Page 51 of The Kill

MANDY

I can’t believe my ears.

Bursting through the thick overgrowth and into the clearing that has filled my dreams for the last seventeen years, I shout, “NO!”

The words come out as a strangled sob, the details of Tyson’s deal with my former alpha ripping my heart to pieces.

Tyson whirls around, features harsh; those red eyes that I was starting to find warm and charming look vicious. Stumbling to a halt, I shrink back; it’s not my Tyson staring at me with eyes narrowed, ready to attack.

It’s a version of him straight from anyone’s worst nightmares.

Instantly, his expression changes to one of guilt. Completely stunned by my unexpected arrival, he looks me over quickly. Weston emerges from the shadows behind me and shoves me forward with a chuckle. Tyson rolls his shoulders and clenches his fists, trying to regain control while he looks at Weston with a hatred that could make blood run cold.

“You were supposed to stay inside.”

Meant for me, his words are harsh, spoken through gritting teeth, and I bristle at the reproach. It’s not like I went outside to pick daisies. Before I can answer, Weston places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a hard squeeze, his finger digging painfully into my flesh, and making me squirm to get away. I can sense his amusement as Tyson’s eyes flash red in the darkness.

“In an unexpected turn of events, it appears your guard dog came from my pack. We had a pup go missing ten years ago, after a pack member made an ill-thought-out bargain with the witches. I’d love to know how he ended up living with bloodsuckers, but that’s for another day.”

When Wilson edges closer, eager to get a look at the woman he’s been so eager to find, Weston brushes my hair back from my shoulder, revealing my fresh mark. Tyson’s growl becomes deadly as Weston’s hand skims over the raised, still-red skin. “Your precious mate here swapped places with him. Very brave indeed.”

The tendons in Tyson’s jaw twitch, the only sign he heard what Weston said. Refusing to give him the reaction he clearly wants, Tyson’s half-shifted form remains perfectly still.

“Mates!” Wilson looks between us with a look of disgust on his face, but it’s quickly followed by glee. “This abomination has a mate? And it’s her? Oh, this is just perfect.”

Tyson’s gaze darts to me, and I can see the fear and misery there.

This is not good.

“Mandy here promised to tell where her son is, but only if she could tell you herself.” Weston narrows his eyes at Wilson, then gives me another hard push in the back. “I’ve held up my side of the bargain, you can take it from here.”

Everything else around us melts away, the warriors, the memories of Lee catching me here, and Tyson coming to the rescue, the two alpha’s bickering over whether Weston’s debt is cleared. He was told to bring me here if he wants his secrets kept, and he’s done it. They fade into the background until it’s just Tyson and me, gazes locked, my heart breaking apart at the idea he could betray me like this.

“Don’t tell him,” I whisper, shaking my head, pleading with Tyson to ignore every instinct inside him telling him to do whatever it takes to keep me alive. “Don’t. You cannot give Noah to this man. I’d prefer to die myself.”

Tyson glances around, torn, his anguish palpable. The six enforcers standing in a semi-circle at Wilson’s back watch Tyson warily, ready to do their alpha’s bidding, but more than aware that the creature before them is not going to be easy to take down. If he attacks, at least a few of them won’t make it home tonight.

“It won’t take us long to figure it out anyway.” Weston steps closer to my back. “How about you make this easier on everyone, and just tell us now? Then you can take her home and get on with your lives.” He rests a clawed hand on my neck. “Or I’ll slit her throat. Your choice.”

Shaking my head, I plead with Tyson to listen to reason. “They’ll kill us no matter what. You know they will!”

He growls at the sight of Weston’s hand near my throat, not listening to my words.

“I’ll never forgive you, Tyson. Never.”

Tyson blinks, his clever mind spinning. I can see by his body language that he’s not sure what to do, even though I’m telling him. His wolf’s instinct is to keep me safe at all costs and worry about everything else later. But there will be no later if he does this.

“Please,” I whisper, voice cracking.

Tyson’s eyes glaze over. Looking away, he stares at the ground, jaw clenched, sorrow pouring off him in waves. Closing his eyes, he starts to speak, stops, mutters a curse, then shatters my heart.

“Grey Ridge. He’s at Rex Jones’ camp.”

His voice is quiet, but in the eerie stillness of the forest, nobody misses a word. Through the tears welling in my eyes, I stare at him in disbelief. This man is a monster. A monster that I let mark me. I gave myself up to save Seth, and he’s just handed Noah over like it was nothing.

“How could you?” I fall to my knees in the dirt, a gut-wrenching sob building up inside me as I watch Wilson, with a mere click of his fingers, send three of his warriors to track him down.

Tyson stares blankly at me, like he can’t fathom himself what he’s just done.

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