Bri glanced back. Most of the pack had dispersed. They’d chosen to scatter. My heart shattered. Though my beast had claimed this territory, the pack that resided here couldn’t capture my heart. They kept disappointing me time and time again.
“We’re missing a pair of wolves,” Vi said.
My head lifted. I raised a brow at the young woman scowling while she scanned the yard. Marcus and Jackson had disappeared as well. They could have been helpful in finding Alvin and Ness, but no one had thought to stop the two wolves from slipping away.
At least, that was how it seemed until Catriona rounded the corner of the house with a scraggly wolf dangling from one hand. She had the other hand wrapped around his muzzle. The rest of the pack followed behind her. Some bore scratches. Others had bite marks that dribbled blood down their forearms.
As their wounds healed, they seemed to let out a collective sigh. Catriona threw the wolf at my feet. Her lip curled as she stared him down. The old woman was full of spite and venom, it seemed. When she lifted her gaze to me, she said:
“We can’t do this on our own.”
My nose wrinkled. I didn’t want to give this pack anything. They had a lot to prove before I would step up and give them what they asked for. Maybe this was a start, though.
The pressure sitting inside my skull eased. The world regained a bit of color in places that I hadn’t realized were gray. I sucked in a deep breath, waiting for the prickling pain to return. It didn’t.
“Well? Will you help us or not?” Catriona asked bluntly.
My lip curled.
She bowed her head. “I know we failed her. I told her that I couldn’t help her, and that sits on my conscience every damn night. While I can’t change the things I’ve said, I can change my actions here on out. Let me be the person my sister needed me to be.”
I cocked my head at the mention of her sister but didn’t ask any questions. There was a story there, but it was better left for later. Instead, I lifted my gaze to the others. They shared looks amongst each other. One by one, they nodded or swallowed their fear before meeting my eyes.
The first person to kneel was one of the young ladies. Haylee? Or was it Kelsey? Ness had mentioned them in passing before. I had no idea which was which yet. The other young woman followed suit and bowed her head.
“Wait!” I held up my hands to stop them. “No. That’s not what I’m asking for.”
The others did the same. There were more people present than I’d originally thought. It seemed that the entire pack had shown up. Kneeling and bowing their heads, they showed me their loyalty. When they lifted their heads, I could see the determination now lighting their eyes.
Though their countenances were grim, they seemed ready to face the challenges ahead. One by one, they stood and introduced themselves to me. I forgot many of their names the moment another name reached my ears. It would take me forever to get to know them, but my beast memorized their scents for me.
Then came Connor. I braced myself, my jaw stiffening.
Connor nodded. He didn’t stick around, but bowed his head and went to help Ness’s father to his feet. Maybe, given time and a stronger pack, Connor could become a better man.
My beast growled. I could feel it moving inside me. The dragon wanted to wrap around these people, the shifters finally rising up against their tyrannical Alpha. Pain wrapped around my skull again. The world shuddered with shades of gray as a growl rumbled through me.
This was how it began, I thought.
The Treasure Sickness had crept in. Ness, the pack, this territory. All three had become my treasures. My control over my beast would begin to slip soon. My grip on it already felt tenuous.
I stepped back. Maybe I wasn’t ready for this. I couldn’t be a leader yet.
Ness. I had to get Ness back, first. She would help ground me. So long as I had her, this sickness wouldn’t be able to take me.
Blood, the beast demanded.Blood for those who have been hurt. Spill blood or no one will ever be safe again.
I shook myself, trying to cast off my beast’s thoughts. The dragon growled in my ears. People spoke. I could see their lips moving, but I couldn’t hear their words over my dragon’s demands. The beast consumed me, making my fists curl and my breath spark.
Spill blood or I will do it for you. No one can take what isours.
I shoved the dragon back, but it fought against me. It shoved with all it’s might. My skin stretched to the point of tearing. Pain sliced across my body as if I were being ripped open from the inside. I tried to take ahold of the dragon and drag it back down inside me, but I felt more like a fly on the back of a monster than the one with the reins.
Burn it down. Leave nothing here. Give Alvin no respite. He deserves to know fear, and we shall teach him.
No. I wouldn’t become my father. This would not consume me. It wouldn’t… The taste of blood filled my mouth. I’d bitten down on my tongue without noticing.
“Get up, Ryder.” Bri’s command shook the air. She loomed over me with her hands on her hips. “Get off your knees. You will not fall to this.”