Chapter 31 Sydney

Chapter 31 Sydney

 

 

The scene that greeted me when I reached the compound’s entrance made my heart stutter. Pack members—some shifted and some in human form—charged at hunters. Bodies from both sides lay lifeless on the ground that was soaked with blood.

Horrified, I searched the unmoving corpses for my friends. I wanted everyone to survive, but if any of the guys I’d grown to love lost their lives, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. When I didn’t see any familiar faces on the ground, I moved faster toward the group of hunters ahead. They were easy to identify as they were all dressed in black—some wearing ski masks.

My stomach practically dropped to my feet when I spotted a face that had been a source of many of my nightmares. The hunter who killed Aunt Lydia and chased me to New Orleans. He stood in the middle of the bloody frenzy, surveying the area as if looking for someone. Maybe he searched for me.

Heart hammering and sweat forming on my forehead, I took a tentative step in his direction. Still, I had my shoulders squared, and chin tilted in defiance. I’d never let him or any of the hunters know how terrified I was. I didn’t see Cole anywhere until I was closer to the hunter from my nightmares, and I heard him shout my name.

“Sydney! Get back!” he roared.

That alerted the hunter to my presence. He turned, eyes zeroing in on me. Our gazes locked. His eyes widened slightly and then gleamed with satisfaction. His sinister smile was enough to make me turn and run, but I stood my ground.

“Am I dreaming, or did my favorite half-breed just walk right into my hands?” The ghastly scar extending from his left eyebrow to his right cheek moved as his smile grew. His appearance alone was terrifying.

From my periphery, I saw Cole running toward us. I glanced at him apologetically and turned back to the hunter.

“So, it’s me you want, then? Here I am. You can call your men off now.”

He stared at me, wearing an impassive expression. Then he shook his head. “I have to admit; you continue to impress me. Are you giving yourself up to protect a bunch of animals? They probably don’t even accept you. I know how packs work.”

I swallowed my bitterness. He was right. The pack hated me.

“Get away from her,” Cole snarled. His voice was deeper, and his eyes glowed red. His wolf was near the surface, and he could easily rip the hunter to pieces. However, the man had the upper hand. He raised his hand, revealing the crossbow in it.

“Hello, Alpha. I’ve been wanting your head on a stick since you slaughter my friends.”

The sun hit the tip of the arrow, poised and ready in the crossbow. It was silver. Just a slight movement of his finger and that arrow would be burrowed in Cole’s heart before he even made it to the hunter.

Nausea washed over me as I realized this man could kill my mate with one finger. “Cole, please, just stay back,” I said. “I’m the one he wants. If I go with him, your people will be safe.”

“Even if he has you, he won’t call off his men.”

The hunter’s eyes narrowed, then he glanced around. Although they had weapons capable of killing werewolves, the number of dead hunter bodies was far greater than shifters. I saw the realization gleam in his cold eyes. He might have the upper hand now, but they’d run out of bullets and arrows, eventually. The longer the battle continued, the shifters would gain the upper hand and kill them all.

“Alright, let’s make a deal.”

A growl resonated from behind the hunters. “No deal. How about I just kill you now?”

The hunter glanced back at Damian. He smirked. “You could do that, but I have a silver arrow pointing at your Alpha’s heart.”

A muscle ticked in Damian’s jaw.

“Or,” the hunter chirped, “I could put the arrow into the girl’s chest so her mate can watch her die.”

Cole’s sharp inhale was heard as the weapon shifted in my direction.

“What happens when shifters lose their mates again?” he paused. “They go crazy, don’t they? Maybe I’ll torture you and the entire pack by killing your mate, so they can watch you slowly go insane.”

I stared at the arrow pointed at me with sheer terror. Cole and Damian were absolutely still. This was bad. No matter what move they made, one of us would likely end up dead.

“I’m the one you came for.” I pulled in a deep breath. “You know you can’t win this war. I saw it on your face. You’re worried.”

The hunter scowled, confirming my guess. “I was supposed to kill you months ago. You know my intentions, and you still offer yourself up?”

A tinge of satisfaction went through me. “If that’s what it takes to stop all this.”

“How noble,” he sneered. “But this is no longer just about you. I located you months ago but saw the opportunity to have you lead us to more shifters. And you led us to the entire pack.”

Nausea rolled through me. It was just as I thought. I’d been nothing but trouble for Cole since I got here.

Picking up on my guilt, Cole assured me, “It’s not your fault. I should have known we were being followed here. I let my guard down.”

My shoulders drooped. His trying to take the blame brought me no comfort. I caused this. The hunters wouldn’t back down even if I offered myself.

“There is another thing,” the hunter said.

My gaze jumped back to the horrid man.

“Say I pull my people back for a little while?”

“A little while?” Damian asked. “Make it forever, or I’ll hunt you down and kill you myself… if you make it out of here alive, that is.”

“What else do you want?” I quickly asked.

The hunter smirked. “If you come with us, I know your father will follow. You can help me draw him out.”

