Someone once said that waiting can be painful. Understatement. This senseless waiting shreds my soul and threatens to unravel my sanity. It feels like hours have passed. Checking my watch, however, lets me know we’ve been here less than an hour. What the hell is taking the pack so long?
From our vantage point beneath the underpass, I watch Calhoun’s crew move about like they’re in control. Their time on Earth is almost up. When the slaughtering is over, no one will recognize these fools. But I won’t be a part of it. I’m saving my energy for that rank-ass Calhoun.
Much like Elijah, my nemesis won’t show his face, preferring to wait in darkness. Most likely, he’s sitting somewhere watching us watch him. He better have a damned good seat so he can see me coming because there won’t be a warning. Nobody takes from me.
“Stop worrying, Brady,” Brian says. He taps his fingers absently on the steering wheel. “The girls are unharmed. Cal is saving his strength for battle.”
“Not helping, little brother,” I say dryly. Assurance isn’t what I want. To be effective, I need to stew in my anger. Let it remind me what’s at stake. Kind words won’t do that.
“Your brooding isn’t helping either.” Brian faces me. “Listen, maybe it’s best if you don’t go inside. Let us take care of this matter for you.”
I side-glance at him. “Have you forgotten who’s alpha?”
“No, I haven’t. But have you forgotten about your seat on Council? You can’t risk losing it.”
“Don’t worry about my damned seat,” I shoot back. “I won’t lose it, not because of the Ryders.”
“Okay.” Brian drags a hand through his hair. “You have to stay focused, Brady. I promise you… not one of the Ryders or their crew will leave here alive. But if you insist on doing this yourself, I’ll gladly clean up the mess. When I’m done, no one will know you had a hand in it.”
I chuckle.
He squints at me. “What’s so funny?”
“What changed with you? When Mom said you would become beta, you pitched a fit. Later, you told me you didn’t want this life.”
The corners of Brian’s mouth curl upwards. “Tia.”
Oh, this should be good. I shift in my seat to get a better look at my not-so-little brother. “Do tell.”
“She just helped me see it as an opportunity instead of a death sentence. You won’t be alpha forever. We can’t risk losing the pack simply because I’m not ready. Tia helped me see that being beta helps me prepare to take your place one day. Thankfully, my mate was ready to be a beta’s wife. Without her, I couldn’t do this.”
“So, this is about an obligation for you?” I’m hoping the answer is a resounding no. A sense of duty is what keeps Audra clinging to her pack. I won’t let my brother follow down that dreaded path.
“No. I agree with Tia about not putting family and pack above self. No one should put their entire life on hold because of an obligation to others.” He pauses for a moment. “No disrespect.”
“None taken.” My head bobs up and down. “I get it. Believe it or not, I agree with you. It’s been the entire problem between Audra and me.”
“Sorry, brother, you got that wrong. Audra’s stubbornness and her wanting to do the right thing has been the issue. If her parents hadn’t died, you wouldn’t be going through this.”
“I don’t know, Brian. It’s not like her brother was going to step up. He’ll never do it. I’m not sure how this is going to work. If it will ever work.”
Smiling, Brian shakes his head. “Nonsense. It will work if you want it to. Here’s the thing… You have an opportunity to do this differently than Mom and Dad. I believe Audra likes being in charge. Don’t relegate her to being an alpha’s wife. She’ll hate it. Eventually, she’ll hate you too.”
“How’d you get so smart, baby brother?”
“I’ve had plenty of time watching all my brothers be stupid.” He laughs briefly before reaching into his pocket and removing his phone. Reading the screen, Brian says, “It’s time to move.”
The condemned building looms in front of us like a brick skeleton. Its missing doors can either work for us or against us—neither side can use them to hide behind. Not a good idea if shots are fired. Wolves pad across the cracked parking lot and disappear inside the ruined complex. Glass and debris crunch beneath my boots. The area smells of urine, wet dog, and decay. Hard to believe this used to be where Falls Creek’s teenagers came looking to get high or get laid or both.
Tiny footsteps from vermin skitter across the concrete floor, awakening my wolf. He wants out, but change needs to wait for the right moment. Too soon and I give myself away. Too late and Calhoun gets the upper hand.
