Page 87 of The Butcher

“Ah.” I nod, clasping both hands behind my back as I start to pace between them. “So this was a search and rescue? Maybe a search and recover, and regardless of which, you were anticipating trouble since you were armed to the teeth.” I motion toward their guns and knives, meticulously laid out in front of the tractor. “I highly doubt you were looking for the two crotchety old timers who live in that house, which means you’re either way off base by looking in a town that’s not even on the map, or you’re lost and wandered into a real fucking mess.”

Neither of them try to speak, I’m pretty sure they’re trying not to blink, but they already gave themselves away. They’re looking for someone, and I’m almost impressed by the way these two are willing to bleed out just so they don’t have to tell me who.

I can change that, though.

One thing they told me without even knowing?

They’re together.

These two are clearly mates, probably in Hall’s pack, and since everything I’ve done has been relatively repairable so far, they’ve been committed to their mission above their commitment to each other.

I’m about to change that, and I know exactly who’s going to crack.

“How long have you been together?” Adam’s nostrils flare, confirming what I knew, and when Nicolas can’t help the way he flexes his fingers, I know I’m right about all of it. “A few years, maybe? Not quite a decade but more than two or threerevolutions around the sun?” I spin Adam again to emphasize my words. “Doesn’t matter, not to me, but I’d suggest telling me what you’re doing here if you want to celebrate another anniversary.”

Giving them a few seconds, I move until I’m next to the alpha then nonchalantly lift my hands and proceed to pick my nails with the sickle, waiting to see what these two are going to do, knowing damn well neither of them will be leaving here with all the parts they came in with.

Then it happens.

Adam stares at Nicolas for a long few moments, his eyes glued to the beta, never once leaving his face. Unspoken words, maybe tapping into a bond. The alpha tells him so much with that look and I can’t help the way my mind wanders back to my confrontation with Indy.

Those purplish-blue eyes were so goddamn expressive.

She didn’t need to speak at all, and I knew exactly what she was saying, but when she did, I swear her eyes turned into indigo infernos. All that fire, that heat. It burned so brightly it was almost blinding, and I know what I need to do if I want to play with that fire again.

I need to sort myself out, fast, and get in front of my omega so I can fix everything I’ve broken. Then I’ll get her underneath me so she knows I mean it.

Nicolas and Adam won’t get the same chance.

Not anymore.

The alpha gives his mate a slight nod and instead of whatever reassurance it was meant to provide, it signals the beginning of their end.

Without warning, I move, quickly and efficiently delivering an uppercut to Adam’s midsection but my fist doesn’t meet defined muscle under taut flesh. No, my hand stops along with the hilt of the blade, both sitting about an inch or two outside ofhis abdomen, his blood warm as it coats my knuckles and starts running down my arm.

Adam grits his teeth and tears spring to his eyes, but he doesn’t scream.

He doesn’t beg around his gag, plead for his life or the life of his mate.

The alpha just stares ahead at Nicolas, and tries to keep what little strength he might have left.

Brave.

Stupid, but brave.

Yanking the sickle from his gut, I watch the muscles quiver and twitch, a grin curling my lips as his back arches a little more. I turn to Nicolas, cocking my head when I see him almost as stone faced.

It isn’t a fatal wound, not yet. A shot right to the gut is one you can die from, sure, but not immediately, and the position he’s in means any stomach acid or bile will have a harder time circulating through his system. In theory, Adam could survive this.

But only if I let him.

“At this point, I really don’t care who it is you’re trying to find,” I grunt as I wipe the rusty metal against the alpha’s ass cheek. “I just need to know for sure if they made it to Obsidian Falls.”

I stare at the beta for a few seconds then turn to the alpha, who is starting to lose a lot of color as well as his will to stay conscious.

Still nothing.

So be it.

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