18. Sawyer

Chapter 18

Sawyer

I knocked on Casey's apartment door again, frustration beginning to bubble up inside me. Still no answer.

I checked my watch for what felt like the hundredth time. He should have been home by now.

Maybe a last-minute customer had kept him at the shop longer than expected.

Pulling out my phone, I tried Casey's number again, but it went straight to voicemail.

A bad feeling started gnawing at me, something deep and unsettling.

Something was wrong. I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to act, and fast.

With a curse, I shoved my phone into my pocket and turned, heading for the stairs.

Just as I started descending, a sharp, searing pain flared in my shoulder, nearly making me lose my balance.

It was sudden and intense, like my joint had been yanked out of its socket.

I gripped the railing, sucking in a breath, trying to push through the sensation. But this wasn't my pain—this was Casey's.

The bond between us pulsed with fear, panic—Casey was in trouble.

I took the stairs two at a time, every cell in my body now wired with urgency.

As soon as I hit the sidewalk, I broke into a sprint toward Casey's shop, my heart hammering in my chest.

I reached for the mate mark, focusing on the connection, trying to untangle the knot of his emotions.

Fear, overwhelming fear. And something darker: Garth.

The thought hit me like a freight train, making my blood boil. Garth had been hovering on the edge of hostility ever since that race.

Now he was making his move, and he had chosen Casey as his target.

I reached Casey's shop in record time, my lungs burning from the effort. The storefront was dark, no customers in sight.

Panic clawed at my chest. Casey would never leave his shop unattended.

My eyes scanned the space frantically, and then I heard it—Benny barking from somewhere in the back.

Relief flooded me, knowing at least someone was there, but his barking was frantic, desperate. Something was wrong.

"Benny! Where are you, boy?" I called out as I dashed past the front counter, toward the back of the store.

Benny's barking grew louder, more urgent, and was followed by a low, menacing growl.

"Shut up, mutt!" a voice snarled from the back, sending a wave of dread through me. Garth.

I wasn't too late.

Without hesitation, I bolted toward the pet cleaning area, my vision tunneling as adrenaline surged through my veins.

Benny met me halfway, his tail between his legs, his body trembling with fear.

He whimpered as he reached my side, nudging at my leg.

"Stay here, buddy," I whispered, crouching down to meet his eyes.

He seemed to understand, retreating into a corner.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself before pushing open the back door. The sight that met me made my blood run cold.

Garth was looming over Casey's unconscious form, his fists clenched, his face twisted with rage.

Fury spiked through me, my wolf roaring to the surface, ready to tear him apart.

"Let him go, Garth," I growled, my voice low and dangerous, the shift already tingling under my skin.

Garth turned slowly, a sneer spreading across his face as he looked at me with contempt.

He had a slash across his face. Casey managed to hurt him. Good.

"After you humiliated me? No way in hell," he muttered.

I felt the urge to lunge at him, but I forced myself to stay in control, my muscles coiled like springs, ready to snap at any second.

"I'm going to get rid of both of you," he continued, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Then I'll tell Cooper it was all an accident. There won't be anyone strong enough left to challenge me. I'll be pack second."

I took a step forward, my fists clenching at my sides.

"That's why you hurt Casey? To take my place?" I demanded.

Garth chuckled, the sound low and vile.

"You mated him. Both of you are connected. Toying with him amused me at first, because I knew it would rile you up. But now... both of you need to go. My ambition is larger than just being second," Garth explained.

His words sent a chill down my spine. Garth wanted more than my position—he wanted to be the lead alpha.

He was nothing but a power-hungry bastard.

If he thought he could replace Cooper, he was dead wrong. But if he had his way, I wouldn't live long enough to stop him.

I could feel my wolf tearing at the surface, begging to be set free. I didn't hold it back any longer.

In a heartbeat, I shifted, the sensation both familiar and fierce as my wolf exploded from within.

Bones cracked, skin stretched, and within moments, I was on all fours, my hackles raised, snarling at the threat before me.

Garth shifted too, his form slightly larger than mine, but that didn't intimidate me.

I'd fought stronger wolves than him before, and I wasn't about to lose now. Not when Casey's life was on the line.

He dashed toward me, his massive body hurtling through the narrow alleyway.

I met him head-on, our bodies colliding with a force that reverberated through my bones.

We bit and clawed at each other, jaws snapping, muscles straining.

The space was cramped, making every move feel more desperate, every strike more savage.

His teeth found my shoulder, and pain shot through me as he clamped down hard.

I twisted, using the momentum to throw him off, my claws raking across his side.

Garth howled in rage, but he didn't back down. He came at me again, relentless. The fight was brutal, with each of us struggling for dominance.

The alleyway made it difficult to maneuver, forcing us to rely on pure strength rather than strategy.

Garth sank his teeth into my previously injured leg, but a flash of my fangs made him back off. It was just like him to play dirty.

My leg started aching with every step, but I refused to give in to the pain. I couldn't. I wouldn't.

I thought of Casey, lying unconscious just feet away, and that thought gave me the strength to keep going.

My wolf was driven by the need to protect, to fight for what was mine.

Garth lunged again, his jaws aiming for my throat, but I sidestepped just in time, using his momentum against him.

He crashed into the side of the building, disoriented for a split second. That was all I needed.