Brian taps my shoulder and points left. I nod and he takes off. Exposed rebar, dangling pipes, and loops of loose wiring overhead keep me bobbing and weaving. Audra’s scent—sweet and warm like a bright, summer’s day—permeates the air, but I can’t pinpoint a definite direction. At the end of the hall, a dim light glows. A chain is dragged across the floor. My gut tells me that’s where my love is held.
The stench of unbathed flesh crosses my nose and turns my stomach. I avoid inhaling too deep. My eyes scan the dark room for the culprit. I can hear his breathing. What the fuck is he waiting for?
“Scared to face me, asshole?” I shout into the abyss.
Footsteps shuffle across the trash-covered concrete. The closer that stinky bastard gets, the stronger his stench gets. My hand goes to the knife hidden inside my waistband, but I don’t remove the blade. Ryders always fight unfair. They’re the types who bring weapons to a fist fight. Lucky for me, the cat doesn’t like guns.
Before I can remove the blade, something barrels into me from behind.
“Got ‘em, Cal! Whatcha want me to do?” shouts Drew—the dim-wit of the family. He presses a blade against my neck.
Through gritted teeth, I say, “As soon as I get off this floor, I’m killing the both of you!”
“I ain’t ever been scared of you, Pretty Boy.” Calhoun crouches in front of me with his fists balled. “This should be fun. When I kill you, then I’m going to fuck my new female all night long.”
“The plan, Cal?”
He stands. “Give me five and then let the chase begin.”
“Where’s Audra?” My wolf snarls.
You’re stalling.
Not stalling. Getting confirmation.
But…
No arguing. This fucker is all mine.
Needless to say, my wolf doesn’t like having his leash yanked.
Calhoun grins down at me. “No fear. She’s recovering from a good fucking. You have a choice—rescue the bitch or come find me. Either way, this shit ends tonight, and I don’t plan on dying.”
His footsteps collide with the concrete as he runs off. Drew’s arms slacken on me. I actually pity the fool. Anyone knows you don’t just let your enemy loose without subduing them first. My fingers wrap around my weapon’s hilt. I spring up from the floor, turn, and plunge the blade into the side of Drew’s neck. Blood flowers from the wound, and the youngest Ryder chokes on it. He stumbles backward. His eyes widen in disbelief before he drops to his knees.
As he lies dying, I lean over and spit in his face. “That’s for Hank Richards.”
Part of me wants to find Audra, but my wolf… He wants a fight. Time to find Calhoun’s smelly ass.
Stepping over Drew’s body, I head in the direction of the stench still lingering in the air. If there was time, I’d let my beast loose, but it’s too much of a risk. Calhoun could be waiting in the shadows. As soon as I start transforming, he could pounce and kill me at my most vulnerable point. No. This kill is going to happen the old-fashioned way—male on male.
Cocking my head, I hear shuffling from another hallway. Wasting no time, I move quickly toward the sound. The sight before me makes my heart stop, and my wolf threatens to lunge forward. I’m in a room with a human-sized exercise pen. Over it hangs a single light bulb casting a sickly yellow glow. My jaw drops when I see Audra sitting on a flimsy, nasty-ass mattress. The sight of her chained up, naked, like a dog makes my blood boil.
“Inviting, isn’t she?” The voice comes from behind me.
How the hell did Calhoun get past me? A dagger sails past my head and embeds itself into a wooden support beam. I whirl around, but the fucker’s gone. Damn ass wants to play cat and mouse games, but I’m nobody’s mouse.
I glance over at Audra. Her head lifts, and our eyes meet. “Sugar, I’ll be back. I’ve got to take care of this ass first.”
“Be careful, babe.”
“Always.”
Gripping my blade tighter, I leave the room determined that this is the last time I chase down a Ryder.
Minutes later, I’m outside. No sign of Calhoun. Even the stench has died down. Brian and a couple of wolves approach me.
“Have you seen, Cal?” I ask no one in particular.
Brian wipes at the blood on his cheek. He turns the wolves gathered. “Spread out. Find that SOB. I don’t care what you have to do to keep his ass alive. The kill belongs to the alpha. Understood?”
Grumbled agreement rises up before the wolves run off.
“I’m doubling back,” I say to Brian. “He has to be in the building. He’s too dumb to leave.”
“Agreed.” My brother removes a gun from his waistband and cocks it. “Just being prepared, Brady. We go in together and split up. If I find him first, I’ll just wound him. You finish the job.”
I nod, and we run back to the building.
