Page 143 of Scorned

My thoughts scattered like a thousand arrows raining down on a war, each of them waiting to strike me down. I swiftly rose to my feet and proceeded to dash across the room, skillfully leaping over any obstacles such as broken chairs, glass, and dead bodies that obstructed my path to the bartop.

My feet slid to a halt on the slippery, beer-coated floor as I rounded the corner, my eyes landing on my father who was lying on the ground, covered in blood.

Forcing myself to move, my heart raced with each step I took forward, before I tumbled to my knees next to him, taking his hand in mine.

“Feed room,” he whispered, gasping for air.

Tears dampened my face, a sense of unworthiness filling me. “You can’t leave me, pops. You haven’t taught me everything I need to know. I can’t even fix the fucking jukebox without you . . .”

His eyes were still open, staring directly at me when he gasped, taking his last breath . . .

The vinculum released a signal, suddenly jolting my body when his soul left our world.

I found myself wide-eyed, unable to process the events unfolding.

The jukebox began randomly playing “Bittersweet Symphony,” by the Verve, enticing bar patrons to part with their money.

While listening to the lyrics of the song, I realized with my father’s death came my own.

My soul felt tainted—stained. Any thoughts of fated mates or bonding wilted away from my reality, being replaced by a dire need to seek vengeance.

The agonizing scream I released was a warning that retribution was imminent.

Death himself was coming for all who had scorned us.

My dad’s hollow gaze peered up at me, piercing my soul as if they were saying revenge wasn’t the answer. His voice echoed in my thoughts, warning me to avoid any actions that could lead to my demise.

I ignored it and ran my fingers down his eyelids, forcing them closed, then laid my hand on his chest.

Tears tickled my cheeks as I whispered the words of honor to a wolven who had passed. “Although your soul may be at peace, our vinculum with you will never cease.”

“Eternal bond,” Heston said from across the room, sadness lining his voice.

“Eternal bond,” Demi added, sniffing back tears.

The song continued, the words fucking with my head, as a fire fueled inside of me. I let go of his hand, gently laying it upon his chest, and stood, heading toward the Jukebox.

I exerted all my strength, fiercely striking it with my fist and the glass shattered easily, shards biting into my knuckles, chunks flying in all directions.

But that had failed to pacify my anger.

Madness took over, driving me to kick, and punch, and growl, obliterating the machine until it stopped playing music and all lights went out.

My breaths were choppy, my jaw tightening as my teeth clenched.

Winnie gently placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, bro.”

I took a few shaky breaths, attempting to make myself look like the alpha I was born to be. Straightening my shoulders, I went back into my role. “My dad whispered something about the feed room. Did you check it?”

Winnie shook his head, then went toward the closet. I took a second to pull glass from my bloody fingers.

“Drag!” he screamed, just as the scent of humans filled my lungs.

April and Scarlet.

I sprinted toward the closet connected to the feed room and Winnie shook his head. “She won’t let me near her.”

Peeking into the small six-by-six room, my heart fluttered. April was curled into the back corner, her entire body shaking, baby Scarlet in her arms.

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