Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jessie pulling Rico out of the remains of the diner. Chris and Tanner moved quickly, joining them, helping Rico toward our Alphas. Rico was limping but otherwise appeared whole. Without looking away from Livingstone, Ox put his hand on Rico’s head, running a finger down his snout between his eyes.
And through us all, his voice was thunderous.
He said, be ready PackLoveBrothersSisters be ready to move move move the house we need to get to the house.
“End,” Livingstone said, his voice deep and harsh. “You will end.”
“Come, then,” Ox said.
Livingstone leapt toward him.
And crashed into a barrier of wild magic.
Gordo Livingstone stepped from the shadows of an alley, eyes narrowed, tattoos alight and vibrant. Aileen and Patrice were with him, their hands raised. Mark stood next to Gordo, his tail curling around Gordo’s waist, eyes orange as he growled at Livingstone.
The beast crashed back to the ground. He rose just as quick. He bashed against the barrier again and again, the bones in his face breaking and reforming, breaking and reforming. Gavin pulled me away from Livingstone, his hands under my arms and gripping my biceps. My mother backed away from Livingstone slowly.
While keeping his hand pointed toward his father, Gordo lowered his other arm toward Mark, the stump preternaturally white. Mark bit down, spilling blood. Gordo grunted as Mark let go. He flung his stump toward Livingstone, blood spraying out onto the barrier, which crackled as it lit up.
But it wasn’t enough.
I could see the moment they realized.
Aileen paled.
Patrice’s eyes widened.
Gordo said, “Oh god no.”
Livingstone broke through the barrier, the magic breaking apart with an electrical snap. He took a step forward, the pavement cracking beneath his feet.
“Hey!” Will shouted.
Livingstone jerked his head toward the man standing on the roof.
Will had a knife in his hand. He wielded it deftly, flipping it until he caught it by the tip of the silver blade. He brought his arm back and hurled it toward Livingstone, the knife flipping end over end.
Livingstone moved, but not quickly enough.
The knife struck Livingstone, sinking to the hilt in his empty eye socket.
The beast roared.
“Fucking shape-shifters,” Will said, and he was smiling, he was smiling like he knew what was coming. I screamed for him as he held his arms away from him like wings. He said, “You don’t fuck with our town, you hear me? You don’t fuck with our—”
Livingstone was on him before we could stop him.
Will didn’t scream, didn’t even make a sound as Livingstone sank his claws into his chest. There was a horrible sound, wet and thick. Hillary shouted for Will, but it was too late. A bubble of blood burst from Will’s mouth. He blinked slowly as the beast pulled his arm back, his claws covered in gore.
Will said, “I mattered. I mattered. I… I….”
He fell to his knees just as Hillary caught him. She was saying his name over and over, but I heard his heart above all the din and noise. It stuttered in his chest.
And then it stopped.
“No!” I shouted, struggling against Gavin, needing to get to my friend, needing to help him, needing to save—
“Stop,” Gavin whispered harshly in my ear. “Stop. It’s too late. We can’t help him. Carter. Carter.”