Page 26 of The Lycans: Vol Four

I could smell the smoke from the fire following us, in front of us. I could hear the rumble of the structure starting to cave in on itself. The roars and shouts of humans and Otherworlders filled my ears.

But neither one of us looked back.

And then we broke free from the large bay door, the walls tinged with smoke damage, the fire licking at the frame.

We didn’t stop when my bare feet hit the gravel, and although it hurt, the soles of my feet already battered, I started crying from pure happiness.

“Lass—”

“I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay.” I kept saying those words over and over again as tears streamed down my face. “I’m crying ’cause I’m happy.” I said the words quickly, because I knew he needed to be reassured, that he’d be worried something was wrong with me, something more than the situation we were dealing with.

We kept running, and when I turned and looked at him, I gave him a smile, knowing we’d made it, actually escaped. I glanced at the entrance of the facility at the same time I heard a shot ring out, as if thunder boomed loud enough my ears rang.

I saw a horror-filled expression morph Odhran’s face as he stared down at me. I fell into his arms, the pain finally pushing through the numbness, my happiness. I looked down at my side and choked out a sound when I saw the bullet wound that had torn through my body, blood starting to seep and spread out along my white shift.

“Oh… Odhran,” I whispered and let him hold my weight. “We were so close to that happily ever after.”

I saw his mouth open, knew he was roaring, but I didn’t hear anything but stillness. Silence.

His wolf pushed to the surface, irises flashing blue just as my eyes fluttered closed.

10

Odhran

Icouldn’t have stopped myself if I wanted to.

I wanted his blood, needed it covering my hands.

My wolf demanded vengeance.

I didn’t have time to make this slow, but I would make it hurt.

He’d hurt the only pure thing in my life, and for that he’d pay with his life. And so I was before him a second later, curling my hand around his throat before he could blink, and lifting him off the ground.

He struggled… gods did he struggle, and it made the predator in me rise. He clawed at my hand and gasped for breath.

There’d be no mercy. I was his god, and his life would end by my hands.

I let my wolf rise swiftly, felt my jaw start to pop and realign enough that it morphed into my beast, and then I was ripping off Larkin’s necklace and curling my fingers around the delicate piece of jewelry. I grinned and went for his trachea with such brutal force his blood sprayed out like a geyser.

Hot, vicious blood covered my face and chest and gave my wolf a semblance of the death it craved. It would never be enough, but Larkin needed help.

Only seconds had passed but my bloodthirst was sated temporarily.

I let his carcass drop to the ground, went back to my mate to hold her in my arms, and ran as fast as I could.

11

Larkin

Ifelt like I was in a fever dream, in and out of reality. I could see flashes of light, hear bursts of sound, and feel something warm and wet move across my brow.

I tried to inhale deeply, take in the scents around me that would help me decipher what was going on and where I was. And for a second, panic swelled in me, because things were too conflicted all around me.

But then… then I smelled a scent that instantly calmed me. Odhran.

I wanted to call out to him, but my tongue felt too thick, my throat too tight. Trying to form words seemed too difficult.

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