Page 70 of Nightmare Island

Satisfaction burns through me as I turn to face his pack. “You bow to me now,” I roar, letting every ounce of Alpha power fill my voice. “Or you die!”

They drop to their knees as one, even those still in wolf form, lowering their bellies to the stone. The sight sends a surge of primitive pleasure through me, but it’s short-lived as I whirl toward Hel.

She’s frozen halfway up the rock face, the men who were pursuing her having stopped to watch their leader’s death.

“Hel!” I call out, already rushing toward the wall.

She looks down, calling to me, sounding terrified. She’s wedged herself into a precarious position where she could easily slip right into the pond. I don’t waste time with words—I frantically climb, taking the diagonal path that follows the edge of the rock face. The stone is slick with rain, and one wrong move could send me plummeting into the spirit-filled water below.

The other men scramble down as I climb past them, their eyes cast downward in submission. Good. They’ve learned quickly.

When I reach Hel, she’s trembling so hard I can hear her teeth chattering.

“Is he…” she mumbles, staring past me at the pond where Sten’s body floats facedown, spirits still circling like vultures.

“They’re both gone, sweetheart,” I say, reaching for her. “I told you I’d protect you.”

“My hero,” she says, managing a weak smile despite her terror.

“Climb on my back,” I instruct, turning carefully on my narrow perch. “Slowly.”

She moves like she’s made of glass, her arms wrapping around my neck, legs around my waist. I feel every shake, every hitched breath as she clings to me. The climb down is worse than going up—one slip and we’d both fall. I take it methodically, testing each hold before trusting it with our weight.

When we reach the bottom, I maneuver us toward the far edge where she can step onto dry land without touching the water. The moment her feet touch the ground, I turn and pull her into my arms. My lips find hers, tasting rain and tears and blood. She melts against me, her small form fitting perfectly against mine, as if she was made for me.

“You are mine forever now,” I murmur against her hair. “Nothing will ever hurt you again.”

She’s smiling. Covered in scratches and cuts, tears in her eyes, she whispers, “I’ve had enough of danger. I want a boring life now.”

I chuckle.

The sound of approaching voices makes me tense, but when I turn, it’s Knut arriving with more of my men. He surveys the scene—the kneeling wolves, the floating body, the blood-stained ground—and grins.

“Well, you had to take all the glory for yourself, didn’t you?” Knut lifts his hand, grasping my mask. “And I found this discarded. Figured you’d want it back.”

I bark out a laugh, keeping Hel tucked against my side.

“We need to collect all the Alphas on the island. No rogues. Everyone falls under our line now, and we teach them our ways. Then I’ll update you on everything.”

Knut nods at the assembled wolves. “You got it, boss.” Then his expression turns serious. “Just thought you should know… seems Axel betrayed us to Sten. I found his body.”

“Good,” I growl, even if my stomach turns for the years I trusted him and lost who I thought had been a friend. But I push those thoughts down. “He saved me the trouble of killing him myself.”

Knut nods and begins barking orders at our new recruits.

I turn back to Hel. She looks up at me, those fierce blue eyes that first caught my attention now soft with something that makes my heart stutter.

“You know,” she says, trailing a finger down my chest. “For a big bad wolf, you’re actually kind of sweet. Don’t worry, though. Your secret’s safe with me.”

I pull her closer, inhaling her delicious scent, bathing in her warmth and the simple fact that she’s alive and safe in my arms. Everything I’ve done, everything I’ve become—it was all for this. For her.

“Better keep it that way.” I wink, and she smiles so beautifully. I never imagined finding someone to give my heart to, but it’s happening…

The rain starts to ease, and somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbles. But here, at this moment, with Hel in my arms and our enemies defeated, I finally feel at peace for the first time.

Chapter

Eighteen

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