Page 121 of A Blackened Bond

I fucked up and put these pricks before my people. But not anymore.

I tower over the dickhead, his eyes wide as he tries to open his mouth. I slam my fist into the bricks beside his head, cutting him off. The bricks instantly crack, with flecks of the old cement hitting his face as I lean down toward him. He flinches back into the wall like the coward he is.

“Take your sister and get the fuck out of our territory.” I pull myself straight, my eyes narrowed toward the shrinking fool. “We don’t need you or your kind here.”

“W-what the hell?!” His gaze flickers to the empty parking lot behind me. “Is this because ofher? You’re making a mistake—”

“The only mistake I made was ever trying to make a deal with you.” My lip curls up as I watch his thin brows pinch together. He wasn’t worth the muck on my shoe. “Dirt like you should stay where you belong.Under my feet.”

He grits his teeth, mumbling quickly under his breath as bright pink static forms on his hand. He fists it before aiming for me, but his movements are too slow, and his power too weak.

My power whips out like a wave, crashing into him before he can reach me and slamming him into the wall again, the bricks cracking further with the force of my hit.

A pained groan leaves his lips as my black smoke coils around him, wrapping around his throat and pulling him up to face me.

“You’ll take your precious sister and leave, or I’ll send you both home in pieces.”

My power coils tighter and tighter around him, only releasing him when he nods in submission.

“What the hell’s going on here?” Annex calls, sauntering through the abattoir’s doors, his fists dripping with blood and his face covered with tiny red specks as well. “I thought all the fun was to be had inside. But here you are having your own private playtime, and you didn’t invite us?”

Nathan scrambles away with the arrival of the boys, scurrying back into the abattoir like the rat he is, just as Ezra and Mallyn arrive behind Annex.

A curious expression forms in their eyes as they glance around the parking lot.

“Where’s Micai?” Ezra asks, looking around the area as his brows pinch together.

A tightness spreads in my chest, remembering her face when she left—a deep look of anger, pain, and disappointment swirling into one.

And I had caused it all.

I look out past the parking lot and into the dark, feeling three sets of eyes follow my gaze.

“Creed?” Mallyn steps up beside me as I drag my gaze to him. I wasn’t the apology type, but I owe my brothers one right now.And Micai.

I had pushed their mate away.Forcedher to leave.

I was no better than that scum, Nathan.

“She definitely came out this way… “ Calls Ezra, his eyes narrowing toward me, my brother knowing something was off and able to read me better than most. “What happened?”

“I fucked up.” I look to each of them; Annex and Mallyn’s brows pinch together as Ezra’s expression darkens.

“What did you do?” He bites out, rage swirling in his gaze toward me. And rightfully placed.

“I…took that dickhead’s side. He did something, or said something, and she defended herself.” I shake my head, my brows furrowing. It was obvious when I saw the scene before me. I knew he must have done or said something to her, but I still chose his side. “I worried more about the deal and how it would help our plans rather than listening to her side of things.”

I had never felt the need to explain myself to anyone, not even Morgan. Except there was now a horrible dark feeling swirling inside me as I remembered what I had said to Micai. Pure frustration and regret taking over me as I continue. “I forced her to leave. I threw her—”

Before I can finish the words, Ezra lunges forward, his fist clenched and meeting my face faster than I can anticipate or dodge.

I had forgotten how well my brother fought. He wasn’t usually one for violence, but when he was angry, there was no one who could stand in his way. He could get just as bloody as Annex if needed.

Pain sears down my cheek and jaw as he rears back to hit me again, but Mallyn catches it, pulling him from me.

I steady myself and gaze into Ezra’s glaring eyes as he pushes Mallyn away, his face twisted up in rage. “Who the hell gave you the right, Creed?! Micai is our mate! She’s been through enough pain and shit without you adding to it.” Anger and pain swirl in his gaze toward me.

“I thought you would come around, come to your senses and see the future I did. I thought you just needed a little more time, but this..." He shakes his head, a deep look of disappointment joining the hurt and anger I see in his eyes.

---