Chapter 44: Blood Among Brothers
1019 Words
Ryker's POV
"Stop hiding behind the pack and come face to face with me like a real Alpha would!" I roared, my voice slicing through the quietness of the battlefield.
My chest was rising and falling with anger and rage. Every inch of me burned with the need to protect what was mine—Lucy and our babies.
“You say you're powerful but you only hide behind the pack," I growled
My eldest brother, Hayden, stepped forward with a smug smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, little brother," he said with mock concern, "the pack is only here to witness you fall. Do you think anyone still believes in you as a capable leader?"
I didn't answer, but honestly, I didn't need to. The events of the past week haven't exactly been my best.
Before I could blink, two out of the five of my brothers charged at me.
I barely managed to dodge the first, but the second slammed his fist into my gut. Air rushed out of my lungs, and I stumbled back, spitting out blood onto the dirt.
“Ahhh" I screamed in pain. I could feel my organs moving inside me.
"Had enough?" one sneered.
I wiped the blood from my mouth and smirked. "You're gonna regret that."
They both shifted.
Massive wolves, hundreds of pounds of pure muscle, lunged at me. One clamped down on my leg, tearing through my flesh. The other bit into my neck, hot pain radiating through my entire body.
I was losing ground. Fast.
“Give up?" One of them asked.
Then, I saw a flash of silver claws.
The wolf on my neck yelped and stumbled back.
Vick?
He stood beside me, his eyes burning with the thirst for blood.
"Don’t look so surprised," Vick said. "Just be glad I got here in time."
I grunted, blood dripping down my chest. "What the hell are you doing here? I thought I banished you."
Why was he here? After everything he did to hurt Lucy and plan my demise.
"Saving your ungrateful ass apparently. The councilman came to my cell last night and told me what was going to happen. I decided to come lend a hand—or rather claw, you’re welcome."
I didn't have time to debate on the matter, I indeed needed the extra set of claws.
With his help, we fought the two wolves back. Blow after blow, bite after bite, until they shifted back to human form and collapsed on the ground, both unconscious.
I was covered in blood, limping, but still standing.
"Don't think this changes anything. You betrayed me, Vick," I hissed, reminding him what he had done to me—to us. "What kind of best friend does that?"
Vick sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Come on Ryker, that's all in the past. I admit, I made a mistake. Anyways, Selena’s the one who wanted to get Lucy out of the picture… My point is, I'm here now. And I'm not letting you die—at least not alone."
A slow clap echoed through the silence.
It was Hayden again.
"How noble of you," he said sarcastically. "I always admired your sense of righteousness, Vick. Too bad you're going to have to die for nothing."
Vick spat on the ground. "Bastard! Kiss my ass."
Hayden’s smirk vanished. He signaled the wolves again using his hands.
Two more of my brothers emerged from the shadows, larger and more terrifying than the first two. Their eyes locked on us like prey.
"You take the one on the left," I told Vick. I'll handle this one," I said, fixing my gaze on the larger of the two.
They came at us with pure brutal strength. I managed to block my brother’s strike and countered, slamming my fist into his jaw. He grunted but laughed.
"Remember when we used to play chase as kids?" he said between punches. "You would always cry when you lost. You're still that little scared wolf whom I used to beat up years ago."
"Shut up!" I growled, kneeing him in the ribs.
He reached behind his back and pulled out a knife, aiming for my side.
I quickly twisted away, grabbed onto his wrist, and turned the blade to pierce into his leg. He screamed, falling to his knees as blood gushed out from his side.
Vick knocked his opponent unconscious, both of us panting, badly bruised and battered but alive.
I looked around at the crowd. Blood covered my face and ran into my eyes. My shirt was torn. My chest heaved.
"WHO'S NEXT?!" I roared. My voice shook the entire forest.
The pack began to step forward, circling us.
"Stand down!" Hayden's voice echoed through the darkness. "Ryker is mine."
The wolves froze. They all stepped back, giving us some space for the final showdown.
Before I could catch my breath, Hayden vanished.
“What?"
He reappeared in front of me.
Claws raked across my face. I screamed as the sting spread through my skin. Blood was pouring from the wounds.
My knees hit the ground.
"Ryker?"
I looked up, that voice…
Lucy!
She was awake, still bleeding, but alive.
When our eyes met, it felt like we were the only two souls on the planet. For the first time ever, I saw fear, raw in all its forms, in her eyes.
"Lucy," I breathed, it came out barely a whisper.
Hayden chuckled darkly. “You must think you're some kind of hero, little brother."
He pulled out a dagger.
"You know, Ryker," he said, walking slowly, "Sometimes, you don't need to kill a man before you can break his spirit” He had a devilish look on his face, one I didn't like.
"Sometimes, you just have to kill what he loves."
He turned and flung the dagger—not at me, but at her.
He was so fast, I didn't see it in time.
"NO!" I screamed.
It felt like time was slowing down.
I lunged forward.
For her.
For our baby.
For everything that still mattered.
But I was too late.
- Writer
