21. Dylan/ Whizz

DYLAN

I was ledup a flight of stairs, my heart heavy with the knowledge that I was being taken further away from Tommy and the other omegas who were likely still confined in the basement.

I glanced back, my gaze briefly lingering on the open doorway to the basement, and then a nudge in my back from the werewolf holding the pistol jolted me into motion.

He gruffly ordered me to keep moving, and I could only nod, swallowing my unease.

Moments later, I found myself in the dining area, where Gregory Hicks sat. He was surrounded by an intimidating duo of werewolves, both armed to the teeth.

The one who had escorted me in gave me a forceful shove, and I fought the urge to flee, knowing I wouldn”t get far with these odds stacked against me.

Hicks greeted me with a facade of cordiality, his lips curving into a twisted smile.

”Dylan, it”s good to see you again,” he said, his voice dripping with false warmth.

However, his expression soured as his gaze fell upon the prominent mark on my neck, a testament to Whizz”s claim on me.

”I see the bear shifter who found you and who wrecked my operation wasted no time in making you his property,” he sneered.

Hicks wasted no time telling me what his plans for me initially were.

“I was going to sell you to a very wealthy buyer. A collector. He told me he was only missing an omega rabbit shifter in his stable. You were going to be my ticket to retirement,” Hicks said.

A shiver of dread coursed through me, and I realized I couldn’t pretend to be scared and meek forever.

I met Hicks”s eyes and retorted, “Hicks, you should”ve run the moment Whizz dismantled your operation. You should have known better.”

Enraged, Hicks shot to his feet, his face contorted with fury.

In my heart, I knew it was a futile fight, but I couldn”t go down without resisting.

I attempted to fend him off, but the harsh reality that an omega shifter couldn”t match an alpha in strength and speed was undeniable.

”Boss, he”s here,” one of Hicks”s guards interrupted, and I was given a brief reprieve as Hicks redirected his attention to this new development.

I took a deep breath, bloodied and bruised, and decided to remain down.

”He?” I whispered, a sinking feeling in my gut.

Hicks”s sinister smile confirmed my fears.

”Why, your mate, of course. I left him a little bait, along with a message. I knew the chances of finding you unmated were low, so I settled for revenge,” Hicks hissed.

He “continued, I want to make him watch as I end you. You know what happens to mated shifters who lose their other half?”

“They commit suicide,” I answered, feeling numb.

The ache I currently was feeling would be nothing compared to the prospect of Whizz and I having no future.

I pictured Whizz’s agonised face after Hicks blew a hole in my skull and shuddered.

“Bingo,” Hicks said with a laugh. “Your Whizz would do me a massive favor by ending his own life.”

Hearing the sound of a single motorcycle engine outside filled me with despair.

Hicks mentioned leaving Whizz with some bait. That must be the kidnapped omega Marc and Whizz was trying to rescue.

Hicks also probably gave Whizz our location.

Whizz was probably so worried about me, he headed right for me and never even bothered with a plan.

I summoned all the strength I had left to shout. “Whizz, it’s a trap! Leave now!”

Hicks shut me up by kicking me violently in the ribs. I coughed out blood and grunted as Hicks ordered one of his men to tie me up.

I was too weak and tired to fight off the werewolf who dragged me to my feet and restrained my hands behind my back using rope.

He pressed a gun to my head and I could only watch, helpless as the sound of the motorcycle died down.

Whizz and Marc would enter the house any moment now.

Two more armed werewolves had joined us in the dining room. I swallowed, sweating profusely.

Whizz and Marc versus Hicks and his little army seemed like unfair odds. Believe in your mate, whispered my inner rabbit.

How was I suppose to take his words seriously? The moment Whizz and Marc ran in, they would be no better than walking targets.

After all I’d been through, after I’d work so hard to build a new life with Whizz—was this how everything would come to an end?

WHIZZ

I heardDylan”s shout of warning, but I paid it no heed. Marc and I had a surprise of our own.

As soon as we found Stan, Piston and Nitro arrived.

I updated them about the situation, and the four of us agreed to go after Dylan and Hicks.

Another MC member would also arrive to bring Stan back to the MC clubhouse, where he would be tended to.

Hicks and his people were expecting to go up against two shifters, not four.

I dismounted from my motorcycle, the engine”s growl echoing in the desolate parking lot.

Marc followed suit. I handed Marc my gun, because I wouldn’t be needing it for this plan.

Marc gave me a nervous look and asked, ”Are you sure about this?”

”I”m sure,” I firmly said.

The adrenaline coursed through my veins, sharpening my senses and clouding any doubts.

We had a score to settle, and I wasn”t about to back down now.

I knew this plan was reckless, but it was the only shot we had. As I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest, I made the decision to go through with it.

I had to act as the bait, draw their fire away from Marc, Piston, and Nitro.

It was a dangerous gamble, and I couldn”t help but worry about my MC brothers and Marc risking their lives as well.

With a deep breath, I started to undress, peeling off my clothes and casting them aside. My body tingled as I embraced the savage grizzly within me.

