17. Sixteen

Sixteen

Sawyer

Dad took a menacing step. He flexed his hands at his sides. Hair crept across his flesh as his hands partially shifted into his paws.

I gritted my teeth. It wouldn't be a fair fight. Drake would jump in to help dad, and Fiona too. Other enforcers were just down the hall, probably waiting to come to my father‘s aid.

I had one last ditch effort to try.

I pumped my fists at my sides. Tendrils of doubt and fear pressed down on my shoulders, leaving every muscle on edge. "You've gone astray, Dad, leading this pack down a path I can't follow. Mom would be ashamed."

He snarled, but I held my ground.

My lip curled up as anger replaced fear. "It doesn't have to go down like this. We can fix the pack. Together. Make Mom proud."

He stomped toward me. "Enough! Your mother has nothing to do with this." He shoved a finger at me. "How dare you bring her into this. You betrayed our family. Our pack."

I stood toe to toe with him, my hackles raising. "No. You did!" I wasn't done. Here went nothing. I swallowed hard. "I challenge you for the role of Alpha."

He blinked a few times, surprised, before he snarled, sending spittle flying. "No. This is my pack." He jabbed his pointer finger at the floor. "You won't disrespect me. And you sure as hell won't take it away from me."

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. "I've challenged you. By pack law, you have to accept."

He threw his head back and laughed like this was some joke. "You've forgotten who your alpha is boy."

He was refusing my challenge. It stung, but didn't surprise me. He'd spent so much time building his army he thought he was the only one capable of running it. Any other alpha would have to defend their position.

He didn't have to. The people running around the pack were all men and women who had promised themselves to him. They'd taken an oath, swearing to always stand by him. None of them would care. They were too far gone on the crazy train with him.

If I stayed to face him, I'd be fighting the whole pack by myself. And I would die.

A wave of nausea washed over me. I was trapped. My gaze darted around the room. There were only two exits. The door which was blocked and the window. "I'm sorry it's come to this. I didn't want it to."

I exhaled as a lump formed in my throat. "There was a time when all I wanted was for you to love me the way you and Mom did when I was a kid. But that man, that alpha, he's dead."

I trembled as the truth of my words washed over me. It affected Dad too.

A wave of emotions crossed over his face. His jaw went slack, and he blinked a few times. The forlorn expression shifted as red tinged his cheeks. He gritted his teeth and growled so loud I swore the entire house shook.

He charged me. I ducked to the right, but not fast enough to miss the first attack. He was much faster than a man his age should be. He dove for me again. This time catching my arm and dragging me to the floor.

I landed with a thump, hard enough to knock the air out of my lungs, leaving me gasping. He pressed his arm against my throat and snarled. Spittle splatted against my face.

He was going to kill me.

I drew in a breath and let it out, letting my training kick in. I brought my free arm up and threw a punch, hitting him in the jaw, then lifted my hips, throwing him to the side.

He scrambled across the floor, grasping for purchase, a look of shock on his face.

Yeah, Dad, I can take care of myself and I'm not afraid of you.

Only afraid of what you intend to do.

His surprise didn't last long. Dad was on me again in an instant, pinning me beneath him. He swiped his claw and then the other as he attacked. I jerked to the side, but not fast enough. His nails sliced into my shoulder.

I wiggled my knee, lifting it up and hitting him in the gut. I rolled, so I was on top. I threw a punch, hitting him in the jaw, but my triumph was short-lived.

Drake hit me from behind, sending me pitching forward just as my dad clobbered me with his fist. Drake wrapped his arms around my waist, lifting me up and throwing me to the side. My upper body collided with the bed, shoving it to the side with my momentum. I scrambled to catch myself but couldn't and ended up in a heap on the floor, jarring my elbow.

Drake didn't give me a chance to get to my feet. He threw a couple of punches that I blocked with my forearm. Pain ricocheted up my arms, sending tendrils of heat through my wrists. I kept my arms in front of my face, protecting it as best I could, waiting for the opportunity to strike.

Now!

Drake reeled back and laughed like he'd beaten me.

I jerked my knee up and into his groin. He pitched forward. I caught him by the shoulders, lifted my hips and rolled. I jerked him up and then slammed him to the floor, hard enough his head bounced.

Fiona shrieked. I'd almost forgotten about her.

Something cold splashed my face and chest. It burned my skin. I cried out as the cool liquid turned to molten lava against my flesh. Wolfsbane.

Fiona held a pitcher and jumped up and down like a giddy cheerleader. I shuffled backwards. Everywhere the water touched was on fire. My vision blurred. I could hardly see.

The wolfsbane worked through my system. I wouldn't be able to shift and they could.

I had to get out of here. Fast.

The window. I grabbed the comforter and tossed it at Drake. He slipped on the edge and tripped, falling to his knees. I scrambled across the floor, tripping over my feet so I was crawling more than anything. I grabbed the ledge and hauled myself up, punching the glass.

The shards ripped my hand as it went through the window. Blood dribbled out of the wounds, falling in droplets on the ledge.

I shoved the window the rest of the way open and rolled out. The roof was sloped on this side of the house. I couldn't catch my footing. I tumbled across the shingles.

I tried to stop myself, but it was no use. There was nothing to grab. I flinched, grunting as I toppled over the ledge.

I flailed, swinging my arms and legs wildly as I ungracefully plunged twenty feet to the ground. I hit with a thump. The air whooshed out of my lungs. Everything burned. I was on fire.

I couldn't move. My limbs weighed a million pounds, leaving me paralyzed. Had I broken something? My back?

It's the wolfsbane. It's in your bloodstream, and it's making everything worse than it is.

At least that's what I hoped it was.

Breathe. Focus. It's going to be okay.