I lunged at him, but Garth was faking it. With a sudden twist of his body, he threw me off balance and knocked me to the ground.

Pain shot through my leg as his claws dug in, the injured muscles screaming in protest.

Garth loomed over me, a sneer plastered on his face as he raised a fist, ready to deliver the final blow.

Before I could react, I heard a faint moan. My heart leaped—Casey was waking up.

His voice, weak but present, reached my ears, spurring me on. I thrashed beneath Garth, trying to break free, but he had me pinned.

Garth's fangs gleamed in the dim light of the alley, poised to tear into me.

But just as he was about to strike, a metallic clang reverberated through the alley.

Casey, standing unsteadily behind Garth, had grabbed the metal lid of a garbage can and slammed it down onto Garth's head.

The shock of the impact made Garth stumble, his eyes wide with surprise.

I seized the opportunity and rolled out from under him.

Garth growled and turned his attention to Casey, baring his fangs as he prepared to lunge at him.

Casey took a few steps backward. Smart mate.

But before Garth could reach him, I was on my feet, my wolf surging with renewed strength.

Fueled by a mix of adrenaline and my mate's courage, I slammed into Garth with everything I had.

My claws tore into his flesh as we grappled. I felt an unstoppable force rising in me.

With one final surge of power, I tackled Garth to the ground.

His snarls echoed in my ears as I pinned him down, my fangs bared, ready to end this once and for all.

Garth growled, going for a final desperate bite, and I knew I couldn't allow him to live.

I avoided his attack and sunk my fangs into his throat, ripping it out.

His body went limp beneath me. It was over.

Panting, I shifted back into my human form, my body aching all over, but relief washed over me as I saw Casey rushing toward me.

His face was pale, his eyes wide with worry. He knelt beside me, pulling me into his arms without hesitation.

"You're okay," I whispered, pulling him closer. "It's over, Casey. He's not going to hurt you again."

Casey buried his face in my chest, and I could feel his body trembling.

His hands clutched me tightly, as if afraid I'd disappear if he let go.

My heart ached for him—this wasn't the life I wanted him to be part of, yet he had been dragged into it because of me.

"I was so scared," Casey murmured against my skin, his voice shaking.

"I know," I said softly, running my fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry. I should've been there sooner."

Casey pulled back slightly, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes.

"No, Sawyer. You saved me. I don't know what I would've done without you," he said.

I smiled gently and kissed his forehead.

"If you hadn't hit him with that lid, I would've been a goner," I reminded him.

He gave me a shaky smile, and the tension in my chest began to ease.

But then, Casey's expression darkened as he glanced over at Garth's still form.

"What... what do we do about the body?" he asked, biting his lower lip, clearly anxious.

I squeezed his hand, trying to offer reassurance.

"Don't worry, the pack will handle it. I'll call Cooper," I told him.

I grabbed my phone, dialing Cooper's number with one hand while keeping Casey close with the other.

Benny, sensing that things had calmed down, padded over and leaned against Casey's legs, offering silent comfort.

"Cooper," I said when he picked up. "There's been an incident. Garth came after Casey. I had no choice."

There was a brief silence on the other end before Cooper sighed heavily. "Are you both okay?" he asked.

"We're fine," I assured him. "But... Garth, I had to take care of him."

"I'll send someone to take care of it," Cooper said, his voice grim. "Don't worry about the cleanup. Just take care of Casey."

"Thanks, Coop," I said before hanging up.

Casey was watching me intently.

"Is he... is Cooper angry?" Casey asked.

I shook my head, pulling Casey closer again.

"No, not at us. He's mad at Garth. None of us expected him to take it this far," I explained.

Casey let out a small breath of relief, resting his head against my chest. "I'm just glad it's over," he said.

"Come on," I said gently, standing and offering him my hand. "Let's get you home."

Casey nodded, his grip on my hand tightening as we made our way back to his apartment.

Benny followed us closely, his little paws clicking against the pavement as we walked in silence, the weight of what had just happened hanging in the air.

When we finally got inside, I could see the exhaustion etched on Casey's face.

He looked worn out—physically and emotionally—but I also saw his strength.

"I'm going to grab a shower," Casey said quietly. "I... I just need to wash all this off."

I nodded, understanding completely. "Take your time."

While he was in the bathroom, I found a spare first aid kit tucked away in a cabinet.

When Casey finally emerged from the shower, looking a little more refreshed, I gently pulled him to sit down.

"Let me take care of that shoulder," I said softly.

He winced as I gently examined the injury, but he didn't complain.

With slow, careful movements, I popped his shoulder back into place, my heart twisting at the pain that crossed his face.

"There, all done," I whispered, pressing a kiss to his temple. "You did great."

Casey looked up at me, his eyes shining with emotion. "Thank you, Sawyer. For everything."

I pulled him into my arms again, holding him tight.

"I'll always be here for you, Casey. You're my mate, and that means everything to me," I told him.

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's arms, letting the warmth of the bond between us soothe the lingering fear and tension.

After everything that had happened tonight, I didn't want to let him go, and from the way he clung to me, I knew he felt the same.

"Let's get some rest," I murmured eventually, leading him to bed.

We curled up together, with Benny jumping onto the bed and snuggling into the space between us.