Page 171 of Roaring Flames

She was the light of my world, the only good thing that tethered me to sanity.

Until she was taken from me.

I squeeze my eyelids shut at the memories that threaten to assault me. Kyle and Silas begged me to stay home, but when the police called and claimed they found her body, I had to know for sure. Had to be certain it was her.

Those images will haunt me until the day I die.

We all assumed that our unborn child was killed during the…during the incident, but that wasn’t true at all. Izzy’s alive.

My daughter’s alive.

But taken by those nasty-ass bitches—no doubt in an attempt to lure me out.

Ha. Joke’s on them.

I’ve been here the entire time.

Of course, nobody knows that. Not even my packmates and brothers.

But the second a little birdy told me they found my daughter, I had to see her. Had to protect her.

It’s almost an art form being a part of her life without her realizing it. I can’t be too suspicious, but I also can’t be too memorable. So I’ll be the man at the movie theater asking for extra butter in his popcorn. The person sitting in the booth directly behind hers when she goes out to eat. The “creepy man” insisting that she try the ribs because they’re to die for.

The monster following her home and killing the men who thought they could touch her.

A cold grin skates across my face at the memory. I relish the sound of their bones snapping, their blood pooling at my feet, their screams renting the air.

I wonder what the witches will taste like when I eat them.

I’ve been generous with them up until now, and that was due to my loyalty to Helena and her lineage. I even allowed her conniving sister to live, despite my better judgment.

But my patience has run so thin, it’s practically nonexistent.

Well, I suppose I’m going to give the witches what they want after all—me. They’re more than welcome to roll out the red carpet.

“Sleep tight, little vampire,” I coo to the unconscious man, kissing the tips of my fingers and then pressing them to his forehead. “Nighty night. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

I laugh uproariously and then practically prance away.

I think it’s about time I let my fellow shifters know that I’m back.

Unlike them, I’m not a wolf.

I’m something…other.

Better, if I’m being completely honest.

And Izzy is too. She shares my DNA, after all. Fortunately for her, she hasn’t yet learned how to tap into her powers, which is why all of the assholes are still gunning for me.

But if she ever learns what she can do…

I swagger out of the forest with a wide grin on my face. Because what isn’t there to be happy about? I’m back with my family, I found my daughter, and I’m about to slaughter some witches.

I mean, I probably should feel sad about the two shifters who died, but…nah. That doesn’t really concern me. They should’ve moved out of the way of the bullet, obviously.

I whistle as I walk through the throng of shifters. Mothers and fathers are holding their children close to their chests, crying into their hair. Hale and Gerry are leaning over a dark-haired girl. A little boy trips as he attempts to run towards an older woman who’s probably his grandma.

That pinching sensation in my heart returns with a vengeance.

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