Page 41 of Villainous Fate

“I don’t take kindly to being attacked or threatened,” I finally respond, my eyes sliding over to Stickman, my eyebrow lifting in accusation. His jaw tenses, and a sneer forms on his face.

“How were you threatened?” The vampire’s voice breaks in, and I answer without removing my gaze.

“Well, when he informed me some of the recruits were told my partner and I were worth bonus points…” I leave the sentence hanging as fury builds in me.

Give me five minutes alone with this mother fucker. My wolf would rip him limb from limb.

Alexander’s attention turns to Stickman, an eyebrow lifting in silent question. The Alpha’s hands lift in an “I don’t know what he's talking about” gesture that makes me wish he could be adjudicated because I would bet money that his tune would change.

The vampire clears his throat and resumes his questioning.

“Please tell us what happened.”

“I ran into Alvarez in the woods. We checked our maps to see if we were partners. They didn’t match, so I tried to leave when he attacked me. I defended myself. He died.” Period. End of story.

“Can anyone corroborate your story?” he asks, knowing the answer already since he would have seen Deacon’s memory.

“I can’t speak for anyone but myself.” My response is clipped, and I offer no more explanation.

Alexander clicks off the recording device and finishes filling in the document in front of him.

“Okay, that’s all that I have for the statement portion. I will need to verify your responses, and we can get you out of here.” He stands, straightening his jacket before walking the length of the table and stopping behind my chair.

I intentionally let out a slow breath, calming my wolf, who doesn’t like the threat now standing at our back. Clenching my jaw, I force a relaxed expression, not showing the war going on inside me.

Enough. We need to allow this.

My wolf is not convinced this is our best play, but until they release us from the rules of the first challenge, I won’t risk any technicality removing me.

Cold fingertips connect lightly to my temples, and I slide my eyes shut, thinking about clearing my mind as quickly as I can.

“Relax, little wolf. This won’t hurt.”

The words bounce around inside my head, feeling different than the mind speak with my Alpha. It’s more invasive, and I can almost feel them caressing my mind as he sends the message.

Stop calling me ‘little,’ Vampire.

His laugh sounds the same in my mind as it did out loud.

Before he says anything else, I’m dropped back in the woods. I feel my head turning left and right as I scan the area.

Holy shit.

Everything appears exactly as it did earlier today. I can even smell the pine from the trees and feel the cold breeze on my skin.

How’s he doing this?

“You sound impressed. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I hear Alvarez jogging in my direction even as I remember the scene. The whistle makes me jump, surprising me even as the sound itself comes from me. The memory plays out. Matching the map, wishing him luck, blocking his attacks.

As I get to the moment I snap his neck, I try desperately to try to feel bad about it but come up empty.

He deserved to die. He would have killed me without a second thought. Fuck him.

“Such anger in you, little wolf. What is it you seek to prove here?”

His question gives me pause. I don’t know how to block him from my thoughts, and I don’t want to show him my cards.

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