Page 61 of My Brutal Alpha

He likely had no idea where I was, and the same applied to Sebastian. As annoyed as I was with him, I couldn’t deny how insignificant that feeling seemed at the moment. After being abducted and held against my will, I didn’t care about the fight.

I just wanted to see them—Ezra, Sebastian, and everyone else I cared about.

I hated knowing there was a chance everything that unfolded could be the last memory I’d have with them, and it would be how they remembered me, too. If Dane got his way, all our good times would constantly feel shadowed by that blip.

Even thinking about that made me ache all over again.

Silently, I hoped more than anything that it wasn’t the end. I couldn’t stand the thought of Sebastian thinking I was angry with him and never getting the chance to try and work things out with Ezra.

But as the air around us seemed muggy, and the tape prevented me from taking in the mouthful of oxygen I needed,that lightheaded feeling remained. It made everything fuzzy and disoriented.

I had no idea how long Dane kept me there, leaning against that tree as I went in and out of consciousness. Whatever he used to knock me out seemed to linger in my system, and I couldn’t seem to keep track of anything.

Eventually, the sound of feet crashing through the underbrush in the distance made my eyes open, and before I knew it, someone’s hand gripped my shoulder hard as they pulled me away from the tree. I was snapped back to the moment as Rory’s voice reached my ear in a rasp.

“Looks like your fate will be wrapped up soon…it’s a shame I couldn’t get a piece of you first.”

I internally recoiled at the words, squirming slightly despite his tight hold on me.

Dane stood several steps ahead of us as Rory’s nails hovered beside my neck, poised to strike at any moment.

Then, Ezra appeared from the woods somewhat blurred, followed by Sebastian and the others. I sensed the other wolves in the distance, shifted as they watched over the scene and monitored the woods.

Even through my daze, I felt immediate relief, almost like my plea had been heard. However, seeing Ezra there, seemingly putting all the clues together in his mind, reminded me that nothing was over yet.

He may have found me, but Rory had me in his grasp, and his dad was orchestrating the entire thing.

Despite my relief, I couldn’t deny how worried I was at the same time.

As everyone surrounded us, watching closely, I could hear shifted wolves moving in the distance. There was no way Dane could get away without being caught by someone, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t still cause damage in the meantime.

Ezra’s expression hardened as he glanced between me and his father. “You lied. You and Mom.”

Dane chuckled despite the angry note that lingered in his tone. Regardless of it only being the beginning, he already sounded pleased with himself.

“You’re right…we did. Your mother’s performance was quite good, wouldn’t you say?”

He snarled at that. “You did all of this to entrap me, didn’t you? To force me to accept Nora.”

“What choice did you leave me, hm? You refused to see reason. Refused to acknowledge your place as my son and heir, along with the responsibility that comes with that title.”

“A title I never wanted,” Ezra snapped, rippling with anger. “Especially not asyourson.”

Even from behind him, I could sense as Dane tensed slightly at the insult. “You used to be a good son, once. You were mindful, agreeable…obedient. What happened to you?”

Ezra’s gaze sharpened. “Not by choice. I was beaten into submission, or did you forget that part?”

A bitter chuckle came from his dad. “Beaten? Hardly. We did what we needed to in order to get your respect.”

“Respect,” he muttered as he shook his head. “You never deserved it…which is why I left. Why I changed.”

“And now look where that has landed you,” Dane began with a hint of feigned defeat. “With your apparent ‘fiancé’ abducted and under my hand now—well, Rory’s, technically. I bet that just stings, doesn’t it?”

Pulling in a breath to steady himself despite his obvious anger, Ezra glared at him. “What the hell do you want? Why do all of this?”

“You know what I want, which is why I have her,” he muttered, gesturing carelessly. “If she is what’s standing in the way of you following through with your end of the bargain, then we’ll pretend she doesn’t exist. Better yet, we’ll get rid of her completely, and you’ll be distraction-free.”

A new darkness moved through Ezra’s gaze then, and there was no missing the protectiveness in his eyes. Despite the situation, it gave me hope that things weren’t completely over between us. He cared, and that was enough.

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