Page 66 of Fate Awakened

“A human? Dante, it is foolish of you to go through all this trouble for someone who isn’t even one of us. And to give up your leverage, an Alpha nonetheless, seems beneath you,” he finishes stepping closer to my Mate.

“She has ties to some important government officials who want her returned. It’s business. Complete the trade,” he orders, losing control and allowing his eyes to shift.

Deacon moves closer to her, still talking to Dante but not affording him the respect of looking him in the eyes.

“It’s a shame I wasn’t briefed on this trade before arriving. I would’ve been more, how do you say, discreet.” His movements have him standing in front of her, maybe an arm's length away, and I thank whoever is looking out for us that the breeze is blowing away from her, not allowing him to catch her scent.

Panic fills me, and my feet attempt to step without me permitting them as my wolf sees the threat standing before our Mate.

Her eyes show fear as she tries to step backward, but Hudson’s hand on her arm prevents her from running off. I can see the terror in her rapid pulse, beating on her exposed neck, and her quick breaths, which leave small white clouds in the frigid air.

I’m right here. Look at me, don’t look at him.

She bites her bottom lip, closing her eyes briefly as she attempts to stave off the building panic attack. Every fiber of my being wants to scoop her up in my arms and take her away from all of this. To rescue her from this nightmare she’s living in.

“She’s rather beautiful. I can see why you would want her back,” Marlo says, implying things my wolf doesn’t want to hear. “It’s a shame you will have to kill her,” he finishes, his tone giving away the joy it brings him to put that on Dante.

“That’s our problem, Deacon. Hand her over, and we will release Kole. I tire of your idling,” Dante says, taking a step forward and making the Reno Pack tense.

Erik moves Kole forward in an attempt to get the trade moving.

Deacon walks around her, causing Hudson to back up a step, releasing her in his attempt to put distance between the Reno Alpha and himself. Marlo stops at her side and traces his hand up her arm and across her shoulders before stepping behind her and moving a stray strand of her wild brown hair behind her ear. Her whole body tenses, leaning away from his touch as he dips down to whisper something in her ear.

Her eyes, like saucers, flash up to mine. Tears, slowly falling, leave trails down her cheeks. Her hands fist at her sides, and her discomfort with Marlo’s proximity is enough to have me moving toward her; consequences be damned.

Before I take two steps, I hear it. The sharp intake of air before Marlo's eyes slide up to Dante, recognition flaring in them as a sneer forms on his vile face.

“Now, this is a surprise. You’re not at all what you seem. Are you,lupo nascosto? Tell me, have they told you what you are?” Deacon whispers the question into her ear, and her face registers complete confusion.

I can pinpoint the exact moment the idea occurs to him. The wicked thought is broadcast all over his face as he licks his lips.

“Why don’t we show you this world,” he says, raising his hand to move her hoodie off her shoulder.

My eyes are still locked on Brielle’s, and I try to apologize to her a moment before I completely give myself over to my wolf. The world goes black as I leap toward Marlo, shifting in midair.

Chapter 23

Bri

ThefurtherIgointo this forest, the more I sense the tension building. My skin feels too tight, and the goosebumps on my arms act as if the tiny hairs are reaching in an attempt to touch something just out of their grasp. It’s silent save for my footsteps. No one spoke on the drive over, and even Hudson appears uncomfortable.

Every so often, I stumble, cursing myself for having such terrible coordination. No one tries to catch me or even turns their attention in my direction, and I swear quietly with each almost fall.

Why am I always the one?

My breath comes out in small white puffs as what little warmth I create escapes, and I fight back the chattering of my teeth. The men around me are in t-shirts, and they’re walking like it's a beautiful day for a stroll rather than the twenty-five or thirty degrees it really is.

My only comfort lies in the fact that even through all the trees, the stars shine brightly overhead. They illuminate our path and allow me to see my surroundings despite the sun having set and no one using a flashlight. I catch myself staring at them, often causing me to stumble over a lifted branch due to my lack of focus. A tiny part of me feels like Sam is looking down from those stars, watching over me through this whole ordeal.

I slide my numb fingers over my wrist tattoo as hope builds inside me.

Sammy, I’m still fighting, and even if this is it, I’ll go out knowing I tried to live the life we always talked about.

I scan the sparkling stars for the constellations he used to show me, and I find myself smiling as I catch a glimpse of Cassiopeia above us. Before I can even relish in the discovery, my foot catches on yet another root causing me to launch forward.

Shit!

This time, I don’t recover fast enough, and my palms slide across the forest floor, scraping open with the impact. A grunt escapes my lips as the wind is knocked out of me, and I feel my cheeks flush from embarrassment. The entire group stops, turning to see the commotion before their hardened faces stare at me, waiting for me to get back up.

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