I stared at the sky through the canopy of the trees. The moon shone brightly, like a beacon. Almost a full moon. It was breathtaking.

Luna, help me!

I'd never been one to pray to our moon goddess. Mother had.

If she were watching over us now, she would be appalled. Her children had been her world.

"Sawyer," Sloane and Lincoln said my name at the same time.

Did I will them here? Or had Luna answered my call for help?

Sloane and Lincoln peered down at me. Their fear wrapped around me like a vise. They were yelling something I couldn't understand. They shook me, but I was weightless now. Unable to move or speak.

I had to fight for them. We were going to get our happily ever after. We had to. This was what we'd all been fighting for and I'd been foolish, staying with my dad for far too long.

I was an idiot.

Snap out of it. Fight!

I blinked, their voices crystal clear. Their hands warm against my gnarled flesh.

Get up .

I ground my teeth. Pain sliced through me like daggers as I pushed to my elbows. My vision darkened. The world buzzed.

Don't you dare pass out. Not now. You need to run.

I rolled to my side. White hot heat scorched through my body. I panted, staring at the blades of grass peeking up through the dirt.

The tree line was so close but seemed miles away.

Warm hands pressed against my face, and I flinched. These weren't angry hands. Sloane's scent hit me first, bringing me back to reality.

She rocked me back and forth in her embrace. "Sawyer, you have to get up for us, please. They are coming."

Lincoln tugged on my arm, rolling me and then yanking me to my feet. I grunted in protest. My knees buckled, and I would've pitched forward if Sloane hadn't caught me.

Lincoln hitched my arm over his shoulder. "Come on. We are getting you out of here."

Sloane took my other arm, and the two of them took a step forward, dragging me along with them.

She curled her fingers around mine. "How far to the waterfall and cave?"

I wasn't sure if she was asking me or Lincoln. I tried to answer her, but only a croak came out.

Howls erupted. Glass shattered. My father‘s voice boomed, echoing for every enforcer to find me and drag me back to him.

The hunt was on. And I was almost out of time.

I stumbled, tripping over a rock. My leg was broken. I could barely put any weight on it. The wound on my shoulder was burning. I half expected to see flames coming from it. I'd been doused with wolfsbane multiple times. This was different.

I could hardly breathe. My chest hurt, making it impossible to draw in a deep breath.

I shouldn't be hurt this badly. The fall was high but not horrible, and the fight hadn't been overly debilitating.

I stumbled over the uneven ground. "I'm never going to make it."

Sloane squeezed my hand harder. "Yes, you are. We're going to get you there. Just keep moving."

Lincoln took more of my weight and sped up. "She's right. We're not letting them get you. We've come too far, Sawyer. We are all walking away from this together. Now come on!"

The tree line enveloped us and my mates picked up the pace, practically carrying me through the woods.

Twigs snapped behind us. Barks echoed through the trees. They were on our tail.

Sloane grunted as she ran. "We have to keep moving. Come on, Sawyer. I need you to fight."

I gritted my teeth as the memory of our time together just a few short minutes ago came back. That was everything that I wanted, and if I didn't get it together, I would never have it, and neither would they.

I'd already upset Sloane and Lincoln enough by not coming when I should have. I wouldn't let them down again.

I reached inside myself, pulling on the delicate string that connected me to my wolf. I couldn't shift, but I drew on his strength.

Lincoln must have sensed my intentions, because he stopped running and pulled away from me. He kept a hand on my shoulder to keep me from collapsing. "We can't get him there in time like this, but there's something we can do to help him."

Sloane tugged me forward almost tripping over her feet. "Lincoln, we're wasting time. Help me!"

Lincoln shook his head and put his hands on her shoulders. "No. We have to give him our strength. Remember how he helped you fight? How I've helped you fight?" He lifted his brows, and she nodded.

He met my gaze and inclined his head. "It's the same thing. We're just going to give him some of our energy so that he can run even though he's hurt. That's what he needs, otherwise they're going to catch him.

Her wide eyes landed on me. She put her hand on my cheek. "We're here with you, Sawyer. Run like hell."

They disappeared. But I could feel them around me, their energy swirling and intertwining with mine. The pain lessened to a constant agonizing ache. I gritted my teeth and sprinted for the cave.

My leg throbbed. Blood gushed from the wound on my shoulder, and my whole body burned from the wolfsbane.

I was going to make it. For them. For me.

I pumped my arms faster. My heart hammering in my chest as my lungs ached.

I was so close. The water burbled ahead, cascading down the rocks.

A twig snapped to my left, drawing my attention. A wolf lunged.

I turned to the right just in time, catching the wolf mid air. We twisted and collapsed to the ground together. He snapped his canines at me. His snout in my face as he went for the jugular. So much for keeping me alive. I pushed his head away as I kicked out and missed.

He latched onto my wrist, jerking his head from side to side.

I growled, punching him in the side of the head and then the neck with everything I had.

His grip loosened, and I jabbed him again this time underneath his jaw. His head snapped back. I kicked him in the gut with my leg.

I crawled across the ground, the leaves and twigs biting into my palms as I scrambled to get back to my feet. More paws beat against the ground. There was no time to keep fighting. I had to run and run now.

I sprinted ahead. The trees broke, the rocks of the cave coming into view. Did I have enough time to crawl inside and hide? There was only one way to find out. There was nowhere else for me to go.

I stumbled into the stream. The water was like an ice bath. I cringed as I splashed through it. I put my arms on the cave entrance; the water beating down on me like icicles as I hauled myself inside and crawled back as far as I could.

I collapsed once I was inside, gasping for air. The howls grew louder. The water splashed like someone was running in it.

Darkness clawed at me, threatening to pull me under.

"Luna please," I whispered as I fell into the darkness.