“You wanted round two. Come on, then,” I taunt.
He eyes my sword warily and I take a chance. I shift my grip, holding it backwards by the guard and I throw the sabre like a javelin aiming for his chest as my shift tears through me. The sword distracts him as my bones snap, fur covering my arms. My face morphs into that of my wolf and without hesitating, I lunge.
He doesn’t see me coming. I tackle him to the ground and clamp my teeth around his throat, ripping the flesh free. The taste of undead blood fills my mouth and I gag.
Shoving away from him, I stagger to my feet only to realize the asshole is still alive. He clutches at his throat, the skin torn open and his esophagus lying beside him. I see the bones of his spine through the wound and revulsion has me keeled over at the waist.
A curse has me turning to see Desmond deliver a killing blow to one of the vampires as he decapitates him with a wicked slice of his blade. The remaining vamp eyes him cautiously before turning, and in a blur, he disappears.
Des staggers toward me, blood soaking through his shirt. I rush to catch him as his knees buckles. “Just need … to catch … my breath.”
Samuel makes a curling sound and I curse.
“Fucker’s still —”
“Alive. I know. I’ll handle it.” My words come out garbled but they’re coherent enough in my between form.
After helping Des into a seated position against his SUV, I stalk toward Samuel and pick up my sword. His mouth opens and closes but with most of this throat gone, he can’t form any words. He can still heal, recover from his wounds, but I refuse to keep living my life looking over my shoulder. I shift back to my human form, my shirt torn and hanging from my shoulders, but I no longer care.
He took something from me and dammit, I’m going to get it back.
I drag the saber against the pavement as I move closer to him, letting the tip of the blade scrape the ground as I get closer. Small sparks flicker as it strikes and I watch, my eyes cold, as the vampire’s legs flay, his efforts to get away pathetic.
I don’t say a word. I don’t need some long drawn out monologue. I just lift my blade once I’m beside him and bring it down over his neck in one swift motion, making sure to hold his gaze as I deliver the blow. I want him to remember my face as he rots in hell.
His head rolls across the ground and I force myself to turn around and walk away. I’ve killed three people now. A part of me thinks that should bother me but … it doesn’t.
I find Des where I left him, phone in hand as he mutters to someone where he is and what his injuries are. I settle in beside him, knowing there isn’t much I can do until help arrives.
Thankfully, his color is still good. The Lycanthropy virus should repair the damage soon enough. Doesn’t mean the injuries don’t hurt like a bitch though.
Ending the call, he leans his head back and closes his eyes. His chest rises and falls and despite appearances, I know he’s awake.
“That wasn’t the first time that vampire’s tried to kill you,” he says. It’s not a question but I answer him anyway.
“The night of the game was the first.”
He nods, eyes still closed. “That why you never showed?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you into this. I thought he’d go away once a Pack wolf showed up. I had no idea he brought friends. I wouldn’t have called you if—”
“You should have said something sooner. You should have told us about the threat.” He releases a harsh breath. “Fuck, Isa. Why didn’t you say anything?”
I scoff. “I tried. Remember?”
“Fuck. Yeah, well…” He trails off. “You should have tried harder.”
Before he finishes the sentence I’m already shaking my head. “I’m not one of you. I wanted to explain so you guys weren’t angry with me, but my problems are exactly that. Mine.”
“Bullshit. You’re a wolf.”
A familiar voice calls out and we both jerk our heads to the left. “Isa?”
“You called him?” I grit out.
“I called my Alpha. They’re usually a package deal.”
I spot the man walking beside Rafe and my blood chills. The man who saved me at the game. He’s Rafael’s dad? He’s the Southwest Pack Alpha? I can see the resemblance now. The same dark brown hair. The same brown eyes and angry brows.
Oh, shit!
My heart pounds in my chest now for an entirely different reason.
Pack Alpha Castillo meets my gaze. There’s concern there but it’s fleeting. He turns to Desmond and checks him out for injuries. I spot Ricardo close behind and decide now would be a good time to make my escape, only Rafael is there, yanking me into his arms. “What the hell were you thinking? Fuck. Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Des said vampires attacked you guys.”
Emotion pools in the corners of my eyes. He cares? Like actually cares? He tightens his hold and out of nowhere, adrenaline slams into me.
His grip tightens when I move to pull away as he turns toward Des, completely unaware of the meltdown taking place inside of me.
“What the hell happened?” Rafael asks.
I swallow several times trying to force the lump in my throat down. I pull away again, but he only tightens his arms around me more. He scowls at me, his head tilting to the side.
“Let her go, man,” Desmond calls out.
“Hey. Isa? What’s happening.”
Des struggles to her feet. “Let her go, Rafe. Now.”
36 Rafael
As soon as I let go of Isa, she bolted. I tried to
