Chapter 20
Bastien
The area stunk of rotting shit, as well as the coppery scent of blood, and my mate’s fear. Her head was lowering, but she jerked it upright as the thing around her neck dug in deeper.
Turning I looked towards Roman, making it known with my eyes what was going to happen. Roman was going to take the rogue, and I’ll save my mate. Slowly Roman shifted to the left, and he started to inch in the direction of the rogue.
I let my wolf recede as I turned human. Mia was going to need me to pull that thing off her. It broke my fucking heart to see that thing piercing her flesh.
“How long before it kills you?” The fucker was tormenting her.
“I bet another few hours before it sinks into your windpipe and you lose the ability to breathe,” he continues.
Anger had my fist clench, and I wanted to rip his fucking head off. Mia first, she needs you now. Kill him after. Then her eyes lifted and met mine.
I could see the pain she was in and the relief that I was there. She doubted I would save her? That broke my heart all over again.
My eyes moved to Roman who was ready. He gave me a nod, and I rushed from my hiding spot. Mia had backed up and hit the tree. Her nails scrabbling for purchase as she tried to relieve the pressure around her throat.
My knees hit the hard dirt and twigs dug into my flesh, but I didn’t care. I reached for Mia, and her eyes closed as more tears fell from her beautiful golden eyes.
I wanted to pry it off her neck, but the chain was pulled too tight. Reaching for the chain, I followed it with my fingers only to find a padlock holding it in place.
I couldn’t pry it over her head, and I couldn’t fucking remove the chain. Fuck!
“He had a fucking key, find it!” I shouted at Dirk.
His body shifted to human as he grabbed at the rogue’s pants. Roman’s hard teeth wrapped around his throat holding him in place. The stench of his fear hit the air.
“Here!” Dirk shouted, throwing the key to me.
The moment the metal touched the inside of my hand, I turned back to Mia.
“I’ve got you, baby,” I cooed to her.
The moment the chain released, I had to carefully pull the collar from around her neck. Mia collapsed, her body was shaking, and she whined loudly.
My fingers brushed her ears. I wanted to make the pain go away. I knew she would heal quickly, and that the pain would subside soon. That didn’t change the fact that my heart was bleeding for her.
Dirk appeared at our side.
“I’ve got her, alpha,” he tells me.
I needed to deal with the threat. I needed to kill the son of a bitch who tried to kill my mate.
“I’ll be right back, baby,” her eyes looked into mine, and I saw the understanding. She wanted this as much as I wanted it.
My body shook in anger as I turned to the rogue. I was going to kill him. I wanted to tear him apart limb by limb. I wanted to reach inside of him and pull his heart through his rib cage.
Standing I took stock of him while Roman held him in place. I leaned down and rested my claws on his chest letting them slowly sink into his skin like he was doing to Mia. I let my claws continue their path, and I felt them sink through tissue and muscle. The rogue cried in agony, and it echoed around the forest.
He wasn’t leaving this place alive. I was going to rip his beating heart from his chest and show it to him. I applied more pressure and broke bones before reaching my destination.
“I’m going to show you your black heart,” I tell him through a growl.
True to my word, I pulled his heart out and held it in front of his face.