Chapter Eighteen
Irina screamed as Malcolm slammed into the wall and collapsed to the ground, shifting back to human form, a pool of blood already forming underneath him. He didn’t move. She wasn’t even sure if he was breathing.
Tears streamed down her face. It was as she feared. Even a werewolf couldn’t beat a monster like Yuri.
Caleb took a step forward, growling, but Greg threw up his arm to block him.
The weredragon shook his head. “This will go better for everyone involved if you don’t do anything until it’s over, Caleb. Him being from out of the kingdom complicates things.”
The werewolf growled at the other man. “You expect me to sit here and let my man be killed?”
Irina gasped and looked over at Caleb. Malcolm was still alive. There was still hope. She could at least save his life.
Greg snorted. “You both knew what he was walking into.” He gave Caleb a cold smile. “So don’t try my patience. We’re only allowing this duel because the whole damned thing has been fairly contained, and Yuri has too many connections to troublesome people. I would have preferred to just have carted off the girl and the bear back to Russia together.”
It was all her fault. She should have known better than to ever think she could escape Yuri, especially after he’d called. She shouldn’t have been selfish and pushed Malcolm away before she ever slept with him and let herself fall for him.
It was her fault, and it was time to take responsibility.
Yuri stalked forward toward the downed Malcolm, each step an echoing loud thud in his colossal bear form.
Irina rushed past the weredragon. Everyone turned their heads to follow her movement, surprise on their faces. Even Yuri stopped. She threw herself in front of the downed Malcolm.
“I beg you, Yuri. Don’t kill him. I’ll go with you willingly. You win. But please, spare his life. It is my fault, not his. My seduction. My arrogance.”
The huge bear stopped and tilted his head. A moment later, he blurred and shrank into a large man in a suit. Bloodstains and tears marred his clothes.
He grinned. “You beg me? That is good, yes. Begging means you understand I am the one with the power, not this pathetic wolf.” He gestured toward the unconscious Malcolm.
Irina nodded quickly. “Yes, Yuri. You’re right. You’re strong. You’re the one with the power. I was a fool to think I could ever escape you.”
“Yes, you were.” Yuri clucked his tongue. “But I still can’t allow him to live.”
“You’ve already won. What more is there gained by killing him? He’ll live on in shame, knowing that you defeated him and took me from him.”
“An interesting punishment, but still not enough.” The werebear pointed at Malcolm. “He’s a thief, and thieves can’t be allowed to steal from me. It sets a bad… what is the word? Precedent.” He loomed over her. “You’re my property, and he attempted to steal my property, so he needs to die. Otherwise it’ll just be a matter of time before some other arrogant fool thinks he can try and take what’s mine. The only reason I didn’t tear him apart earlier is because this is not my home.” He glanced over his shoulder at Greg. “And some might not understand my reasons.”
Tears streamed down Irina’s cheeks. There had to be something she could do, some way to make the bear understand.
Irina looked over at Caleb and Greg. “Please,” she sobbed. “You have to do something.”
The weredragon shook his head. Caleb gritted his teeth and looked down. He took a step forward, and Greg grabbed his arm. The alpha stared down the other man.
“I’ll fight you if I have to.”
Greg snorted. “Then you’ll die for no good reason. Next time, don’t let one of your men agree to a one-on-one.”
Caleb took several deep breaths, his face red. It was obvious he was on the verge of attacking anyway.
Yuri snorted. “The wolf knew what he was facing. I’ll commend him for his bravery. He lasted much longer than many others, but if he didn’t want to die, it was simple, he shouldn’t have stolen from me.” He barked out a harsh laugh that echoed among the rafters.
As the ballerina stared at the laughing werebear, something snapped inside. A fiery anger shot through her, consuming the sadness. She was tired of the fear, tired of having to look over her shoulder.
All she’d ever wanted to do was spread beauty and joy into the world. Yuri claimed he appreciated that, but he’d done everything he could to wring all the happiness and light from her soul, and now was going to kill the one man who’d made her believe she could have more.
“No,” Irina shouted in Russian. “Never again. I refuse to listen to you anymore, you bastard. You’re nothing but a petty monster.”
Yuri blinked, genuine surprise crossing his face.
Greg and Caleb snapped out of their confrontation. They exchanged glances but said nothing. She didn’t care if they understood. This wasn’t about anyone else but her and Yuri now.
“What did you say to me?” Yuri growled.
“I said no. How about fuck you as well? You’re a worthless whore bastard. I’m not your property, and if you don’t let Malcolm go, I’ll fight you every day until you’re forced to kill me. I’m tired of being afraid of you. You’re pathetic, and you’re not half the lover he is. I’d rather be dead than go back to Russia with you.” Irina stood and spread her arms out. She switched back to English. “So kill me, Yuri. I’m tired of running from you.”
