Page 53 of The Kill

“I think you should stay right where you are.”

32

TYSON

Blake, with all his charm and swagger, is right on time.

For the first time in a long time, I’m not pissed to see my brother. I’m pretty happy about it. Blake emerges from the trees, his entrance definitely attention-grabbing.

Wilson sputters, looking completely stunned, then comes to and grabs Mandy, pulling her to him so her back is flush to his chest.

He was obviously not expecting to see the man I’ve been threatening to kill coming to our rescue.

“Alpha Steel. I think you’ll find this is none of your business and outside your territory.”

Blake merely raises an eyebrow, cool as ever, and positions himself beside me. Weston, who looks keen to get out of here, stands on one side; Wilson and his little posse, on the other.

“You’re supposed to hate each other. This is your chance to be rid of him, Blake!”

My wolf surges forward; dark, depraved thoughts of how painful I can make Wilson’s death flood my mind. The partial shift I’m in deepens, turning me more wolf than man, even though I remain on two legs. Blake simply raises an eyebrow at my unique form, returning his attention to the mess at hand.

“I’d suggest you release her, Alpha. You’re in enough trouble as it is.” As though he’s scolding an errant pup who’s late for curfew, he waits patiently for Wilson to think about what he’s done and to do as he was told.

But Wilson is an older alpha who knows his tenuous grip on his pack is slipping without an heir to take his place. The idea of giving up his position, and destroying his reputation, is worse than death to him. Wilson is a wolf with nothing left to lose.

“These two killed my son. Are you going to stand by and let them get away with murder?” Wilson tries to play on the friendship he has cultivated with Blake over the years. “Don’t forget, he tried to hurt you and your mate. He was going to take Zoe as his own, for fuck’s sake. I’m only trying to make sure justice is served, and that he can’t hurt anyone else.”

Wilson’s argument would be more convincing if he wasn’t practically frothing at the mouth with rage, and he’s holding Mandy against him like a human shield. He’s lost it. Briefly, I wonder where his mate is. If she has long since passed, perhaps this is the first stage of moon madness kicking in. If that’s the case, Blake putting him down will be doing everyone a favour.

“My warriors are on their way to Grey Ridge,” Wilson continues in desperation. “They’ll kill Noah if anything happens to me.”

I don’t believe that for a second, but Mandy’s eyes widen, the thought of her son being in danger is too much for her to take.

“You mean these warriors?” Lucian and Seth push three battered and bruised men, ankles and wrists bound, to the edge of the clearing. “I don’t think they’ll be doing anything to Noah.” Seth’s wolf headbutts the back of one man’s knee, and he falls to the ground, grimacing in pain. The others sit willingly when Lucian moves in front of them and bares his sharp fangs. Chest tight, pride clogging my throat, I nod at Blake who returns the gesture with a tight smile. They’re all okay.

Directing his comment at Weston, he tips his head toward my two boys. “You underestimated them.”

Weston scowls, realising the balance of numbers is shifting firmly in our favour, especially considering the last three warriors look pretty reluctant to be here. I half expect them to sit down with their friends in protest.

Blake addresses Mandy, who is shaking in Wilson’s grip, his dark claws leaving puncture wounds on her arm. “You okay?”

I can see her blood, but her normally tantalising scent is tinged with so much fear that it has no appeal.

“Noah?” Mandy asks.

She ignores the drops of blood rolling down her wrist and the way Wilson twists his hand, deepening the cuts on her perfect skin. Noah is all she cares about, and my gut clenches at the idea that she actually believed I’d give away his location to a man like this without a plan in place.

If I thought Noah was in any real danger, if I thought there was any chance someone could get to him, I’d have happily taken his location to my grave.

“Max put him on lock down when Tyson sent word that something was going to go down. He’s safe.” Blake’s words instantly comfort my mate. Mandy visibly sags, her relief immense. Wilson hisses, furious that his heir is, once again, out of his reach.

“You’re not getting near him. Give it up.” Blake takes a step closer to Wilson, the full weight of his power settling like a cloud over the expansive clearing. The three remaining enforcers struggle to keep their heads up, the dominance he can project too much for anyone to bear, even among wolves that are not his own.

It’s easy to forget that my charming brother has a deadly side.

When Blake and I advance together, Wilson panics.

“Don’t just stand there!” he roars.

---