Chapter 29

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

Rowan

T he world around me blurred as I fought to stay upright. Pain radiated from my shattered knee, every step, agony. Wolves healed fast, but not that fast. I immediately searched for Evelyn, her face twisted and streaked with tears as Jasper held her with Blake standing close by.

Good. I hated that I couldn't be the one to comfort her, but was grateful that he'd heard my call to go to her. Nathan's power wouldn't let her rise, and if she tried, she'd only tear herself apart.

I needed to focus, which was damn near impossible with Evelyn breaking and my body right there along with her. I hadn't meant to wait as long as I did, but Nathan's power was staggering. It hurt my pride to admit it, but it was true. I'd realized the drawbacks of my plan the second I'd rushed into the clearing.

I needed hands to hold that canister, which meant I couldn't shift. It was a risk, and I wasn't sure yet if it had paid off. But there was nothing holding me back now. I finally let my wolf forward, gritting my teeth against the pain as I shifted through my broken bones.

Nathan was in front of me, gasping for air, but it only took him a split second to follow suit. If he'd been smart, he would've shifted a long time ago. I would've had to hail Mary the concoction from Lyra and Finn. But I'd counted on his arrogance—his desire to prove he was stronger when we had equal footing.

Or maybe he'd just wanted to hold that damn dagger.

I stumbled and caught my body with my forearms just as Nathan leaped. Evelyn's voice broke through my haze. "He's dying, Jasper! He's my mate!"

Jasper's voice was gruff, pulling her back. "You have to trust him."

I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stand. I had to finish this. It wouldn't be enough to incapacitate Nathan, not with as far as he'd gone and the power he'd acquired through the dagger. He had to die. And it had to be me who took his last breath.

Nathan's dominance wavered, his movements faltering. It was now or never. I pushed off the ground, muscles coiled and ready. Despite the searing pain, I forced myself to move, to fight. Nathan lashed out with teeth bared, but I ducked and countered with a swift kick to his ribs.

He swung again, slower, and I seized the opportunity to drive my shoulder into his jaw. Nathan staggered, but he wasn't done. He lunged at me, claws extended, and I barely dodged in time, his claws grazing my side.

Then he was on me, his wolf tearing into the flesh of my shoulder. I whirled, trying to shake him free, but he was rabid. Feral. I stumbled at the pain, the loss of blood. Nathan dragged me to my side, my fur matted and bloodied. I dug for anything—scraping for any last scrap of energy to fight.

"Don't you dare leave me!" Evelyn screamed, and suddenly, the bond between us yawned wide open. The vision of Nathan's wolf above me transformed back into the man, his face red and twisted with rage.

"You act like you have any better options. Who wouldn't want to be claimed by the alpha of Kitimat? What I'm giving you right now is a gift, Evelyn. You should try and be more grateful."

The image was so crisp, so realistic, I knew exactly where it came from. Evelyn. He'd said that to Evelyn. He'd put his hands on my mate . A rage so deep and hot bubbled in my core until it expanded and exploded outward.

I ripped myself free, leaving flesh and fur in his jaws, then charged his back legs, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone against my skull.

Nathan roared, swinging wildly, but his strikes lost their precision. For the first time, fear flickered in his eyes.

Good, asshole. You should be afraid.

I ducked under another swipe and slammed my paw into his stomach. As he tried to recover, I drove for his jugular. Pain shot through my leg with every move, but I wouldn't stop. He would pay for what he'd done to Evelyn and the she-wolf lying on the grass ahead of us. No other woman would have to fear because of his power. Because of his abuse.

Nathan wriggled free and reeled on me, his golden eyes wild and desperate. I used his momentum against him, flipping him over my shoulder and slamming him into the ground. He groaned, working to get up, but I was already on him, my teeth sinking deep into his throat.

Blood sprayed, and my own strength began to wane. My knee screamed in protest, but I had to finish this. Nathan struggled, and I locked my jaw, crushing his windpipe. He choked, but I didn't let up. I shook my head fiercely, tearing into his flesh, showing no mercy.

It was justice.

It was the way of the pack.

"Rowan." Mara's voice sounded behind me, and I realized Nathan's body had gone limp, the light in his eyes extinguished.

I released him, panting heavily, and looked up at the moon. My wolf howled, long and slow. The grief, exhaustion, and victory blurring into one emotion that humans didn't have words for.

Evelyn's howl joined mine, a haunting sound of triumph and mourning. I turned to her, my chest heaving, and saw relief in the eyes of her trembling wolf.

Strawberry. After hearing Nathan call her Evs, I would never, ever let that syllable leave my lips again. I tried to stand, to limp over to her, but could barely summon the strength to whine.

She dropped to the ground, nuzzling against me as the rest of my pack rushed to release the wolves still in duress.

Report, I pushed through the pack bond.

Clear. Tori responded immediately.

I turned my head. Where the hell was Jasper?

Releasing the last she-wolf now, Lana cut in.

Jasper, I growled. Panic edged up my throat. He'd been with Blake. What if?—

You're not going to like this. Jasper pushed through finally, his communication rough and winded. That scent Evelyn found? Ash and I caught a whiff of it. Right after I noticed the dagger was gone.