Page 66 of Villainous Fate

I don’t even realize it’s my voice as I stand there watching my closest ally and only friend fall to the frozen ground below.

Chapter 33

Deacon

Thelastfortyfeetof the trail fly by in a blur as I tear the makeshift rope off and leave Amira for Finn to deal with.

Please be okay…

Please be okay…

Be okay…

The thought consumes me as I cling to anything I can to keep moving and stay on the ledge. When I reach the last ten feet, I jump down, taking the impact as I roll and pop up before racing to Marcus’s side.

Please…

He’s lying on his left side, his arm bent under his head in an altogether unnatural position. Carefully, I roll him onto his back, checking the area for blood. I let out some of the air I’ve been holding when I don’t find any.

My ear drops to his chest, frantically searching for a heartbeat, breathing sounds, fucking anything to tell me he isn’t dead.

Come on, Marcus. You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to die on me.

My heartbeat is so loud it blocks everything else out. Lifting my head, I push two fingers into his neck and wait.

Thump... Thump…

Relief floods me as I feel the blood still pumping in his veins.

“Wake up! Stone. Come on, you need to shift right fucking now!” I slap his cheek, yelling into his face in hopes he can hear me. A low groan escapes his lips, and I try to lift his eyelids.

Open them up, big guy.

My hand slips beneath his head and turns it toward me as I feel for blood in his short blond hair.

Marcus slowly opens his eyes, searching the sky without focus. I slide my face into his frame of view, finding his line of vision before shouting at him again.

“You need to shift!”

His lids squint closed, and he shakes his head slightly as he moans again. This time it sounds like he's trying to speak. He reopens his eyes and looks over my shoulder, widening the crystal blue orbs intently.

Turning, I see Finn and Amira finishing the final fifteen feet on the trail, and I realize what he means.

“Finn!” My shout pulls his attention before I continue. “Take Amira somewhere else. She can’t see this,” I finish, hoping he understands as I whip back to Marcus and find his eyes sliding closed again, his breathing labored from what I would assume are quite a few broken ribs.

“No, you don’t. Stay with me, Stone.” I order, giving Finn time to shield her from us. I grab his chin, cupping it so I can squeeze his cheeks to shake him a little.

“Eyes on me, Marcus. You’re going to let that wolf out right now, or so help me, I will force you.” My threat falls on deaf ears, and I know I can’t waste any more time. Locking his gaze on mine, I push every ounce of command I can into one word.

“SHIFT.”

His icy stare turns glacial as his wolf shines out, trying to fight me but not having the physical strength. I release my grip and take a step back as his body transforms. Where once was Marcus’s broken body, before my eyes is now an ash-gray wolf, panting from the exertion.

“Good.Shift back.” I command again, forcing him back into his human form. His body is covered in a sheen of sweat, and he’s attempting to hold in the cries of pain he is feeling as his bones, muscles, and ligaments stitch themselves back together more with each transition.

Four more commands, and almost an hour later, he’s so far past the brink of exhaustion that I don’t dare push him any farther. The sun has started to rise, rays slipping into the area telling us we need to get moving before we have company.

On his last transition, Marcus is able to put weight on his hind leg and limped on his front paw with only a whimper. Now back in his human form, I can see his hip and shoulder are inked in deep purple bruises thanks to the daylight, and he’s moving his shoulder and hand gingerly.

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