Page 42 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

He shifts and heads back in the other direction just as Clara catches up to me. I point along the ridge and shift again, running along the rocky outcrop and down into a lush valley.

As soon as I get out of the strong wind, Nico’s scent gets stronger, and it’s mingled with the tang of fresh blood.

No! Oh, please, God, no.

I fly down the mountain as fast as my paws will carry me, thinking that I’ll tear Dennis apart if anything has happened to my son. Mixed with the fear and blame is a sick, rising guilt that I can’t punish anyone for this but myself.

I let him down. I knew how vulnerable he is, and I let him down.

As I get closer to the valley floor, I hear snarling and the lowing of cows. Sheep frantically bleating cut through the other sounds, and the scent of blood gets thicker in the air.

Oh no.

As I come through the trees, I see Nico in a field, locked into his wolf shape. His eyes are wide and crazed as he tears around the paddock, ripping sheep and calves to pieces.

There is already a few dead, their shredded bodies scattered around. Nico doesn’t even seem to notice that he’s killed them as he herds the remaining animals and keeps taking them down one by one.

This is wrong… he should have stopped after his first kill. The blood and death should have satisfied his wolf. What’s wrong with him? It’s like he’s in a frenzy!

The last thought comes with a sharp edge of fear like nothing I’ve ever known.

What if he’s damaged? Beyond help? What will I do, then?

I shove the terror away, running towards Nico as hard as I can. It’s only a matter of time until the farmer comes to protect his stock, and he’ll certainly bring a gun and shoot to kill.

I slide to a stop not far from Nico and throw my head back, letting out a loud, long howl. He turns around immediately, baring his teeth and snarling at me.

Nico, it’s me!I yell telepathically, trying to reach the human side of him.

He shows no sign he heard me, just begins to stalk towards me, blood dripping from his jaws. Sick fear rises in my guts as I realize he doesn’t recognize me, not as his father, nor as his alpha.

This is bad.

“Nico!” I hear Clara screaming behind me, and I realize she’s followed me all the way into the valley. I leap between her and Nico, desperate to protect her.

“Let me go! He’s my son!” she screams, trying to shove me out of the way.

Not right now, he’s not.

“Nico!” she screams again. “Get out of my way, Galen!”

Then, Nico attacks. He leaps at us, snarling and snapping. Clara screams again as I meet Nico in mid-air, and he crashes into me, knocking all three of us to the ground. I manage to roll over Clara and spring up between them, keeping Nico away from his mother.

I rush forward, barking and snapping at him. Nico shivers and pricks up his ears, letting out a little yelp.

“Don’t hurt him!” Clara yells. “Nico!”

I’m not going to hurt him, but by God, he’s got to calm down!

Nico whines, pawing at his nose, then gets down on his belly. He flattens his ears as he looks up at me, but his eyes are still wide and unfocused.

He knows he’s outmatched, and he’s submitting, but he still doesn’t know who we are.

I stalk over to him, growling softly to keep him down. Clara rushes up beside me, and I try to stop her from touching him, but she shoves me away and wraps her arms around his neck. In my attempt to keep her back, I touch Nico at the exact same time.

There is an incredibly loud snap, and my own howl of pain rings out around the clearing as I’m thrown back. Clara hits the ground not far from me, both of us as stunned as if we got hit by a flash grenade.

“Mom?” Nico whispers.

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