He was a beast.
A seer—an alpha with a white and a red eye who could see auras and bonds. He was utterly mad, aura like I’d never felt before shuddering in the air, smothering the others contending with it. And my mate had no mercy for the alpha who had his teeth at my neck.
I clamped a hand over my mouth, eyes wide as Vandle slammed the alpha to the ground, and, like a wild animal, dug his teeth into the alpha where neck met shoulder muscle, tearing out flesh before a packmate collided with him.
Too late…
Blood pooled, and the alpha’s body shuddered, then went limp.
Dead…
The world tilted violently. Another dullsnapmade me jump. My eyes flew to Vandle to see him with another still alpha in his fist, head twisted at an unnatural angle. There were others—three others, but they were backing up, hands out before they turned to flee.
I… couldn’t curse him. He was mad already, I realized.
Gone.
Wild, mismatched eyes scanned the area to see the threats gone, then he was prowling back towards me.
I barely had a chance to push myself up, but he was already there, caging me against the stone, fist dragging me up by the hair.
His teeth dug into my neck, but I sobbed, trying to shove him away.
The offer lit between us.
It wasn’t just an offer, I felt his desperation through it. It was a plea. Shattered need. Even now, shivering as I was, each inhale of ironwood and ember washed over me like a blanket.
Mine…
But Icouldn’t…
That’s why I’d run.
I couldn’t take the bond.
Again, he bit me, a low growl in his chest. Another offer.
“Vandle!Fuck—!” I recognized Phantom’s voice. I let out a whimper, trying to push Vandle away again.
I couldn’t do this.
He didn’t know I loved them already. Icouldn’truin them. Or him—if there was a way back for him, I would crush it.
Vandle crushed me against him, head snapping to the side, a vicious snarl rolling from him. Phantom stopped, eyes wideas he looked between us. Then Karma and Sin were piling in behind him.
“Shit… Crescent, are you—?” This time Sin halted at another of Vandle’s warning growls.
“Take the bond.” I wasn’t ready for how broken Phantom sounded.
“I c-can’t.” Tears burned my eyes, another shudder of fear rolling between them. I tried, again to shove Vandle back, a full scale panic attack threatening to sweep me away.
With another growl from Vandle, he dragged my neck in an arch once more, and I let out a whimper of shock. This time, though, when his teeth met flesh, there was no offer.
No question.
He did what should have been impossible with Sin already in his pack.
With a shock of pain at my throat, I felt a void swallow me whole, and chains made of shadows closed in as a dark bond locked into place.