Page 114 of Big Bad Bully
I turn back to my father. “Face me like a wolf,” I tell him. “It’s time for you to die.”
My father’s face turns red. He wants to argue, but he can’t. He fights the compulsion, but he’s not strong enough to resist my softly spoken command. In the end, his eyes roll a little with fear.
It’s a little sad.
I wait until he undresses, and then I call my wolf and surrender to the change.
The fight goes quickly. Two wolves sparring. But my father is old and grey, and I’m snow white and fast. I slam my shoulder into him, and he goes sprawling. I’m on him in a flash, and from there it’s the work of a moment to sink my teeth into his soft belly and rip out his guts.
Then I shift back, and order him to shift, also. He morphs into human form. He’s sprawled in the dirt on his back, wheezing, trying to hold his organs inside his body. Trying and failing.
I feel no pity. No sorrow. This is simply a job that needs to be done.
I take a knee and clamp a hand around his neck.
“There’s something you should know,” I say. I speak softly, but I know every shifter can hear me. “I love my human mate. I will fight every day to deserve her. She makes me a better wolf, and I will love her to the day I die, even if she never thinks about me again.”
My father’s eyes widen. He tries to speak, but can’t do much more than gurgle on his own blood. I don’t let him speak. I will not allow my mate’s name to be soiled in his mouth. I choke him until his eyes grow glassy, and his body stills.
Power passes through me. I feel it. Everyone in the clearing does.
But it doesn’t rest on me. It moves through all of us–the power of an alpha–and settles on my sister. Her eyes flare bright blue, and then it fades.
“Alpha,” I greet her.
“Alpha,” the rest of the pack murmurs. One by one they begin to kneel.
It’s like I told her earlier. She always fought for this pack. Protected the weak. That’s because she was meant to lead. She was always an alpha, and it’s time for her to take her place. It won’t be easy. Some of the enforcers will challenge her or leave. But she has more allies than she thinks. And she has her mate at her back. I’m learning that a wolf can do anything if they have a strong mate.
This execution should’ve been done a long time ago. But I didn’t do it for me or my sister, or even the pack.
I did it for Aubrey. Now, she’ll be safe.
And now I can go home.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aubrey
I sit alone at All Night. It’s karaoke night and some drunk guys murder Queen’s “We are the Champions” up on the stage, shouting lyrics with raised beer glasses. Very original, guys. That song never gets sung on karaoke night.
But whatever. No shade. Music heals. That’s why I’m here. Drinking a gin and tonic because that’s what Billy likes. It’s been twelve days since the wedding, and it hasn’t gotten much easier.
Classes are over. I officially graduate Saturday. I have no job lined up, other than my part time hours at La Résistance, which means I have nothing to do.
Nothing to take up the time and give me focus.
Way too many hours to ruminate on why Billy didn’t decide we were worth it.
The first week after the wedding, I held a thread of hope, thinking Billy might show up or call. I wanted to work things out with him.
I feel pathetic to admit it, but I wanted him to choose me. I wanted him to say I’m his fated mate. I’m the one.
But he didn’t.
I haven’t heard a word from him.
I still have two guys tailing me at all times. They’re even here tonight, sitting at a table by the door.
