Kassie spun around and punched Darren straight in the mouth. Right when she was about to put him onto the ground, he blocked one of her hits and kicked her in the stomach, making her fall backward.
I rushed over to help Kassie when Mason’s voice screamed in my mind. Look behind you.
As I turned my body, something yanked on my hair, causing my neck to snap back. One of the guards had moved in from behind and kicked me to the floor.
“Get down on your knees.” The guard commanded as he pushed me to the ground. “I hate to do this, but you leave me no choice.”
“I’m not lying.” I could understand why they wouldn’t believe me. They believed for the last twelve years I’d been dead. “I’m the princess.” I was trapped, and everyone in the house was busy fighting.
“Take her outside and shoot her like the liar she is.” Darren sparred with Kassie despite the blood still flowing down his body.
The guard yanked me into his hold and pushed me through the door.
“If you were who you said, then they would’ve found you.” The guard lifted the gun to my head.
“I’m telling you the truth.” I had to say something or I’d be dead within seconds. “The car exploded, and those two women in there were with me and saved me.”
“I don’t believe you.” He cocked his gun and steadied his hand on my head.
A second before he pressed the trigger, Mason ran out of the house and sacked him, making him fall to the ground as the bullet flew past and hit the dirt.
The guard grunted and rolled over, getting ready to fight Mason.
He wasn’t going to give up without a fight. Doing the worst thing possible, I grabbed my dagger and charged the guy, stabbing him in the shoulder. I didn’t want to kill him but make it so he couldn’t fight.
“Shit.” He screamed as he clutched his arm, and Mason put him in a chokehold until he passed out.
“They need help back there.” We needed to get to my guardians fast.
“Give me a second, and then you come. It’ll catch them more off guard.” Mason ran toward the front door and pulled out his gun. He hurried into the house, charging where I saw Kassie was now fighting someone other than Darren.
Just thinking his name must have summoned him because Darren came from behind the house and growled as he stared me down. He glanced around and realized that it was just him and me that were conscious. “You were supposed to die that day. I guess I’d better take things into my own hands.” He shook his head at the guard on the ground. “You’re like a fucking cat. How many times do I have to kill you until you’re finally dead?”
“What have I ever done to you?” I was a child, for Christ’s sake. What could I’ve done to make him hate me so much?
“You’re a coward like your father. He always wanted to do things for the greater good, not make himself more powerful.” His nose wrinkled in disgust, and he shook his head. “I kept trying to show him the error of his ways, but all it did was get me excluded from the spotlight.”
“Dad didn’t want the spotlight.” I remembered so many nights of him complaining that he wanted to take a day off, and then some pack would need help. He always made sure to help his own kind. “He was doing what he thought was right.”
“Oh please.” Darren’s lip curled upward. “You’re just as pathetic as him. What’s the point of being King if you aren’t the most powerful? At least you got to kind of grow up even though I am curious how you avoided me detecting you for so long.”
I wasn’t about to give him the story. “Let’s say I wasn’t really thrilled at the prospect of seeing you again.”
“At least, that’s something we can agree on.” The front door opened, causing Darren to turn around.
Tommy came outside. “Your Highness, we need to move.”
“Not until I’m done with her.” He held the gun at my head, and I did the only thing I knew to do.
I called my wolf forward. My body grew smaller as I shifted, and soon, I was on all fours.
“She is Elena.” Tommy’s loud whisper filled the air.
“She dyed her wolf.” Darren’s words fell flat. “Obviously.”
“That’s why you are black.” Tommy looked at him and back at me. “You aren’t the king.”
“Yes, I am.” Darren’s eyes lit up with rage. He turned to shoot me as Ella’s wolf came running from the side. She crashed into Darren, causing him to fall.
Tommy raced over to try to restrain Darren just as my uncle lifted the gun and aimed for his chest. The loud gunshot rang in my ears as the events appeared to be in slow motion.
The bullet lodged in Tommy’s chest and he fell backward onto the ground.
Elena, are you okay?
Yes, he shot the guard. I dug my paws into the ground and jumped, latching my teeth into Darren’s arm.
He cried out in pain as he called his own wolf forward.
Ella appeared beside me, and I motioned to the house. They need more help there.
Are you sure? She hesitated for a moment.
Yes, I want to be the one who takes my uncle down.
Let me know if you need me. She took off toward the mansion.
I rolled into his body, making him trip and fall hard on the ground.
As he began to stand, I pushed my legs and rammed into his side. He stumbled again as I went for his throat.
He stood on his hind two legs right when I was only an inch away. As he lowered himself down on me, his teeth dug into my shoulder.
A whimper escaped me, but I couldn’t let my injury affect me. I rolled on the ground so his body became stuck underneath me. As I stood, I turned around, baring my teeth at him.
This
