Page 193 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

I expected the stench of a lie, but it never came. I’d been so certain that he’d been involved, given that Ulva and Atticus had been at the Hardings’ house for dinner. Atticus's death had led Dick into a stronger position, but maybe I did have that part wrong, which didn’t sit well with me. “And yet, you set up his son? Doesn’t that kind of counter the argument?”

“You stupid bitch.” He held up the knife, making it clear what his next move would be. “I’m not telling you anything.”

He lunged at me, the knife aiming for my shoulder, and I ducked the blow. I kneed him in the stomach, causing him to stumble back several steps.

Griffin’s footsteps pounded down the hallway toward us, which made Dick’s nostrils flare.

“You ruin everything.” Hate filled each one of his words. “This was supposed to be easy, and yet, here we are again.”

“You still have a chance to cut your losses and climb back over the railing to your own balcony.” Ugh, I knew I needed to kill him, but I had to give him one last chance. People could be redeemed if they wanted it themselves. Maybe this was his rock bottom, but I doubted it. Darkness circled him like a plague.

“I can’t.” He sighed, and his face lined with regret or worry. “This is all I have left.”

He attacked again, this time not using the weight of his body. Instead of aiming to kill, his intent was now to injure. He swung the knife around crazily, making it so I couldn’t get near him.

I’m coming in from the other side,Griffin linked.Just stay safe, I’ll handle him.

Well, that was easier said than done. Dick had completely lost his marbles. At this point, he wanted only to inflict pain, andhe didn’t give a damn about himself, which made me sad. Was power that important to him that he’d rather die and leave his family behind than be disgraced? What kind of mate and father did that make him? If anything, it put him in an even poorer light. I almost felt bad for Luna. There was no telling the kind of hell she’d been raised in. No wonder she was a psycho, too.

He picked up his pace as he rushed me, his face contorting as if fighting his alpha’s call. With each step he advanced, I countered, looking for something to help me. My wolf surged forward, and fur sprouted along my body. Griffin was close, and I didn’t want him to get hurt, which was quite possible with the way Dick was acting.

My bones cracked as my body shifted into wolf form. Before I was on all fours, Dick grazed my wolf in the shoulder, struggling to continue the fight as Griffin growled. At least it wasn’t an injury that I couldn’t bounce back from. I bit into his wrist, and the knife clattered to the floor. Then I lowered my head and steamrolled Dick into the wall.

“No!” he yelled as his fingers dug into my fur. His nails bit into my skin, but his hand loosened of its own accord.

The alpha will was finally taking hold.

Griffin flashed past me, running to the spot where Dick and I had been moments ago, but I had to stay focused on Dick.

I took a step back, snarling and baring my teeth at the older man. Now that Griffin was here, there was no way he could win.

“You need to stop right now,” Griffin rasped from behind me. “Leave Sterlyn alone and get the fuck out of my house.”

“Do you think it’s that easy?” Dick snorted as he held his arms wide. “That you can cast me and my family out and we’ll just go all obediently? You aren’t meant to be the alpha here. I am.”

I wished I could talk sense into him, but you couldn’t rationalize with someone who’d lost their damn mind.

“Dick, please,” Griffin begged. “Don’t make it come to this. All you have to do is stand down. You can find another pack. It’s not like this is the end of the world.”

“But itisthe end of the world.” He breathed raggedly. “And I have to do whatever it takes to right the wrong.” He reached for my neck, and I growled, ready to bite him.

“Damn it,” Griffin bellowed as he appeared beside me with Dick’s knife in hand. He plunged it into Dick’s heart, and the older man gasped. His hands dropped to his sides as his back fell against the wall and he slowly slid to his ass.

My heart hurt that my mate had been put in this position. He’d loved this man at one time, and I’d never wanted him to have to live through this guilt and pain.

Ulva’s footsteps came running down the hall, and they stopped when they came into the room.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Dick until he was dead, so I couldn’t check on her.

“You actually did it,” Dick sputtered and glanced at the knife protruding from his chest. “I…I didn’t think you had the balls.”

“When it comes to protecting those I love, I’ve learned that I’m willing to do whatever it takes.” Griffin ran his fingers through my fur as he kept his gaze on the man. “And you’ve made it clear that you have no problem hurting anyone as long as you get what you want.”

“Ahhh, if only you knew everything.” Dick chuckled as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth onto his shirt. “You think you have all the answers, but you have no fucking clue.”

My blood ran cold at the implications.

“What do you mean?” Griffin tensed as he squatted to be on eye level with the man. “What don’t I know?”

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