didn't move to fight back or cry out in pain.
Stop, Crystal. He's dead, Kyle yelled.
I closed my eyes tightly, trying to rein in the need to shred him to pieces. I felt the touch that calmed me enough to take a step back before I opened my eyes and looked up at Kyle.
"Why…" Travis tried to talk. I swung my gaze to him.
Flynn still had him up against the wall, tightening his hold on his throat. A Keeper lay at the feet of Harrison, dead or unconscious. I saw Hayden put the other Keeper down with a series of hits and a kick. As I looked at James, Kyle hurried to him.
"Check Bay," James instructed even though he was in so much pain.
Kyle rushed to check on her.
"Bay," he said, but there was no response.
At the sound of her name, Flynn looked back at Kyle while he looked over Bay with growing concern.
Travis was struggling but Flynn cut off his air supply, looking back only to watch the merciless Keeper die. I watched as Flynn finished him off and when his eyes were fixed, unseeing, Flynn released him and his body fell to the ground with a thump.
Flynn flexed his hand as he turned to face me. I growled at him and he hesitated. Despite his actions, I didn't trust him.
"Stop, Crystal." This time it was Harrison. He stood beside me and placed his hand on my head.
Flynn walked to Kyle, who was checking Bay's pulse.
Relief flooded through my mate's features. "She's alive."
"Can you change back?" Harrison asked me.
I had no idea. I hadn't even consciously made the decision to shift into my wolf. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm my rampant emotions as the adrenaline still kicked through my body.
"That's it," my father soothed.
My body began to change but there was no pain. I felt weak, my skin sensitive to the touch of my clothes, as I tried to stand up.
"I've got you," my father said, putting a supporting arm around me.
"What happened?" I asked, feeling like I had been watching on fast-forward and had no idea how it had happened. Hayden looked down at the Keeper he'd taken down without remorse.
"Hayden?" I questioned.
"Hayden is like me," my father said. "He knows the truth." Hayden's eyes met mine and for the first time his gaze wasn't hard and unforgiving.
"And Flynn?" I asked. Flynn was still standing beside Kyle, looking down at Bay. I had been convinced he had been on the enemy's side. He had been about to kill James. Had I missed something? Had that been part of Harrison's plan?
"He is one of us now."
So Flynn had been the enemy, and now, whether he believed it or not, he was with us.
"You guys need to get out of here now before the other Keepers get back," Harrison instructed.
"You can't stay here," I argued, not wanting to risk his life.
"To protect you, I have to," he told me. I frowned, not understanding.
"Go back to your pack and I'll contact you soon," he said. "Then I can explain everything to you."
I didn't know him, but I trusted him. I nodded.
Kyle lifted Bay into his arms. The side of her face was already bruised and swollen. Her eyes were still closed as he carried her to the car and laid her on the back seat. Flynn watched with an unreadable expression on his face.
I walked to James and helped him into the back seat with his sister. He lifted her head and rested it on his lap before I closed the door.
Hayden lifted a Keeper's body and carried it away as I got into the passenger side.
Kyle eyed out our two remaining cars and looked at me but I shook my head. I couldn't drive back, I didn't have the mental capacity to concentrate.
"We will organize to get them back to you," Harrison said.
Kyle nodded and got into the driver's seat.
Flynn stood behind Harrison. Unlike Hayden, his eyes were still dark and unforgiving, reminding me of the fear I had first felt when I had met him. I wasn't entirely convinced that—despite his actions—there was good in him. Harrison spoke briefly to Kyle before he started the car.
We drove down the driveway and I felt a moment of fear when we reached the gates. But my fear was unfounded because a few seconds later they swung open.
It wasn't until we had driven for about ten minutes that I felt relief. An impossible situation had been changed by the actions of one. And for the first time since I had left the pack to sacrifice myself, I felt the heaviness lift from my shoulders. We had survived this, but there was no guarantee that there wouldn't be another time where we wouldn't.
"How's she?" Kyle asked James. Bay was still unconscious.
"She's still breathing."