I tried to do this the civilized way, and it ended in disaster. I should’ve let her out at the very beginning, letting her destroy the threat. If I had, Jasmine and I would be on our way home right now, laughing about ways to torture Mason.
I took a deep breath as I leaned forward and closed Jasmine’s eyes. I kissed her softly on cheek and whispered I’d be back for her.
Something within me finally snapped, my wolf was in full control. Placing my hands on the floor to push myself up, I turned to face my enemy.
The gun was on the ground a few feet away, useless. The enemy stood a short distance away, shaking from shock as he stared at Jasmine in disbelief.
He didn’t have the right to look at her. He had no right to even breathe, and if I had anything to do with it, he wouldn’t be in a few short moments.
I took a measured step forward, power soaking my cells as I called on the change to happen. “You will pay for this.” My voice was an octave deeper, but steady as a rock, as I sized up my enemy. “You killed her so your life is forfeit. So says pack law.” I felt my face harden. “I told you to stop. You didn’t. I told you to run yet you stayed. Because of you, my sister is now dead. Run as fast as your vampire blood laced body can, because when I catch you, you’ll wish you’d never been born.”
“It was an accident, Darcy. I didn’t mean to shoot her. I loved her! I never meant for this to happen.” My enemy was frantic and began to back up slowly.
He mimicked the submissive gestures I’d shown Jasmine earlier. His hands held up in peace, but there would be none now. The wolf was here, and she was without mercy.
I took another step forward and jerked as my muscles and joints moved. It had been slow and painful for Jasmine, but Mason and I had been working on my changes. As the mate of the Alpha, he told me there would be times I’d be challenged and it was important I could change fast and often. If my enemy thought he had more time, he was sorely mistaken.
“You really should’ve run” And with that, a savage pulse pushed through my body. One minute I was Darcy and next I wasn’t.
Standing in all my wolfish glory, I saw my enemy cower as he watched me change into two hundred pounds of aggression and raw energy. I may not be as spectacular as Jasmine, but my chocolate brown fur was thick and luxurious, my fangs sharp and eager to shred.
My humanity whispered in my head, trying to convince me against attacking, but my grief held too tight a grip. Somewhere else inside, I could feel Mason was close by, but I shut the sensation off too.
This was personal and something I wanted to deal with. By killing Jasmine, my enemy had crossed a line human Darcy couldn’t argue with. Pack dictated retribution, and the thrill of it set my senses ablaze.
I stalked toward my enemy as it backed up, looking over its shoulder for help. Hoping for privacy to enact its kidnap, it had gotten just that, but it also meant no one would be coming to its defense now. No one would hear it scream in terror.
I faked a lunge, and it squeaked in terror. Head back, I howled, the noise jolting the enemy before me. It finally turned and ran.
My enemy became prey.
I paced back and forth eagerly, allowing it a few moments head start before leaping into action. Barking out a war cry, I loped after it, careful not to catch my prey too quickly. I wanted to draw out the uncertainty-torture it.
Down the street I chased, pausing to test the scent on the air. I knew exactly where it was, but also smelled the pack. They wouldn’t get here in time. Even if they did, this was my kill-my death sentence to execute.
I skidded to a halt at the opening of an alleyway. Instead of running into a populated area, or flagging down a passing car, my prey chose to hide where there could be no escape.
If it thought the filth which littered the ground could disguise its fear riddled odor, it was about to be disappointed. The trash crunched under my feet as I entered the space and stood for a moment, taking in my surroundings.
I ignored the rats rummaging around. Howling out the equivalent of “ready or not, here I come,” and slowly began stalking. It took only a second to narrow down where the coward was hiding-a boarded over doorway. Its sweat drenched body radiated a “here I am” sign. I crouched down and waited.
Moments passed. Silence filled the air. I wanted it to think danger had passed it by, and everything was safe. I wanted it to relax before I pounced and ripped it apart. Slowly.
Cautiously, I saw it begin to move, testing each movement for a reaction. When it seemed appeased, my prey stood up and peered into the alley way, scanning the area. It relaxed, releasing the tense breath it had been holding, and as it stepped out I growled. I snapped at the strangled response as my prey jumped back into its hiding spot. The smell of urine was strong as it wet itself.
Stalking to the opening of the doorway, anger and retribution drenching me, I faced the cowering lump in front of me. I could drag this out, make it suffer more, or I could end it.
Springing from my hind legs, I soared through the air and landed on top of it. With a feral bark, I demanded it look at me.
Recognition of its impending death filled its eyes, and my prey mouthed a silent prayer-a plea for divine intervention. Pouncing, my paws dug into its chest, pinning it to the floor. I leaned in to take one last sniff.
It didn’t take long before it ceased moving, and there was nothing left but carnage-blood and gore covering every surface. I stopped long enough to shake out my body, sending bits of flesh flying from my fur.
Nudging the lifeless mass with my snout, I growled a challenge for it to get up and fight some more. There was no movement.
Adrenaline still coursed through my body, but it was over. Justice had been served, with a side of ruthless vengeance, and it was time to change back.
I reached inside and called on the change, but my wolf refused to relinquish control.
I pushed, and she pushed harder.
I begged and coerced. She ignored it all.
It was then I panicked. It had been a long time since the wolf had been this strong, and there was no budging her. She was adamant if she had been in control to begin with, this all could’ve been avoided. We were to stay wolf, and everyone would be safe.
Realizing I couldn’t reason with her at the moment, I began the journey back to Jasmine’s body. She’d been concealed so I hoped no one had discovered her and moved her.
My slow steps became huge bounding lopes as I pushed myself to get back to where it had all started.
Nearing the scene, my hackles rose, and I let out a warning growl. Some of the pack had arrived and were hovering over Jasmine’s body. I barked for them to move as I roughly pushed my way through those who’d come. Daniel. Jonas. Eric.
The looks on their faces were a mixture of anger, grief, and shock. Violence was something mostly seen amongst the dominant pack members. It was rare for it to touch the females, so the death of Jasmine would shake them to the core.
Each of them looked at me cautiously, trying not to make eye contact as they assessed the situation. They could see my aggression, hear it in my low growls, and tried to show they weren’t a threat.
Crouched over the body of his sister was Mason, his head bowed as silent sobs wracked his body. I longed to comfort him but couldn’t as a wolf.
I nudged him with my snout, ignoring the blood stain I left on his t-shirt. His hand reached out and ruffled through my fur. It came back sticky.
“Hi baby, you okay?” He gave me the once over, waiting to see how I would react to him. I leaned in slowly, taking my time to pull his scent into my lungs.
Mason sat still, and a feeling of security washed over me. I nudged him again. He threw his arm around me, pulling me in close.
