Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
This isn’t how it’s supposed to work. When a challenge is declared, it’s done in public for the pack to witness. Jude rises and puts his arm out as though to shield me, but his father isn’t moving in my direction, and I wish he’d forget about me and only think about stopping his father. They should be separated. They should be away from each other until the fight for dominance is ready to commence. My heart races as the Betas grab their Alpha’s arms in an attempt to keep him back. He rips his arms from their grasp and pushes each of them away, shoving his hands against their chests. It is chaos before us, and as tears brim in my eyes, my little one cries.
The worry in Grace’s eyes and the sheer fear that fills the room is my undoing.
Jude’s brothers are shielding their mate. She’s in complete hysterics and trying to pull them back away from their father.
“You two want to fight me as well? I’ll end all of you!” He screams at his sons who are merely shielding their fragile mate from his anger. It’s obvious she’s terrified for them, but she’s going to get hurt. Just as the thought hits me, everything turns violent. If my back weren’t cemented to this wall I’d lunge for her and pull her away, but I’d have gotten there too late. Luke, out of pure rage, slams a hard fist against his father’s jaw. The sickening sound sends everything into slow motion. The Alpha’s arm raises and he shifts his hand, the claws extending and shining as they sharpen before my eyes.
“No!” Emma screams squeezing between her two mates and turning her body, her back to the Alpha to push Luke out of the way. Half of her body in front of Luke and half in front of Owen. She’s foolish to think she could do anything other than put herself into harm’s way, which is exactly what she’s done. Her shove doesn’t do anything to move Luke, and Owen isn’t quick enough to pull her small body away. Their father’s claws smack Luke’s chin and then lands hard against Emma’s cheek, splitting the skin and slamming her small body onto the table.
Veronica lunges across the table and reaches for Emma. But the vampire is slow. I’ve seen vampires before. They’ve recently come more and more to Shadow’s camp. Their movements are far too fast for my eyes to track, nearly a blur of jerky movements. Veronica’s speed is absent; she moves no quicker than any of us would.
At first I feel a hint of betrayal and nearly push myself away from the wall to grab the human myself, but then I see her own shock and hear Vince’s breath hitch as he races to be alongside his mate. Veronica’s eyes widen with fear as she recognizes her failed efforts. Her breath stalls and she frantically pushes her upper body across the table in an effort to reach Emma as she slowly slips off the table. I don’t understand. Nothing is as it should be. Veronica barely catches Emma’s small hand, struggling to pull her unconscious and limp body across the table. Vince climbs on the table and pulls Emma across to safely shield her from the snarling werewolves.
Her limp legs smack against the chair as Vince pushes her body to Devin. Devin’s grip on his own mate is harsh as he pulls her behind him. The air is thick with tension as loud growls rip through the air.
“Alpha!” The Betas yell out and try to pull the crazed man back from attacking his sons. A commotion of fury and confusion grows outside the door as several loud knocks beat against the frame. It’s a trap. My pup’s wail is lost in the commotion as I desperately wish it would all end. Devin moves to the door and slams it shut as someone tries to enter. Jude pulls Owen’s shoulder with both of his hands and Owen attempts to shift. Luke has already shifted into a stunning white wolf and his jaws have locked around his father’s forearm.
All hell has broken lose. A fire of fear races through my blood.
“I’ll kill you all!” The Alpha sneers as he attempts to shift, but Jude slams his fists into his father’s chest, pushing him backward. His arm is ripped from Luke’s jaws, spraying dark red blood; it splatters across Jude’s chest and the table. Their father lands hard on the ground and rises quickly as a gray beast. He snarls, exposing his fangs and lunges at Luke. Jude shifts and circles the two wolves. Waiting for a moment to strike. Owen shifts as well but struggles to find an opening to safely attack without harming his brother.
My focus is taken from the unbearable sight as Devin’s body is shoved forward from the door being pushed violently open by the heavy shoulders of several men. The Betas run past us, on our side of the table to prevent the intruders from interfering. “Challenge!” It’s the only word that registers on my left through all the screams suffocating the air. Men and women crowd the doorway, but don’t dare to enter more than a few feet. Their eyes wide with the same fear that churns my gut.