Page 101 of Taken By the Alpha Priest

“Enid,” I say softly, turning back to her. “I’m going to leave you here so you don’t get in trouble if I get caught. But…please, I want you to really think about coming to live with me in Austin. It isn’t safe here, and you shouldn’t have to give anything up for medicine.”

Her eyes sparkle, and I know I’m toeing the line. If I keep pushing, she’ll start crying again, and I can’t risk that—not when we’re so close to pulling this off.

“I don’t…I can’t go now,” she says, her voice cracking. “But if I decide to leave, how will I even get that far? I sold my horse.”

I swallow hard, the lump in my throat nearly choking me. “In a few weeks—the night of the new moon—I’ll ride Annie out to that tree where we buried Mom’s ring. Meet me there? Then you can decide.”

She nods, her expression conflicted but determined. “Okay,” she whispers, her voice hoarse. I can see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands tremble at her sides. She’s holding herself together by sheer force of will.

I step closer and pull her into one last hug, holding her tight as if I can somehow shield her from the dangers she refuses to leave behind. “Be brave, Enid,” I whisper. “I’ll see you soon.”

Her arms tighten around me briefly before she steps back, her face crumpling as she fights back tears. I want to stay, to promise her everything will be okay, but I know I can’t. Time is running out.

She separates from me reluctantly, and I force myself to turn away. I don’t look back as I make my way toward the fence, the weight of her presence lingering behind me.

Every step feels heavier than the last, but I push forward, knowing that freedom—and Reyes—are waiting on the other side.

True to her word, the sound of cattle braying carries on the wind as I approach the fence, their low cries blending with the distant clatter of hooves. The commotion from the north seems to have everyone preoccupied. Still, I keep to the shadows, crouching low and sticking close to the fence line. My pulse pounds in my ears, every rustle of grass or snap of a twig setting my nerves on edge. I don’t know who might still be lurking, waiting for the opportunity to hurt me.

Enid’s distraction worked better than I dared hope. I don’t encounter a single person as I move through the shadows, my breaths shallow and measured. Even the watchtower has only one sentry, his focus fixed entirely on the gate. He doesn’t even glance my way, oblivious to the fact that his town’s defenses are riddled with holes.

They really need to get this fence patched up, I think wryly, though my heart races as I inch closer to the gap. The brush disguising the hole is barely convincing, just a hasty effort to conceal a glaring vulnerability. I duck my head as I spot it, a glimmer of hope surging through me as I shuffle eagerly toward the opening.

Then the unmistakable sound of a gun cocking freezes me in place.

I close my eyes and raise my hands, standing straight up. My senses are in overdrive, my nails already growing into claws, my teeth getting longer and sharper.

I wonder if Patrick will notice…because that’s certainly who just caught me.

“Easy does it,” he says, his voice gruff. “Turn around.”

I do as he says, lifting my chin in a show of dignity. I won’t let him beat me down—not after everything I’ve been through, and all the things I’ve done for Homestead. He draws closer, a smirk on his face.

“The priest’s whore,” he says. “Should’ve known you’d find some way to crawl out of that hole I threw you in.”

“Why?” I ask. “Because you know I’m smarter and stronger than you?”

He narrows his eyes, his tone laced with condescension. “You shouldn’t pick fights when you’re not the one holding the gun.”

I bark out a sharp laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. “You’re such a bully, Patrick,” I say, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “And it’s going to get this town destroyed. You’re already running it into the ground with your idiotic decisions.”

His lips curl into a sneer. “Now, let’s calm down.”

“Calm down?” I repeat, incredulous. “You had the chance to make an alliance with the pack—actual help, Patrick—but instead, you spit in their faces and shot their leader. You’ve turned them into your enemy, and when they win this war, you’re going to regret every single stupid choice you’ve made.”

He tilts his head, smirking like he’s just figured me out. “You switched sides fast,” he says, his voice mocking. “Guess he must be good, huh?”

My frown deepens, and I cross my arms, glaring at him. “Why are you so obsessed with my sex life, Patrick?” I snap. “Is it because you’re jealous? Or is controlling the people here the only thing that gets you off anymore?”

His face twists in anger, and his grip tightens on the gun. “You fucking bitch,” he snarls, raising the rifle to aim.

But I don’t give him the chance to pull the trigger.

Instinct takes over, and I lunge toward him, moving faster than he can react. My shoulder slams into his chest, sending him sprawling to the ground with a grunt. The rifle clatters from his hands, and his head snaps back against the gravel with a sickening thud.

Patrick groans, dazed, trying to scramble away, but I’m on him before he can get his bearings. He’s no fighter—his movements are sluggish, clumsy. I pin him down, my hand pressing against his chest, vicious claws bared, and for a moment, the world narrows to just the two of us.

I should kill him.

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