Caleb growled and stepped forward, but the dragon grabbed his arm again.
“Not our fight, Caleb. This is your last warning.”
“The hell it is,” the alpha shouted. “I’m not gonna stand by and let—"
“You disloyal whore!” Yuri bellowed, silencing everyone, even Greg seemed taken aback by the bear’s vehemence. The werebear growled and slapped Irina so hard she spun several times before crashing into the floor. “Property should have no opinion. Property has no right to talk—”
Malcolm jumped up from the ground, shifted, and leapt for Yuri’s throat before Irina even realized he was moving. His jaws crushed the other man’s throat, and he tore it out before jumping to his chest. His fangs and claws ripped through the bear’s chest.
Bile rose in Irina’s throat, and she looked away, her stomach lurching at the sound of the werewolf finishing off the werebear.
“Huh.” Greg shrugged, letting Caleb go. “Guess that about solves that then. I’ll clean up here. The rest of you get the hell out of here and try not to pick any more fights with outsiders.” He pointed to Irina. “She’s your pack’s responsibility now. Hope she’s worth it.”
Irina continued to look away. Yuri might be dead, but only at the hands of a werewolf who was tearing him to pieces. She fell to her knees.
There could be no beauty and joy in such a world. She wiped away some tears. Even if she’d fallen for Malcolm, it didn’t matter. They couldn’t be together.
* * *
Malcolm frowned as he put the last few chairs up on a table. Mopping the floor wasn’t as badass as taking down a werebear, but killing Yuri wouldn’t pay the bills.
Sarah emerged from the back office. “I hate seeing that look on your face.”
He looked over at her. “What look? I look pissy all the time.”
“There’s a difference between pissy and… wounded.” She sighed. “No one wants to see a wounded, sad, and lonely man on Christmas Eve. It’s been what, a week and a half since you took down Yuri?”
Malcolm shrugged. “Yeah. I guess, not like I was counting.”
“And Irina hasn’t contacted you? Not even a text?”
He shook his head. “She asked me to drop her off and then told me not to call her. I’ve tried sending several messages, but she’s ignored them.” He scoffed. “Not like it’s a big surprise.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You didn’t have to see Caleb tear up that wolf right in front of you.” Malcolm furrowed his brow. “I’m sure as far as Irina’s concerned, there’s no reason for her to go from one monster to another.” He shrugged. “Maybe in the end, I’m no better than Yuri.”
Caleb emerged from the back hallway and scoffed. “Bullshit. Yuri was a criminal thug and a stalker psycho. If you were like him at all, you wouldn’t be sitting here moping around. You’re at least giving her the choice. As for killing him, the world’s better off without a mafia werebear.”
Malcolm blew out a breath. “Maybe.”
“The King and Greg aren’t bitching, and they aren’t doing anything to Irina. She knows too much for a little simple animal magnetism, so that means they believe in you and the pack enough to think they don’t have to do something worse.”
Sarah winced. “Are you saying they’d kill her?”
“Who knows?” Caleb shrugged. “Can’t trust a reptile. They do what they think they need to do to keep things secret, but yeah, it is a good possibility if they thought she’d talk. Or they could mess her memories up so much, she could barely remember who she was. Fortunately, our King seems to be a little less bloodthirsty, and the woman knows how to keep her mouth shut.”
Malcolm growled and looked down.
The alpha marched over to two large bags of trash sitting near the bar. “All’s well that ends well. Sorry, you couldn’t land the ballerina, Malcolm, but at least you saved her. Maybe that’s small comfort, but it’s something.” He shrugged, grabbed the bags, and headed out.
Sarah sighed and walked to Malcolm. She offered him a soft smile. “I love Caleb, but sometimes he has the emotional intelligence of a cactus. Are you going to be okay?”
He shrugged. “I’m not dead, which is not something the average wolf could say after taking on a werebear.”
“Come on, we both know there are different ways to be hurt.”
Malcolm let out a low chuckle. “I really thought I had something with her, really thought we connected, but this just proves why it’s pointless for wolves to try and seek women other than Blooded. Normal women won’t understand.”
Sarah snorted. “That’s not true. I understood.”
“You’re Blooded.”
“And again to remind you, I knew exactly jack and squat about shifters before stepping into the bar. Being Blooded might make me smell good to you wolves, but it’s not like I was destined to end up with Caleb. So if I can understand and fit into your world, she can, too.”
Malcolm shook his head. “She already made her choice. It doesn’t matter. She’s got a performance tomorrow. I’m gonna go watch it. Not to see her, but just for some closure or whatever crap you want to call it.”
Sarah gave him a soft smile. “I’m sorry. I really am.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. Just part of being a wolf.”