My bones cracked and reshaped, my muscles bulging and fur sprouting.

In moments, I had shifted completely.

Without wasting another second, I ran towards the house and burst through the front door. Bullets whizzed through the air, their stinging bites cutting into my fur.

I roared in defiance, and the sound echoed through the house. The pain was a distant sensation, overridden by adrenaline and the urgency of our mission.

The scent of gunpowder, fur and fear filled the air as I charged forward, mowing down the first two gunners who had taken aim at me.

Their bodies crumpled like rag dolls, and the room was filled with shouts and chaos.

My nose guided me as I tore through the house, and I could smell the distinct musk of Hicks and his wolves in the living room.

But there was another scent, one that was familiar and irresistible. It told me that Dylan was there, in the thick of the chaos.

I couldn”t let anything happen to him.

As I barreled into the living room, I saw the fierce faces of Hicks and his men, the eyes of the wolves who had caused us so much trouble.

And in the midst of it all, there was Dylan, his eyes wide with surprise and relief as he saw me.

”Foolish bear. Do you think you could end me and my pack alone?”

The words were spat out by a tall, muscular golden-haired werewolf, and I instantly recognized him as Hicks from the pictures I had on him.

Hicks stood confidently, surrounded by his men. But my focus was drawn to the figure behind Hicks, holding Dylan at gunpoint.

It was another werewolf, and the sight of my bruised mate nearly made me lose my cool.

I clenched my massive grizzly fists, fighting the raging anger that surged within me.

This was no time for recklessness; we had a plan, and it was time to execute it.

I wasn”t alone in this dangerous confrontation; Marc was right behind me, and I knew Piston and Nitro had stealthily entered the house via the back door.

Hicks, sensing the danger I posed, pointed a gun at me. At the same time, Dylan”s voice rang out in a frantic warning.

I could hear the desperation in his tone, the fear for my safety.

But there was no turning back now. In the midst of the chaos and tension, Marc, Piston, and Nitro entered the tiny space.

Gunshots echoed, mixing with growls and shouts.

The room was filled with a swirling storm of violence and conflict. I locked eyes with Hicks.

I told Marc, Piston and Nitro that he was mine and they wouldn’t interfere.

Hicks didn”t hesitate. With a snarl of frustration, he grabbed Dylan by the neck and dragged him out of the living room, leaving his werewolves to deal with us.

Enraged by his cowardice, I knew I had to act. I couldn”t let him get away with Dylan.

Without a second thought, I ran after them, my heart racing and my muscles coiled with tension.

Hicks managed to bring Dylan just outside the house, into the untidy yard.

He had a gun pressed against my mate”s head, and the threat of death hung in the air like a heavy storm cloud.

My body tensed, and I came to an abrupt halt, knowing that any wrong move on my part could cost me Dylan”s life.

”Not another step,” Hicks warned. ”I”ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

I met Dylan”s gaze, and in that intense, fearful moment, understanding passed between us.

He knew I had to act, to do whatever it took to protect him. And I was prepared to do just that.

As the tension reached its peak, Hicks suddenly pulled the trigger, and the deafening roar of the gunshot filled the air.

My heart felt like it had stopped. But at the last possible moment, Dylan stomped on Hicks”s left foot, expertly ducking aside.

The bullet went haywire, missing its intended target.

Dylan dropped to the ground, gasping for breath, while I was already in motion, barreling toward Hicks.

I speared him through the chest with my claws. Hicks dropped his gun. Then I went for his throat and watched the life bled out of him.

I dropped Hicks’ body. To my surprise, Dylan ran up to me. He turned around and I cut through the rope holding his hands together.

Dylan then enveloped me in a tight, trembling hug.

I held him close, my heart aching at the sight of his tears.

Wondering why he was crying, I gently pulled back from the embrace, keeping my hands on his shoulders.

I decided it would be better if I shifted back to my human form. Although it hurt as a few bullets had found their mark, I began the painful transformation.

In moments, I stood before him in my human form, my body bearing the stinging reminders of the battle we had just endured.

I returned his hug, and with my thumb, I wiped away the tears that stained his face.

”Dylan, why are you crying?” I asked.

Dylan sniffled and looked into my eyes, his own red and swollen.

”I”m glad it”s all finally over,” he whispered, his voice breaking.

We remained like that for a little while, just holding each other.

But then Dylan”s expression shifted, and he told me about Tommy and the other omegas in the basement.

”We need to help them,” he said.

Before we could take any action, a voice behind us broke the moment.

”We”re on it,” someone said.

It was Piston, and he was with Marc, who walked up to Dylan.

”Did you say Tommy?” Marc asked urgently.

Dylan nodded, and without wasting another moment, Marc and Piston rushed back into the house to free Tommy and the other captives.

”We did good here, didn”t we?” Dylan asked.

He sounded exhausted. I nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

”I knew you would come back for me,” he said.

”Of course, you”re my mate. I”ll always find you.”

”I love you so much,” he confessed.

A surge of warmth washed over me, and I pulled him into my arms, holding him close.

”Me too,” I whispered into his ear.