It feels like an hour has passed, but I know it hasn’t been that long. I take the stairs at the end of a hallway and go up to the second floor. No stench up here. I’m about to return to the first floor when I hear a crash.
The roof.
That motherfucker would go up there. He’s probably hoping that I’ll take the bait. Fight his ass and end up falling. Not happening.
As quick as I can, I return to the first floor. Who I’m looking for is at the bottom of the stairs.
“You found him?” Elsbeth asks.
“On the roof. I need a boundary spell or something.”
“Already done. Handle your business, Alpha. I’ll find Brian’s wife.”
I nod and retrace my steps. Thoughts of Audra are on my mind. I realize Calhoun didn’t physically do anything to harm her, but the idea alone is enough for him to suffer. Nobody threatens my mate.
Calhoun is waiting in the center of the roof when I emerge from the stairwell. The moonlight glints off the steel pipe in his hand. Dumb fuck!
“Took you long enough, Pretty Boy! Guess wolves ain’t that good at tracking.”
“Anyone who has to track your foul ass needs a break for fresh air.”
Calhoun approaches with the pipe held high. “Time to get this shit over with.”
Removing my blade from its sheath, I say, “I couldn’t agree more.”
At first glance, anyone would say this fight is mismatched—Calhoun’s considerable girth against my slimmer frame. But it doesn’t take might to go up against the mental giant. Skill. Speed. Smarts. It doesn’t hurt that I have years of anger and frustration built up. We move around each other, neither of us committing to the first blow.
“Scared, Cal?”
“Shit naw. Ain’t nothing to fear from a damn Romero.”
“Then bring it and stop dancing around.”
Calhoun lunges forward and attempts to land a blow with the metal pipe. I slice at his arm, drawing blood. The action only causes him to spew profanities.
Standing tall, I wave him forward. “Come get it, asshole.”
One thing in a knife fight—you don’t attack the person holding the blade. Not unless you’re sure you can disarm him. When Calhoun makes his move, I make mine, plunging the knife into his side.
“Fuck!” He swings the pipe, and it crunches down on my left shoulder with blinding force.
A loud crack fills the air. Shit that hurts! No time for pain or weakness. Audra is counting on me.
Calhoun smiles, thinking he has the upper hand.
Footsteps move behind me. “Brady, you okay?”
Without looking at him, I tell Brian, “I’m fine. This fucker’s dying tonight.”
Laughter fills the night air, but the crack of my brother’s pistol cuts it short. The pipe clatters to the ground as Calhoun grabs his shoulder. When it’s obvious the slug isn’t going to take him down, Brian shoots again. This time Calhoun drops, clutching at his leg. It may be the easy way out, but I don’t care as long as this ass dies. I sink down beside the smelly male. Cold steel slides between his ribs, right below his chest, and finds its home. Crimson sprouts between Calhoun’s chapped lips. His mouth opens, but no words come forth. I push the blade in farther, knowing I’ve hit the right spot. I’m not aiming for his heart, but any artery leading from it. This asshole needs to die slowly. Calhoun’s eyes widen as he chokes.
“That’s for Braden,” I say through my teeth. My older brother had the same wide-eyed stare right before his life spilled onto the floor. We didn’t get to him in time, but Jackson Ryder got away with the crime.
Calhoun clutches at my arm, trying to stop the agony, but payback is a heartless, hostile bitch. Thrusting upward, I sink the blade in to the hilt. Blood, its coppery stench filling my nostrils, continues to spill from the wound.
Even if Calhoun could wrench the weapon free, it would do no good. It’s imbued with dark magic courtesy of Elsbeth. A tiny stab releases its power, and once free, no one survives a cut.
“And this…” I twist the handle for good measure. “This is for anything you may have done or thought about doing to Audra.”
I watch the light dim in Calhoun’s eyes. He lies there unable to do anything but wait for death. Ryders aren’t the only ones who can fight dirty. They’re not the only ones who can hate either. But my animosity ends here. I won’t let it fester inside me like it did with the Ryders. It’s unnecessary and doesn’t solve anything.
Brian taps my shoulder. “It’s time to go, Alpha.”
The overwhelming silence grabs my attention. No more growling or snarling from Ryders crew. Calhoun isn’t the only life fading from this world. Remorse doesn’t find a home within me though. The Ryders chose to die when they kidnapped Audra and Tia.
Like I said, no one takes what belongs to me.
It’s time for me to free Audra.