Epilogue

Joggingup the stairs to the house, I was whistling. It had been a long day, but I was home now, and I wanted to wake Kezia up, nice and slowly. I didn't sense her downstairs, and I ran up the stairs, hoping she was well-rested but ready to be awake. What could I say, my mate made me crave her.

Her bedroom door was closed, but I already knew she wasn't in it. Pushing the handle down gently, I crept into my room, looking around in confusion when I found it empty. Checking the bathroom, I scratched my head. I could smell her, she'd definitely been here.

Heading back downstairs, I wondered if she was with Hannah. It was unlikely, but I started to walk that way, and then I thought of Barbara. A connection to her mother would be irresistible to my curious mate, and with a smile, I turned in that direction.

Seeing Tev walk toward me, I tried to keep my pleasant outward countenance, but internally I longed to punch the fucker. Berating myself for being a piss poor alpha towards a male who had served his penance for the part he played in my father's pack, I dipped my head in greeting as I passed. The surly old bastard ignored me, which I was used to.

"Hey, boy."

Grinding my teeth, I turned back to look at the bitter old male.

White hot pain erupted in my side as Tev drove the knife deeper into my body. I felt the knife tear at my insides as he twisted it. Burning pain exploded, bringing me to my knees, and he followed me down, the knife held tight in his grip.

My head jerked up in confusion as I tried to shift and nothing happened. He grinned at me, his breath foul on my face.

"I'll kill you for this."

Tev laughed. "You'll be dead soon." Leaning into me, he gave another short stab into the small of my back. "Silver will bind you," he told me, hate swimming in his eyes. "I hope you feel every drop of spilled blood as it leaves you," he sneered. "You deserve this."

Standing, Tev looked down at me and spat on the ground. Wiping his mouth, he looked me over. "Kezia says fuck you."

Kezia? What did Kezia have to do with this?

With a laugh, Tev stepped over me, walking away whistling. Reaching behind me, I tried to reach the knife, but the more I moved, the deeper it seemed to lodge.

Pain, so much pain.

How had she survived this?

Was this her revenge? To make me feel what she had.

Falling to the side, I called for Royce, but the mindlink was faint, the power out of my reach. Fire burned through my veins as the silver took root, and I had no strength to rise.

I had no strength.

As I struggled to breathe, fighting to survive this, I had only one thought.

Kezia, what have you done?

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