Page 90 of Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven
I’m the first to take a step, past Elias’ burned corps. Malikiah drops his head, his legs crouching as he leaps at me. His jaw snaps, his saliva dripping as he continues to bite the air. His eyes glow, the black pits matching his dark soul.
We walk. Circle after circle. Neither going for the kill just yet. I study him. His walk. The way he drops his head when he thinks he sees an opening.
The hate I have for him runs deep. He killed my father. Stole my family. Endangered the love of my life, and now, I’m going to end it all. With one bite. One snap.
Crouching, I use all of my strength to lunge, striking his hind leg. When he yelps, his breath hissing from his mouth, I strike his flank with my teeth. I sink my canines into his flesh, tearing my mouth away with a growl.
He roars, his shoulder raring into me, knocking me off of my paws for a brief moment before I’m back up, lunging again. He doesn’t expect my quick rebound, and I take the small window of time while is neck is turned to chomp down, sinking my teeth into his meaty flesh. I clench, locking my jaw as I snap his neck with one shake of my head. The alpha falls to the ground, lying in a heap of bloody fur. He may be down. But he’s not dead. Not until silver flows through his veins. Stepping back, I meet Kingston’s eyes. I lift my chin, letting the shift transform mybones. The building is still engulfed in flames, the smoke filling the space.
“Locke.”
I glance to my left as Nyko hands me a weapon. The bullet I need to end this.
Taking the rifle, I point it at the alpha.The imposter.The man who took everything. I aim, and without a single fucking regret, I fire.
The alpha’s life ends, and in the midst of the smoke and flames, I watch every wolf still remaining bow in respect. The alpha is gone. And now, a new one will reign.
Chapter sixty-four
Locke
One week later
“Thank you, officer Reid.” I hang up my phone then toss it on my kitchen island.
They finally closed the case at the warehouse. It was ruled an accident. Faulty wiring that unfortunately ended the lives the two businessmen who owned the property. The building was still standing after Malikiah was killed, giving us time to get everyone that was involved in the auction back to their homes safely. There was only a handful involved in the first sale, but something tells me this wasn’t the only location and a bigger problem was probably on our hands.
Speaking of hands.
Raven runs her small hands over my shoulders and down over my chest. Her soft lips nip at my ear.
“Baby. You know what we talked about.” I take her arms, removing them from my chest.
Until we handle the curse, physical contact has to be limited. I can’t stand the thought of hurting her.
“Whatever,” she huffs before she pads barefoot to the fridge. “I’m finally caught up on all of my classes.”
Raven took a few days off after the fire. I made her rest, and we had a long talk about the information I received from Giselle. It wasn’t what we wanted to hear, but hope wasn’t completely lost. We just had to find some other soul to transfer the curse to. Either way, someone’s life is altered.There’s still pain.
“I feel bad.” Raven sighs.
“For what?” I ask.
“Presley,” she admits.
“Come here,” I motion with two fingers.
She walks over, twisting open a bottle of water. “I hate what I’m keeping from her, and I hate that she moved back to our apartment alone.”
I take her face in my hands. “Sometimes we have to do things that are hard to protect the people we love.”
She nods but her eyes hold a sadness that I hate. She places her water on the counter.
“With her father’s involvement, it’s better if she doesn’t know anything. She won’t be able to be questioned or compelled for information.” I press a kiss to her lips. “Just be her friend. And just be you.”
She sighs into my mouth, her tongue slipping past my lips. I groan, letting my hands tangle in her hair.
She steps up, climbing up onto the bar stool to straddle my lap.
