“Shh, it’s okay. You’re going to be okay,” she soothes. She holds my head up with her hands since I’m no longer able to do it myself. My father and Sawyer continue to hold me upright so I can continue to look at her. My vision blurs a little, and I have to blink excessively to keep my focus on her.
“What did you do?” I ask her through the pack link.
“I couldn’t let you or Remi die,” she explains aloud so everyone can hear her. “I made a deal with Nicolai. I’m going to go with him, and you’re going to be safe.”
“No!”
“It’s okay, Ryker.” She leans forward and presses her forehead to mine. “I’m going to be okay. I promise.”
“I’ll find you,” I promise her.
“You have to stay away.” She leans back and shakes her head. “He’ll kill you and your family if you try to find me. You have to promise me, Ryker. You can’t try to find me.”
“I can’t make that promise.”
“You have too,” she pleads. “Promise me, Ryker. I’m begging you, you have to promise.”
“I can’t.”
“This is all very touching, but please wrap it up now,” Nicolai’s impatient voice interrupts, and Pruitt turns her head to look at him.
“Fuck you,” she snaps before looking back at me. “I’ll be okay. I’m also too stubborn to die.” She grins before leaning forward and pressing her lips against mine.
“Pru, please don’t do this!” My voice is full of desperation as I watch her stand and turn to face Nicolai. “Please don’t leave me again.”
“I love you.”
“Are you done now?” Nicolai raises a brow at her in question.
“We will be once Remington is back with her family.” Pru crosses her arms in front of her.
“Ah, very well.” Nicolai nods. He gestures at his men behind me, and they push Remington forward.
Once free, Remington breaks into a run, and Pru takes off, meeting her halfway. Their hug is awkward since Remi’s hands are still bound, but they hold each other as tight as they can. Pru carefully removes the gag from my sister’s mouth before leaning forward and whispering something into Remi’s ear. I can’t hear what Pru says, but Remi reluctantly nods.
Pru walks back over with Remi and hands her off to my mom’s waiting arms. Since I can’t turn my head, with my peripheral vision, I see Remi collapse against Mom, who uses one of her claws to remove the tape around Remi’s wrists. I also see the flash of a silver cuff being thrown to the ground.
Remi whirls around and stomps toward Nicolai. “Where is she?”
“Who?” Nicolai asks, but I can see a sly smirk build on his mouth.
“You know damn well who I’m talking about. Now tell me where that fucking bitch is.” Remi demands.
“Very well.” Nicolai looks over at one of the men still by the SUVs, and he opens a backdoor to let someone out.
I’m in complete shock when I see Avery slip out of the car and saunter toward us. There’s a pleased look on her face I’ve only ever seen after she’s torn out a rogue’s throat.
“Avery?” Sawyer shouts. He’s obviously just as confused as I am. “What are you doing here?”
“She works for Nicolai.” Remi sneers. “She’s the one who attacked me when I was on patrol. She handed me over to this sick fucker.”
“What? Why?” Sawyer questions.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Avery tilts her head to the side as she looks down at me. “I did it for us. We can finally be together. I just had to get her out of the way.”
I see a flash of blonde hair fly across the space, but it’s pulled back just as fast. Nicolai holds a pissed off Pru by her hair. His pale hand is wrapped around the long locks, and he pulls them back violently, forcing Pru to lean back into his chest.
“So quick to violence,” he observes as he runs a finger down her cheek. “It’s okay. We’ll be sure to condition that out of you as well.” He doesn’t let go of her as he addresses the group. “I’ve known Avery for quite some time now. Her pack was—allies with mine. They provided me with strong specimens. And I believe you found her when she was trying to deliver one to me. Isn’t that correct?” He looks at Avery for confirmation.
“They thought the rogue was attacking me, but we were actually just fucking.” Avery shrugs. “I had to think fast on my feet so you wouldn’t kill me, too, so I ripped his throat out. It actually worked out great for me. You guys would do all the heavy lifting of finding the rogues, and I would cover up the scent and make you believe you lost them before passing them over to Nicolai.”
“That’s how the red wolf got away from us so many times,” Sawyer gasps. “You let him go.”
“Just as I suspected,” Dad snarls.
“You made me a little nervous there for a second Elias when we were in the shed. I thought you had figured it out, but you trusted your son’s judgment.” Avery grins at my dad before looking at Sawyer. “And Clay, that was his name, by the way, wasn’t just a rogue wolf, he was my coworker. He was on a job for Nicolai when you caught his scent. He should’ve just left when I gave him the chance, but he was having too much fun toying with you. By the way, I forgive you for killing him.” She winks at me.
I wish I could move right now because I would really like to sink my claws into her neck.
“I didn’t realize the Grey you lost was the same Grey Nico was always going on and on about. But when you brought me to your home, and she was miraculously there...” Avery gestures at Pru with an annoyed look on her face. “I put two and two together and gave Nicolai
