Page 107 of A Wolf's Wound
The vial is lying on its side.The top is still screwed on but the glass itself has cracked in half.The liquid slowly seeps out, darkening the ground beneath it.
“Hannah!”Ryder cries in agony.I can see the change coming over him again, just like before.Ryder’s eyes turn glassy as the scent seeps into his nose.
Brian watches with a twisted grin.“I told you it wasn’t over,” he taunts Ryder, who sinks to his knees.“Face it.I’ve won.”
Ryder clamps his hands over his nose and mouth again.He squeezes his eyes shut and I wonder what kind of internal battle he’s fighting.I hope he’ll have the strength to resist again.
But Ryder stands up and drops his hands.He turns to face me, and this time he doesn’t seem to notice the blood in his eyes or the ache in his muscles.“Hannah,” Ryder hisses, his voice low and hoarse.He moves toward me as I take one step back and then another, but he keeps approaching.
Finally, I’m backed up against a large tree with nowhere else to go.Shadow whimpers nearby but I don’t dare take my eyes off Ryder.I hear Brian laughing as Ryder lunges for me.
Chapter 61
Ryder
Mid-lunge,Irealizewhat’shappening.I twist my body away from Hannah and crash into the tree beside her.
“Are you okay?”she gasps.
“Yeah.”I nod.“I really am.”I take a deep breath and exhale forcefully, as if doing that will blow Brian’s scent out of the area.Even though I know it’s still here, I do feel better now.Clearer and much more in control.
I stand up and wipe the blood from my eyes.I look at Hannah and take her hands in mine.“I’m back, Hannah.I’m not going to hurt you.I promise.I’m myself again.”
“I know,” she says, squeezing my hands with hers.“I can tell you’re okay again.I just hope you stay this way.”
“I will,” I promise her.And as I say the words, I can feel the truth of them.I look at Shadow, who’s staring at me anxiously.“I’m sorry, buddy.I didn’t want to hurt you.”
Shadow twitters and warbles, letting me know that he accepts my apology.
“What’s wrong, Ryder?”Brian yells behind me in a taunting tone.“Losing your touch?Come on, bite her!”he screams.
“I haven’t lost anything,” I snarl, turning to face him.I’m pleased to see how many of my blows connected with his face.“This is over, Brian.You failed.”
Brian’s face twists in confusion.He looks from me to Hannah and then stares at me again.I think he can tell I’m right, but he clenches his fists and steps toward me.“Like hell I did,” he growls.“The scent is all over you, Ryder!You can try to fight it but it’s no use.You’re going to bite her, and she’s going to have to prove herself to be with you!Just like I did!”
“No, she won’t,” I say.“I’m sorry for what I did to you, Brian.I am truly sorry, and I will be for the rest of my life.But this is over.”
As he glares at me, I realize how much pain I’m in.Every fiber in my body aches, and it’s hard to stay on my feet.But I know I can’t give up now.
I turn away from Brian and close my eyes for a brief second.“You can do this,” I mutter to myself, trying to gather what strength I still have.Then I open my eyes and whirl around with my fist already moving toward Brian’s face with all my strength.
I connect squarely across his jaw.He stumbles backward, trips over his own feet, and collapses in a heap.I hear his head strike the ground with a sickening thud.
My legs give out, and I sink to the grass, feeling sick with pain and regret.I watch as Hannah runs over to Brian and puts her hand on his neck.“He’s breathing, but he’s out,” she tells me.
“Good,” I gasp.
Hannah puts her hands on my shoulders.“Ryder, we need to get you both to a doctor.You’re badly hurt.”
I shake my head.“I’ll be okay, Hannah.We have to finish this thing.”I take a breath and feel my resolve harden into action.I stand and make my way over to Brian.
“Finish this?”Hannah echoes as I continue on my path.“You can’t mean to…”
“I can and I will.”Brian can’t be allowed to live.Not after everything he’s done and the shifter laws he’s broken.
“But, Ryder…”
“I know how you feel, Hannah, but thismustbe done.You know our laws.”
