19. ROWAN

Chapter 19

ROWAN

Ten Minutes Earlier

"We'll get him," Amand growls but I'm not listening, throwing another punch at the wall before stalking into the small arsenal I keep in the food pantry. Amand has always hated my disorganization but it doesn't matter. Vince just delivered our mate to a witch and possibly to his death. I might not be in love with Lev but the thought of not having him at my side, at our side, is unfathomable. Especially after the conversation last night where Lev told us that he could love us.

That he wanted to.

That he wanted a happy ever after.

It might not be possible for us with fatal attraction in play but I'm going to make our last moments worthwhile, whether it's a few days or a decade. My beast is just beneath the surface, threatening to unearth itself. Hearing Lev's voice over the phone has been terrifying to say the least, especially since we have no idea where he is. We also can't just call up Vince and ask since he's the one who handed our mate over.

Amand has the phone in his hand, on speaker as we wait for another clue. He mentions the woods and that's all I need to know. My magic can find him as we get closer but I imagine it has to be close to the bar. Lev's voice wavers but it's the scream that tears from his mouth that has a growl ripping from my throat. That witch is going to be shredded. No one will stop me from pulling her limb for limb until she's scattered over the entire earth floor.

The scream stops, Lev's heaving breathing meeting our ears. I'm halfway out the door when Amand asks for my phone to dial a number. I pay him no mind as I slip into the driver's seat, Amand taking up the passenger side.

"You don't know me but our mate rescued yours. We could use a little backup. I know that he worked a paid job and we can find a way to repay you but the witch has our mate and it doesn't look good. There's also still one missing Omega and-"

"Say no more. Send me your location and we'll be right there." The call ends and I stare over at Amand for an answer.

"Essence PI. They seem like they have a few resources if they paid Lev half a million dollars to complete the job. It's a last resort but we can't call the police. We'll get Lev and then we'll figure out what a future looks like.

I already know what I want in the future. Amand, Lev, and me. Anything above and beyond that is fine but that's all I need. If that witch rips my version of a happy ending from me, I won't rest until the entire world knows and feels what I've lost.

We park at the edge of the forest just behind the café, both of us hopping out to meet Cole's Alpha, two other Alphas, and a witch that I don't recognize following behind him. There's no time for greetings, just a mere head nod before we trudge into the woods, my magic guiding me to Lev. The deeper into the forest we go, the more my beast fights to be let out. It's been a long fucking time since either of us shifted. Our second form has a lot of pros in a fight but it also paints a much larger target on our back.

Being nearly 10 feet long and easily a few feet wide makes us both lethal and vulnerable. If it'll save Lev, I don't really care at this point.

Lev's magic signature hits my nose, my beast bursting forth before I can stop it. A hiss rings through the brush as I push forward, the sunlight dimming until darkness surrounds us. We all have night vision of some sort, Amand and the others shifting until it's just a group of beasts racing to tear apart a witch. Hisses and growls echo through the forest, a terrifying mixture of a pack. Basilisk and wolves working together are unheard of. Adrenaline pours through me as I slither across the earth floor, eyes trained on a small cave that holds my mate and the creature who will die at my hands tonight.

Or shall I say fangs?

A scream pierces the darkness, Amand doing nothing to slow my need for blood.

Take what is ours. Make her feel pain. Then we bring Lev home.

His words ring through my head, urging me on. The cave is not what I would have expected of an experienced witch, a woman who's been part of stealing Omegas away from their home. However, the several ingredients along the back wall and the circle of symbols in the middle tell me everything I need to know. Briar has her hands raised over her head as she hums an incantation, Lev squirming beside her.

Tears are streaming down his face, his back bowed, and his lips parted in agony. Whatever she's stealing from him ends now.

The middle of the cave begins to rumble and crack, a bright red light shining through. Absolute glee pours over her face as powerful magic spills through the cave. "You can't stop me! I have done everything right!"

Except survive, I think to Amand. A witch's spell can not continue without the witch. The wolves race toward the back wall, smashing and destroying her vast array of magical specimens so that none of this can be recreated. With each smash of glass onto the stone floor, my excitement heightens.

I slither in, watching as Briar's wide smile soon turns to fear and then I dart toward her. A bloodcurdling wail echoes through the cave as one of my fangs pierces her stomach, Briar flailing to be let go. The crack in the cave is still there, slowly widening but I'll leave that to Cole's Alpha and his team. This bitch is ours.

Amand happily bounds to my side as I offer him the kill, one of his fangs sinking into her leg. She's still sniveling and crying and wiggling but that is only causing more damage to her body. She's mumbling several incantations to free herself but the venom pouring through her will kill her before any of those can take effect.

The sound of ripping flesh meets my ears as Amand pulls back, taking her leg with his fang. Again, she screams, whimpering for safety but her cries fall on deaf ears. I would have still ripped her heart out for stealing the Omegas and using them as fodder, but our mate? There is no forgiveness for that.

Blood pours from her new wound as Amand returns for the other leg. This time, I pull back, relishing in the way her dying screams bounce off the walls, her blood coating my scales. Too soon, the glorious sounds from her mouth die off, leaving me with a limp, disfigured body as she falls to the floor when I finally shake her off my fang.

The cave rumbles as the witch from Cole's Alpha's team hums her own spell, brows furrowing as the cracks stop enlarging. The red light dims, Briar's efforts dying right along with her. Whatever she was trying to resurrect will stay where it is until the next bastard tries something equally stupid.

Lev stirs from the other side of the cave, groaning as an Alpha bends down to check on him. My heart jumps into my throat as I realize he's okay, his magical signature still there even if it's faint. Unable to change back due to the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I merely slither closer, hoping that our mate will not reject us in this form.

Amand makes it to Lev first, lowering his head to the ground so that he seems less threatening. There is nothing but relief and wonder in Lev's expression, tired as he is.

"You came," he whispers, reaching forward for us to come closer.