Despite the madness happening around me, I zoned out. My pulse thumped so hard I could hear it in my ears. As I gawked at the hunter, my mind raced. When Adam hinted that my father was still alive, I disregarded it because there was no way that was true. Now, this stranger who wanted me dead was saying the same things.

When the outside world came back into focus, I was shocked to find us surrounded by shifters and hunters. Both sides eyed the other warily. The head hunter’s friends must have seen that he was cornered and stopped fighting to come to his aid. The shifters did the same to protect their Alpha.

The good thing was the fighting had come to a standstill. The bad thing—one wrong move from anyone and the frenzy would start up again… this time with Cole, Damian, and me right in the middle of it.

Pulling myself together, I swallowed hard. “Okay, I’ll go with you. I don’t care if you kill me after that. Just leave the pack’s compound right now.”

The hunter’s gaze narrowed on me as if he contemplated.

“You leave with him over my dead body,” Cole declared.

“You know, that can easily be arranged.” The hunter’s lips lifted into a snarl as he pointed the arrow back at Cole’s chest.

I inhaled sharply. “Please, everyone, just stop. I’ll go in peace.” I glanced at Cole. “One life for an entire pack. You know it’s the best choice.”

His eyes came alive with anger, and I think I saw fear in them, too. He shook his head defiantly. “No.”

“Hell, no.”

The voice wasn’t Damian’s or one of the others who had befriended me. When I realized it was from one of the men who had openly expressed dissatisfaction with Cole claiming me, I was beyond shocked.

“You won’t take her. We’ll fight to the death if we must,” another said.

My jaw dropped, but I quickly snapped my mouth shut. Even Cole looked a little surprised.

The hunter sneered, and his team readied themselves to attack again. The violent tension crackled in the air with more intensity than before.

“If you all insist,” the hunter retorted. That menacing silver-tipped arrow swung back to me.

My eyes widened when the man fired. However, Cole moved with lightning speed, shifting his body in front of mine. “No!” I screamed, expecting him to drop. When he didn’t, we both turned to the hunter in confusion.

There were many perplexed expressions in the crowd. The hunter howled and held his bloody hand. His crossbow sat on the ground. Yanking an arrow out of his hand, he examined it with a snarl. It was a replica of the one he had pointed at us.

“It’s him,” he bellowed. “He’s here!”

The other hunters murmured their apparent fear, and I frowned. The shifters seemed just as floored as I was. Who could have them so afraid? Or what? With the hunters distracted, Cole glanced around and nodded. He didn’t say a word, but his pack seemed to understand the command. They pounced on the hunters with vicious ferocity.

Cole lifted me off my feet and moved from the middle of the fight. I heard the hunter’s roar and knew he was angry I’d gotten away again. This was all wrong. I was supposed to give myself up, and the rest of the pack was supposed to be safe. Instead, they were immersed in round two of a bloody battle.

When my feet touched the ground, I swatted Cole’s hand away. “Are you crazy?” I screeched. “Why would you risk your entire family’s lives to protect me?” The hunters were skilled and bloodthirsty. They’d kill many shifters even if they lost, and I’d wallow in guilt for the rest of my days. “I almost ended this. Why would you—”

He grasped my arms and gave me a slight shake. Maybe he was afraid I had descended into hysteria. “I have it covered.”

“You have what covered?”

“Our victory.”

My eyebrows drew together, but before I could ask another question, a group of men and women appeared from the woods. They raced toward the fight between the hunters and the Moon Guardians. When I spotted Adam at the front, I blew out a relieved sigh.

He was a strong shifter, and if the Blood Claw Pack’s vicious reputation was anything to go by—the hunters were toast.

“See? You didn’t have to come back to sacrifice yourself to save us. I always have a backup plan. I asked Adam to stand by outside the compound in case the elders screwed me over and we had to fight our way out. But I didn’t expect we’d be battling hunters instead.”

I gave him a sheepish look. “Oops.”

He scowled, and I knew I was in for a lecture later. “Was the mysterious archer a part of your plan?”

He paused. “No.” Glancing around, he said, “I really hope whoever is out there isn’t a threat to us. Those hunters looked terrified. That could only mean—”

“Whoever is out there is a bad son of a bitch,” I finished.

After an amused grunt, he gave another wary look around. “Is Violet okay? Why did you come back alone?” Worry laced his words.

Violet was like a sister to him, so I quickly reassured him. “She’s fine. She would be with me still if I didn’t convince her to help a couple of kids instead.”

“How bad is it in there?” He asked.

Sadly, I replied, “I saw quite a few bodies.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw, and he inhaled deeply. “Right. I need you to get out of here. For the sake of my sanity, please do as I say this time.”

Not wanting to stress him any further, I nodded. “Okay.” I glanced over his shoulder at the raging battle where claws, teeth, and weapons clashed. “How do you suggest I get past that? Where do I even go?”

“You’ll have help. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually trust the asshole now.”

