28. Twenty-Seven

Twenty-Seven

Sloane

Alpha Dane's fist flew at my face. I lifted my arm, deflecting it. His knuckles dug into my forearm, driving it into my face and squishing my nose. Still not as bad as if he'd punched me.

Panic gripped hold of me like a vise. I writhed, doing everything I could to break free.

Don't stop fighting. Keep moving. Do something.

I grunted. This wasn't like being challenged for the alpha position. There were no rules. I flexed my paw, extending my nails.

His grip on my neck grew tighter, squeezing like he might snap my head off. That might be his intent.

Well, I had news for him; I wasn't going down without one hell of a fight.

I let out a strangled scream as I raked my nails down his chest.

I lifted my left leg, opening my hip so I could put the bottom of my foot on his hip and shoved him away.

I pushed to my elbows, and he was back before I could get up. He put both hands on my neck again, forcing me back to the ground as he choked me.

I sputtered, clawing at his arm with my nails. I cut deep. Blood trickled down his arm, dribbling onto my face and shoulder, but his hold didn't loosen.

I had to get away from him. He was going to kill me.

I dragged my nails harder deeper, but it did no good.

This wasn't how it ended. I wouldn't let it be.

I rolled, twisting, so I was on my side. I groaned, my lungs screaming as they fought for a breath I couldn't draw.

I rammed my knee into his side. I sliced my claws as deep as I could get them down his arm. His grip loosened enough for me to scramble away across the grass.

But he wouldn't let up. He was right behind me, fingers grazing my sneakers.

I rolled to the right and kicked out, shrieking as I pounced at him to him, using my momentum to shove him to the ground. I straddled him, my pawed hand raking down his chest as I balled the other up tight. I punched as hard as I could with my hand as I dug my nails into him.

He growled, deflecting my blows. I didn't stop. I let out a battle cry as I caught one good swipe across his face with my nails.

Blood gushed as his flesh ripped away. Alpha Dane bucked up, throwing me off. He tried to corner me, but I scurried away. I caught him in the jaw with my foot, but then he grabbed my ankle and tugged me forward. I lashed out with my free foot kicking continuously.

There was a bellow, and then Alpha Dane went flying. I pushed up on my elbows, my heart racing as I blinked.

It was Sawyer. He tackled his dad to the ground. Both of them wrestled, twisting and turning as they fought to get the upper hand.

I sprang to my feet out of breath. My gaze watched, trying to keep up with their movements so I could hop in to help Sawyer.

Oh Luna, Sawyer. What happened to you?

He was a mess. Gauze was wound tightly across his chest, but blood and pus oozed through it. I had to help him before he got hurt worse.

I narrowed my eyes, watching, waiting for a moment. He tossed his dad to the side, and I took it. I curled up my foot and swung, catching Alpha Dane right in the gut. He curled in on himself. I wound up for another kick when someone grabbed me from behind, lifted me off my feet, and threw me to the ground.

My attacker held me tight, not letting me go as I wriggled, trying to free myself. He squeezed like he was trying to crush every bone in my body.

There was a snarl, and then the guy cried out. My body was propelled forward. I stumbled over my feet and caught myself before I fell. I scampered away, turning just as Lincoln clamped down around the man's throat, killing him.

Alpha Dane rammed Sawyer in the middle. He lifted him off the ground and slammed him to the ground. Sawyer landed with a sickening crunch . He coughed and mumbled as he cradled himself.

Alpha Dane shot to his feet, backtracking as Lincoln stalked him.

I raced for Sawyer, dropping to my knees and cradling him against my chest as Lincoln closed in his dad teeth.

I smoothed the hair out of his face. He blinked up at me. His hand shook as he reached for his pocket and pulled out a needle.

Sawyer coughed. Specks of blood flew out. He gagged and drew in a raspy breath. "I just...I just need another shot."

I snatched the syringe from his hand and set it down out of reach as I shook my head. "You don't need more of that." I placed a kiss to his forehead and stood up. "Lincoln and I have this. Stay still."

I balled my fist at my side and took a stance next to Lincoln.

Alpha Dane laughed at us. He still didn't take a serious, even though he had blood dribbling from his face and arm and pooling in a puddle on the ground. I'd done that Me. All by myself. And he thought I was weak.

He pointed at us. " You think that this is it? That you've won?"

I clenched my jaw, but said nothing. I didn't have to because he kept talking. "It will never be over. I've made sure that the future alpha of Pack Wolf Blood is safe."

He held his hands up and laughed out loud. "I've taken precautions to make sure the child will be raised in my image should something happen to me."

Sawyer coughed as he sat up. "It doesn't have to end this way, Dad. It doesn't have to be life or death. Maybe we can still work something out."

He arched a brow at Sawyer. "Who said it's ending, son. It's only just beginning. Maybe I won't be here to see it through, but Pack Wolf Blood will go on and we will rule every single pack in the world. Just wait."

I shook my head. He was truly delusional. "That's never going to happen. You can't control people. They have to have free will."

He snickered. "That's where you're wrong. Wolves crave their alphas command and attention. They need it."

I almost felt sad for him, but he'd become so deluded that this was what he actually thought. "Freedom and the right to choose who to love. That's what we crave. I'm sorry that you lost sight of that."

Alpha Dane clapped his hands slowly. "When I realized my sons turned against me, my thought process changed. I gave Drake very specific instructions to which he is already carrying out." A sickening smile split his face. "I have one last trick up my sleeve."

Before I could even process his words or ask what he meant. An explosion rocked the ground hard enough to make it shake. I stumbled, fighting to keep my balance.

A scream lodged in my throat as the house erupted in flames. Bits of brick and mortar sailed through the air. Pieces of it hit that wretched statue, knocking the alpha wolf off.

A weight pressed against my chest. Tears pricked my eyes and I couldn't take my gaze off the inferno.

Oh no. Please. Please, no.

My heart lurched. The world spun. "Brandon." I hollered my brother's name repeatedly until my throat was hoarse.

Alpha Dane laughed manically. "Any hopes you had at framing me are now burned to a crisp along with anyone that you might've put in the house to try to incriminate me."

Lincoln snarled viciously and attacked. He drove his father to the ground, snapping and scratching.

Lincoln got his mouth around his father‘s throat and bit down. Blood gushed between his teeth, oozing out of his mouth. Alpha Dane made a few wheezing sounds. His eyes went wide, and then he fell still.

I dropped to my knees. Tears streamed down my face. The world around me spun.

Brandon. He was dead. I'd sent him to his death. I hugged myself as I pitched forward.

Please, Luna. Please.

Howls erupted, drawing my attention to the fighting.

We were out numbering Pack Wolf Blood now. Men and wolves were dropping to their knees in a show of surrender. The battle was ours.

But at what cost?