Page 99 of Deadly Wolf Bite

“I tried to make her strong, to make her powerful.”

“Why?” I demand.

He doesn’t answer, but the silence speaks volumes.

“You wanted it for yourself,” I realize. “She was just the guinea pig.”

“She would’ve made history,” he snaps. “Do you know what it’s like to be the strongest alpha this pack has ever seen—and then feel it slowly draining away from you? To know your days are numbered. That one day, your strength will fail, and you’ll lose everything you’ve built?” His chest rises and falls with heavy breaths. “Those tests were about finding a way to prolong my leadership.”

“Is that what you told the women you experimented on?” I demand. “Is that what you told Carina? What you would’ve told my mother?”

His expression hardens. “I did what I did for the good of the pack. Otherwise, we risk a man like your father leading.”

My hands balls into fists at the way he talks about using people with such disregard. “You did it for you. No one else, old man.”

Anger flashes in his eyes. He moves to the edge of his chair, his drink sloshing in his hand. “You want to keep Lexi out of your father’s control? I’ll tell you what. Tomorrow, I’ll go to your wedding just like Vincenzo wants—and I’ll bite her myself.”

He pushes to his feet at the same time I do.

“No!” I roar. “You will not touch her.”

He tilts his head, his power poking and prodding at mine. Then his eyes widen. “She’s your mate.” There’s shock and awe in his voice, but just as quickly as it comes, it’s replaced with regret. “If only it were enough.”

Then he walks back to the bar where he shoves his glass of whiskey.

“Bite her yourself then. She’ll either shift or she’ll die. If she shifts, she might be worthy of whatever challenge your father issues against her. If she dies, she was never good enough to be my heir in the first place.”

“Did Lexi agree to spy for you willingly?”

He glances over before waving his hand at me dismissively. “Bah. She won’t live long enough for it to matter now, will she?”

He starts for the door, and the sight of him walking away from me unleashes everything I’ve so tightly locked away.

My wolf surges to the surface—as does the full force of the alpha power I’ve possessed since the moment my pack pledged themselves to me.

A power that’s grown stronger in the shadows where I’ve nursed it.

Now, I let it free.

“We’re done when I say we’re done,” I boom.

The pressure pins him, stooping his back and shoulders until his knees begin to buckle. With labored breaths, he manages to look up at me with wide eyes. “I don’t fucking believe it,” he manages. “You’re an alpha.” Rage contorts his expression. “But you won’t be for much longer.”

He trembles as his wolf rises to the surface. Murder swims in his gaze. A thirst for blood that fills my veins too.

With a roar, I shift, leaping over the couch as bones break and fur sprouts. My canines shove through my gums. My claws rip at the carpet beneath my feet.

Franco’s power rushes to meet mine then drains away.

“No,” he manages weakly.

But I’m done taking orders from the alphas of this pack.

My teeth sink into his shoulder. It’s not a fatal blow, but I rip through flesh and sinew anyway, tearing a hole in the monster himself. He screams, and I brace myself for his men to come running.

A second bite has him thrashing, his body contorting as he tries to shift and fight me off. I shove at him with my paw, letting him turn onto his back. His human body becomes a wolf just as I sink my teeth into his throat. His claws sprout, burying themselves in my belly. The pain registers somewhere I can’t be reached.

His blood and tissue fill my mouth.

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