Page 48 of The Kill

Weston’s chest heaves and he launches himself at the door one last time, furious at being denied entry by a defence he cannot attack.

“Get out here right now!” he roars, fists clenched by his sides. Picking up a chair on the porch, he launches it at a window, shattering it into a million pieces. The noise makes me flinch, and I wince at the sight of broken glass skittering across the wooden floor of the elegant lobby. He stretches out an arm but when his palm slaps against the barrier, he shouts in frustration.

“I will smash every fucking window, every fucking door until you come out. I’ll burn this house to the fucking ground!” he roars. Lucian stiffens beside me and internally, I freeze. He might not be able to get in, but if he starts a fire, he could flush us out.

Panting hard, Weston paces outside. “Last chance.” He’s worryingly calm, his rage simmering now he’s decided on a plan. I’m running through all our options when he pauses his long stride, nose lifting slightly in the air and turns on his heel to face us again.

My entire body trembles, an automatic reaction to an alpha’s anger and I brace myself for his next words. I want to close the door and hide, but it’s better to stay here and watch what he’s doing. Even if I am terrified.

Lucian wraps an arm around my waist to keep me steady. I’m so focused on sucking in deep breaths and regaining control, getting my brain back thinking clearly, that it takes me a second to realise that I can no longer feel Seth’s weight resting against my thigh.

“No!” Lucian roars, but he’s too late. Seth has stepped past the ward, outside to within Weston’s grasp. With a triumphant laugh, Weston grabs him by the scruff of the neck and dips his head to meet Seth’s eye. I watch on in horrified disbelief as Weston’s eyes glaze over, and so do Seth’s.

“My, my, my.” Weston stands to his full height and turns to face me. “He’s not yours. He’s one of mine.” Laughing maniacally, he steps back, tugging Seth with him. Seth’s eyes give away his every emotion. He’s absolutely terrified, and just as confused as we are.

“He’s from his pack,” Lucian whispers. “What are we going to do? Mandy, we can’t let him take him!” Now Lucian sounds like a teenager again, his fear for his friend shattering the big man act he had going on just a few minutes ago. Resting my hand on his arm, I try to assure him that it’s going to be okay. I’m not going to let anything happen to Seth.

“What do you want?” I ask, resigned now to doing whatever it takes to ensure Seth’s safety. This is my problem, not his.

Weston stops, already halfway across the lawn, dragging a reluctant Seth behind him. Turning, he smiles, a smug, evil smile, knowing he has me exactly where he wants me. Whatever the reason Seth ended up on his own as a pup, in the care of a coven of witches who had no idea what to do with him, it wasn’t a good one. And I’m not about to send him back to that situation. Especially not with a man like Weston.

“I want you to come with me. Your alpha is keen for a reunion. It’s been a long time, apparently.”

Reluctantly I nod, “I’ll come with you, if you let him go.”

Weston nods easily, and I frown, taking a second to consider why that was so simple. “Expel him from your pack,” I add, needing to make sure Seth is free of his control. Weston curses and narrows his eyes at me.

“Fine.” He holds up a hand when I exhale in relief. “But… only if you tell me where your son

really is.”

Lucian shakes his head. “No. Look at Seth. He’s saying no. We’ll figure it out.”

When I look at Seth, he’s telling me with his eyes not to give Weston the information. But there’s no way I’m sacrificing Seth’s life for Noah’s.

When I nod, Lucian shouts in agitation. “No! You can’t do this. Tyson… we promised him we’d keep you safe!” Turning to him, I take his face in my hands and go up on my tiptoes so he can see me clearly when I say this.

“He wanted you to keep me safe, but only if doing that didn’t endanger you. This isn’t something he could foresee. I will not put either of you in harm's way.” Lucian shakes his head, tears welling in his eyes. “Tyson will not be angry with you. He loves you. This is beyond your control. Only a very strong alpha, like Tyson, would be able to fight a man like this. Not us.”

I need him to hear these words. And I think he does. The panic in his eyes ebbs away, and his breathing calms. When I nod, he nods along with me. I pull him into a tight embrace.

“Mind yourself, and be safe. Tyson will be back soon. And if there’s any way I can, I will be too.”

With a quick kiss to his cheek, I pull away and square my shoulders. “I won’t be telling you where my son is, but if you let Seth go, I’ll come with you to get him. Whatever our fate is, we’ll face it together.”

Weston straightens and stares at me. “Fine. Come on then.” Once I’m clear of the ward and within a few metres of him, he releases Seth and shoves him away roughly. “I, Alpha Weston, release you from my pack. Congratulations boy, you’re officially a mangy rogue.”

Without a second glance, Seth bolts away from Weston and straight to my side, rubbing his coat against my leg. Squatting down, I ruffle the thick coat around his neck and wrap my arms around him.

“You’re free, Seth. Next time you meet him, or anyone from that pack, they’ll have no power over you.” My voice is thick with emotion. I’d allowed myself to picture a world where Lucian and Seth would get to meet Noah, maybe even become friends and live together. Now I’ll be glad if I can just keep them all alive.

Seth whines and nuzzles into me, almost knocking me to the ground. Weston waits impatiently nearby, staring daggers in my direction and tipping his head toward the trees.

Pressing a kiss to the top of Seth’s furry head, “I know,” I say. “Go. Stick with Lucian. Stay safe until help arrives.”

Backing up a few steps, Seth’s eyes flash, and after one final snarl in Weston’s direction, he runs back inside, safely behind the wards once more. I breathe a sigh of relief.

Weston stomps over as I gaze longingly back at the huge gothic mansion which I thought looked so out of place before, but somehow fits this strange part of the forest with its messed-up history.

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