Page 79 of Psycho Pack

Plague darts in, jabbing the needle into Wraith's neck and depressing the plunger. For a moment, nothing happens. Then Wraith's movements start to slow, his snarls becoming slurred growls.

But he doesn't go down.

If anything, the sedative seems to confuse him more. He staggers, head whipping back and forth as he tries to focus. His fist lashes out blindly, catching Valek in the ribs with a sickening crack.

"Fuck!" Valek wheezes, doubling over. "Is that the best you can do, Doc?"

Plague's face is grim as he prepares another syringe. "It should have knocked out a bull elephant. His metabolism is off the charts. Impressive, but?—"

"Stop it with the science talk, no one gives a fuck!" Valek snaps, wiping the blood off his face and tasting it before throwing himself back into the fray.

I struggle against Whiskey's hold, desperation clawing at me. "Let me go to him," I plead. "Maybe I can calm him down."

"No fucking way," Whiskey growls, his arms tightening around me.

But as I watch Wraith lash out again, catching Thane in the jaw with a glancing blow, I know we're running out of options. If we can't calm him soon, someone's going to get killed.

The thought sends ice through my veins.

I can't let that happen.

I shift my hips, gasping at the stretch as Whiskey's knot tugs at my entrance. It hurts, a deep ache that radiates through my core, but I grit my teeth and bear down.

"Ivy, stop," Whiskey hisses, his hands gripping my waist. "You're gonna hurt yourself."

I ignore him, focusing on my breathing as I slowly work myself free. It feels like I'm being torn apart, but I don't stop. Can't stop.

When I finally manage to pull off Whiskey's knot, the sudden emptiness is jarring, and I stumble as I try to stand on shaky legs. Come gushes down my thighs, soaking through the borrowed shirts I'm still wearing, but I barely notice.

I take a stumbling step forward. Then another. My legs feel like jelly, and every movement sends sparks of pain shooting through my thoroughly wrecked body. But I force myself to keep going.

"Ivy, don't!" Whiskey calls out behind me, panic in his voice as he scrambles to his feet.

I ignore him, my eyes locked on Wraith's massive form. He's panting and snarling heavily, chest heaving with each ragged breath as he thrashes against the other three alphas' holds. Steam pours through his sharp exposed teeth in the chilly cave like smoke from a dragon's maw.

"Stop," I call out to the others, my voice stronger now. "Let me try."

Before any of them can stop me, I close the distance between myself and Wraith. His wild eyes lock onto me, nostrils flaring as he catches my scent. For a heart-stopping moment, I'm afraid he doesn't recognize me at all.

I take another careful step closer, my hands held out in a placating gesture. "It's okay," I murmur. "I'm safe."

Wraith snarls again, lunging forward against Thane and Valek's restraining grip. His massive muscles strain as he triesto break free to get to me, tendons standing out in stark relief. Sweat and blood gleam on his skin in the dim cave light.

"Ivy, get back!" Thane shouts, his arms locked around one of Wraith's biceps.

I ignore him, taking another step closer.

"Please," I whisper, reaching out slowly. "Come back to me."

My fingertips brush his scarred jaw, feather-light. He flinches at the contact and goes utterly still, his chest heaving with each panting breath. Those intense blue eyes bore into mine.

"It's me," I murmur, cupping his face in both hands now. "I'm right here. I'm okay."

I press closer, ignoring the warning growls from the other alphas. My thumbs stroke along Wraith's cheekbones, tracing the raised edges of the scars jutting from his sharp teeth. He trembles beneath my touch, caught between leaning into the contact and pulling away.

"That's it," I encourage softly. "Come back."

Without breaking eye contact, I slowly lower myself onto his lap, straddling his thighs. I let my hands wander, mapping the planes of his broad chest, his muscled abdomen.

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