[Elise’s POV]I watch in horror as the strange creature in front of me rises higher and higher until it is standing at its full height.“Fuck.” Marty, who stands behind me, whistles. “That thing…”He doesn’t finish his words as the creature moves, rushing toward us with the intent to kill.“Time to move!” He announces, jumping to one side while I jump to the other.Straightening myself out, I take in the thing's body, trying to find a weak spot, but its scale-like skin seems almost impenetrable.‘How the hell did they get a hold of this thing?’ I hiss.‘Who knows.’ Anna responds. ‘But where doesn’t matter.’She was right. The only thing that mattered in this situation was killing this damn thing, but was that possible?As this thought hits, the creature whirls around and moves to attack again, but stops as Jose and Warren move, wrapping their teeth around its ankles.Eyes widening, I watch the beast lift them from the ground and then begin to shake, breaking their hold and sending the
[Elise’s POV]I continue to stare at the pile of ash in front of me while Jose’s words repeat themselves again and again in my head.He’s gone.He’s gone.He’s gone.Each time they appear, I feel something in me crack more and more, until I’m letting out a snarl of rage and turning my gaze toward my father.“You!” I growl, watching him attempt to get up. “THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!”Shaking Jose’s hands off of me, I move, shifting back into my wolf form and attacking my father before he gets the chance to get up.You! I snarl inwardly. EVERYTHING IS YOUR FUCKING FAULT!As the words form themselves, I dig my teeth into his shoulder, earning myself a whine of pain from him, which just satisfies me even more.All of this was his fault, from the day he gave me away to his trying to use Denali! Everything was due to his hunger for power! He didn’t deserve to live, and since the Ggoddess continued to let him roam this fucking earth, I would be the executioner who took his life.JUST DIE!J
[Elise’s POV]I keep my gaze fixed on Warren and Jose as they examine me, clearly debating whether or not it was a good idea to let me watch over my father, especially after my attempt to kill him. However, in the end, they both simply nod their heads, granting me permission.Remaining silent, I wait until they close the door to the trunk and then turn my full attention to the man in front of me.“What?” He asks, smirking. “Are you seeing yourself in me?”“Shut up!” I growl, kicking him in the stomach, so he curls in on himself.“Don’t damage the goods.” Charlie calls from the front seat. “Otherwise, I’ll have Jose take your place.”“Aren’t you a little too carefree, given what happened?” I growl, hating Charlie’s indifferent attitude.“Do you think crying and begging the Goddess is going to bring Marty back?”Did I? No. Of course, I knew that wouldn’t do it. But I also wasn’t in the mood to act like nothing happened either. I wanted to kill the bastard in front of me and wanted to av
[Denali’s POV]I sit with Naomi, staring down at her frail frame. Since bringing her to the infirmary, she hadn’t said a thing. She just stared straight ahead, unseeing.“Any change?” Rosco asks, slowly entering the room.Turning, I take him in. He’s taken a shower and rewrapped his abrasions, but he still looks so weak.“Don’t give me that look.” He huffs, being ever the stoic. “This is nothing.”Nothing. It was almost laughable to hear that after what I witnessed. The deaths of those warriors weren’t nothing, but since then, no one else seemed to get worse. Because of that, Maria was finally able to get a good sleep.“I wish you would stop being stubborn.” I murmur. “You’re still healing, and I’m sure forcing yourself isn’t going to help.”“How can I rest when so much is going on?” He counters.Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue, but I stop, realizing that if I were in his position, I too wouldn’t just sit back and do nothing.“Have you gotten a team together to go to Crystal Fang
[Elise’s POV]I wince at the big lug’s words. Man, that was harsh to hear. Not only did William’s crazy father kidnap him while I wasn’t here, but he even managed to murder Hamilton.“Any means necessary?” I ask slowly, needing confirmation of what I could do. “Because I’m pretty fucking close to exploding.”“By any means.” The big lug confirms.“Rosco!” Denali gasps, her eyes growing wide. “You can’t possibly...”“By any means necessary.” Rosco repeats.“Bahahaha!”Feeling my anger spike, I turn to take in my bastard father, who is listening in carefully.“Shut the fuck up, old man.” I snap, lifting a foot and slamming it into his face.Pulling away, I watch with satisfaction as his freshly busted lip and broken nose begin to bleed. Serves him right for finding pleasure in others suffering.‘That was just us a little over a year ago.’ Anna points out. ‘My sweet Elise, you’re growing into a reasonable adult finally.’‘No chance.’ I sigh.I wasn’t being a reasonable adult. Or maybe I w
[William’s POV]I stare ahead, taking in the scene in front of me in disbelief. How? How could this be happening? I knew that my father was a monster for power, but to go as far as killing his own brother in order to achieve it was not something I believed he could do.As I watch on, so many memories begin to flash before me—images of his kind smile, though those were rare—and of him comforting me. Were all those actions a lie to trick me into believing that he was good?“Why?” I growl quietly. “Why the hell is this happening?”Even if it was my father doing everything, I still felt as though I was also guilty. It was because of his absolute need to make me the alpha of Crystal Fang that he was doing this. Didn’t that make me guilty by association?“Stop.” I hiss, drawing my father’s crazed gaze toward me. “STOP THIS!”Beside me, the woman who my father wished to marry me off to gives a giggle, causing the anger that is slowly building to begin to bubble over.“You’re cute,” she sighs
[William’s POV]Disgust rushes through me as the crazy woman behind me lets her canine touch my skin, and when I feel the rustlings of her mark begin to come to life, I move, yanking my other hand free from its bindings.Ignoring the pain that shoots through me, I use my wrists to grab the woman’s head and then heave, throwing her toward my father and Elise so that she lands between them.“ELISE!” I roar as they remain momentarily distracted. “LEAVE THIS TO ME!”At my words, Elise’s gaze takes me in and then shifts to my feet, which are still chained, and I can almost hear her sarcastic remark.Smirking, I feel a wave of relief knowing that she is still in one piece after barging her way into this place, but how did she do it without getting caught?Nevermind. Now wasn’t the time to be worrying about that. Instead, I need to focus on getting my feet free and taking down my bastard father.Tearing my focus from Elise, I start to work the cuffs around my feet as my hands heal. The metal
[William’s POV]I look around, trying to figure out what the source of the sudden rumble is, and I quickly get my answer as a loud boom sounds and the roof above our heads disappears.“Shit!” Charlie hisses, beginning to move. “These bastards really are fucking crazy.”Crazy was an understatement. Was this my father’s way of saying that if he couldn’t have Crystal Fang, then no one else could? He was destroying the whole fucking building and any type of proof toward what it was he was doing.Looking around, I try to spot the bitch that was working with him, only to find that she has already escaped. But what about my father? Continuing to search, I finally find that Jose, who is approaching us quickly, has him thrown over his shoulder.“Don’t just stand there!” Charlie continues. “We need to get the hell out of here before the building collapses.”Nodding, I pull Elise, who is fading in and out of consciousness, closer to me and begin to move. However, when we reach the stairs that wi