I was about to ask who the trusted asshole was when Adam jogged over. He looked way too calm as he shrugged back into his shirt after shifting. “Hey there, Sis,” he drawled. Holding out a hand, he asked, “Shall we?”

Glancing at his blood-covered hand, I lifted an eyebrow. “Been ripping out more hearts, have you?”

His smirk made me roll my eyes. “You know me so well already.”

With a sigh, I accept his bloody hand. We took off, and I glanced back at Cole. He watched us with a frown, and I knew he wanted to take me to safety himself. But the Alpha had to stand with his pack. I sent him a wave of assurance through the mental connection we’d forged.

Adam led me through the mass of bodies, expertly picking off hunters as we went. He didn’t seem to break a sweat. When we neared the gate, things seemed calmer inside. It appeared the male shifters had moved to the frontline to secure the compound, stopping more hunters from infiltrating. I gathered that the hunters who made it past the gate were killed by the shifters inside. The women were just as fierce and skilled at protecting their territory as the men.

“So, how’s your first battle so far? This happens from time to time in our world.”

Scoffing, I said, “I hate it, especially since this is my fault.”

“Don’t beat yourself. You’re a part of the pack now. They’ll fight for you no matter what.”

I didn’t bother correcting him. I wasn’t really a pack member.

“You’re mate said to get you to Violet.” Adam looked around the compound. “Who’s that?”

He still held my hand, so I guess he was super determined to do exactly as Cole said.

I spotted a mass of wavy blond hair. “There she is.”

Violet was busy pulling a wounded male shifter to one corner where another woman tended to others.

I led Adam toward her. As if sensing me, she spun around. “Sydney, thank God you’re okay.” She hurried over but paused when she saw Adam.

Adam had dropped my hand and gawked at Violet. As the two stared at each other, I frowned. I was obviously missing something. Had they forgotten we were in the middle of a war?

Seemingly recovering his wits, Adam said, “Uh… you need to get Sydney out of here.”

Violet’s cheeks turned crimson as she cleared her throat. “Right…” Shaking her head slightly, she returned her attention to me. “Come on, things have calmed down in here, but we still have to keep you hidden.”

Adam still ogled Violet when he jerked and grunted an expletive. My gaze lowered to the blood spreading across his chest.

“No!” I screamed as Violet gasped.

I reached for Adam, but he staggered back. “Run.”

I shook my head, tears gathering. “No.”

“Get her out of here,” he told Violet gruffly.

Wide-eyed, she stared at him but nodded and took my hand. I heard her sob as if in agony as she led me away. Then it struck me. Could Violet and Adam be mates? I didn’t think much about it because when I glanced back, Adam had dropped to the ground. My steps faltered, and I tried tugging out of Violet’s grip to run back to him. Had I found family—a brother—just to lose him?

The thought had tears blurring my vision and streaming down my face. Violet stopped abruptly, forcing me to stop too. “Shit,” she hissed. “Sydney, get back.”

I stared at the three hunters in front of us. “You can’t take three of them,” I said.

Her eyes flickered amber. “Watch me,” she growled. They killed my—” she stopped and inhaled.

“Adam,” I said miserably. I wanted to ask Violet if she’d felt the mate’s bond with my brother but now wasn’t the time.

“When the coast is clear, just run. Okay?”

“There’s no way I’m leaving you.”

“Think about your baby,” she pleaded. “And Cole. He needs you.”

Fighting back tears, I said, “Okay.”

Violet lunged at the hunters, shifting midair. Her massive animal brought down the three of them at once. As they wrestled with the wolf, I ran toward the main building. Maybe I could hide in Cole’s office and wait for Violet. Her wolf’s cry of pain made me look back. Blood gushed from her side. “Violet!” Immediately I turned back.

Before I could move, someone grabbed my arm. “Come, Sydney.” I gazed at one of the elders—one of the good ones—with confusion. “You carry the Alpha’s child, possibly the next Alpha. You must be protected.” I clutched my stomach. Holy hell. I hadn’t even thought of that. If I had a boy, he’d be in line to be Alpha if Cole remained leader after this mess.

He tugged me up the stairs toward the door. It seemed everyone was hell-bent on protecting me today. Not that I wasn’t grateful, but I hated it because shifters had died.

Adam, I thought with despair. I’d wanted to spend time with him. Get to know my brother. Glancing back where both be and Violet were, I let out a cry as a hunter pulled out a gun and pointed it at Violet. Miraculously, Adam had gotten up to reach them with a burst of speed to snap the hunter’s neck.

Clutching his chest, he dropped to his knees beside a wounded and apparently unconscious Violet, then collapsed again. “I have to go back,” I told the elder.

“No, it’s too dangerous—”

He lurched forward, carrying me with him. We both tumbled to the ground, and I realized he’d been hit with something because blood gushed from his chest. “No, no, no,” I cried, staring into the elder’s vacant eyes. I think his name was Jasper.

“Oh, yes,” came the chillingly familiar voice. “Finally, we have some alone time.”

I jumped to my feet to face the hunter who had made my life hell.