Page 40 of Hunted

In a blur of motion, Aksel lunges forward, his powerful frame slamming into Tor with the force of a raging bull. They crash to the ground, a tangle of limbs and fury, snarling and grunting like feral animals locked in a battle for dominance.

I shrink back against the wall, my body trembling as I watch the brutal scene unfold before me. Fists fly, connecting with sickening thuds as the two men grapple and claw at each other. It's a primal display of raw power and violence, a side of Aksel I've briefly witnessed when he came up against the wolf.

Tor gains the upper hand, pinning Aksel to the floor and raining down a flurry of blows. But Aksel is relentless, his rage fueling his strength. With a surge of adrenaline, he bucks Tor off, reversing their positions and unleashing a barrage of punches.

The air is thick with the metallic scent of blood, the grunts and snarls of the two men echoing off the walls. I can’t look away from the savage display, my heart pounding in my throat as I watch the man I thought I knew transform into a beast.

Aksel's movements are fluid and lethal, each strike precise. He's a force of nature, a whirlwind of fury driven by an instinct so primal that it borders on terrifying. And yet, even as I witness this raw, untamed side of him, I can't help but feel a twisted sense of awe.

Tor struggles beneath Aksel's onslaught, his defiance slowly waning as blow after blow rains down upon him. Finally, with one last devastating punch, Aksel punches Tor to the floor in a bloody heap. And I'm sure, as I look for any signs of breathing, that Aksel has killed him.

22

AKSEL

The acrid scent of blood hangs thick in the air. Adrenaline courses through my veins while I stand over Tor's motionless form, his blood pooling around his body. My knuckles throb from the force of our violent clash, a grim reminder of the depths I've sunk to protect what's mine. Father got his wish after all—there can only be one alpha male.

A movement in my peripheral vision catches my attention. I whirl around to see Zara backing away toward the door.

I swiftly move to block Zara's path, my primal instincts taking over as I grab her arm. She lets out a gasp, her eyes widening in fear.

"Let me go!" she cries, struggling in my firm grasp.

Immediately, I loosen my hold, though I don't release her completely.

"Zara, wait," I rasp, my voice still ragged from the fight. "You don't understand."

"You killed him!" she accuses, glancing over at Tor's lifeless form. "Your own brother!"

I swallow hard. "Half-brother," I correct her quietly.

She looks at me in horror and disbelief.

"I had no choice," I say urgently. "It was either Tor or me. That's the way it's always been."

I can see the questions swirling in her eyes. She deserves to know the truth, no matter how dark and twisted.

"There are things you need to understand about my past, about my family," I tell her. "Things I've tried to leave behind, to erase from my memories.”

I release her arm and rake a hand through my hair.

"My father was a monster," I continue. "The kind of evil that leaves deep scars passed on through blood. He pitted Tor and me against each other from birth, determined to breed only the strongest alpha male."

Zara shakes her head, struggling to comprehend.

"We were just boys," I say bitterly. “But in my father's eyes, we were animals. Creatures meant to fight and dominate."

I meet her gaze steadily. "Tor gave me no choice tonight. It was self-defense, kill or be killed. That's the legacy my father left us."

Zara looks down, processing my words. I can't begin to imagine what must be running through her mind.

"I'm not asking you to forgive or forget what you witnessed here," I tell her. "Only to try and understand that this blood feud wasn't of my making."

I reach out and tilt her chin up gently so she meets my eyes again.

"Since the day I left home, I've tried to forge my own path, separate from my father's twisted legacy," I say fervently. "Meeting you, knowing you, has only strengthened my resolve to leave that darkness behind for good."

Zara searches my face as if gauging the truth of my words.

---