Page 41 of Owned By Four Alphas

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the bitch’s little pet,” one of the alphas spat, a blade appearing in his hand. “A shame that we’ll have to skin you before we kill your master. It would have been satisfying to make you watch us gut her alive.”

Malek pounced, his teeth singing for more blood. The alpha in front of him, the one who had dared threaten her, was first to die.

Swiping his claws forward, the Fae tried to block them with his blade, but it was futile. He was no match against Malek. With a savage growl, Malek tore his head from his shoulders, ripping down his torso until he was nothing more than a bloodied heap of flesh and viscera beneath Malek’s paws.

Yes, yes, kill, hunt, destroy. Protect Selena, stop them, kill them, taste their blood, blood, bloodbloodBLOOD—

Ronan was up again, his bones healed, an almighty rumbling snarl pouring from his chest.

Malek turned.

The wolf was stalking closer, its yellow eyes gleaming, its lips peeled back over its razor-sharp teeth.

Malek pounced first.

Once more, they were a raging ball of fury and blood, ripping and tearing into each other. The wolf was holding back, Malek could tell, avoiding the jugular.

He snarled and doubled his efforts.

The wolf grunted as Malek swiped at its neck, rearing back to avoid his deadly claws. “Malek, you need to stop!”

Malek didn’t hear him. He had to stop him. Had to stop them all. Had to protect Selena, protect his mate, rip apart her enemies, keep her safe—

“Selena needs you!” The wolf was using more of its strength now, pinning him down to the ground, snapping jaws close to his face.

Selena needs me Selena needs me I know she needs me needsmeNEEDSME—

“She needs you to think! She needs you to get control!”

Control, control, no control, just blood, chaos, anger, blood, blood, blood—

The other Alphas were swarming, but one of them was fighting them back. An alpha, a dragon.

“He’ll kill you all!” the dragon roared.

“Let us through, Iveir, or we’ll kill you. too!”

They want to kill you if they kill you they will kill Selena you need to protect Selena—

The momentary distraction was enough that the wolf managed to clamp its jaws around his neck, and he roared in outrage, trying to throw it off. But it didn’t work. The wolf had him pinned.

NO! No, must get free, must get to Selena, must protect, must protect, must—

“Slaughter the fucking Nightwalker before he gets free!” one of the alphas roared.

Nightwalker what is a Nightwalker, Nightwalker, me? Is he talking about me? Am I Nightwalker? Nightwalker, name, that’s a name. I made it. I am a Nightwalker. I named myself, I chose the name, I have control. I’m not a monster. I am a Nightwalker—

Beneath the overwhelming fog of fury and blood, a spark of consciousness shone to light.

Nightwalker. I am a Nightwalker. I have control. I am in control. I can name myself. I am not a monster. I am a Nightwalker.

The beast receded just enough that Malek was able to break through for half a second, then a few seconds, his fight diminishing, his bloodlust settling.

I am a Nightwalker. I am in control. I have to get back in control!

With a bellow, Malek surfaced, shaking the remnants of his beast away, panting and trembling with the effort.

“Ronan,” he managed to croak out, his voice low and monstrous, “where is she?”

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