The Alpha (The Lycans 4)

“Thank you for being here so I don’t have to do this alone,” I whispered.

His jaw clenched as he stared at the black-clad bodies coming toward us.

I thought of Cian, how we’d been robbed of our happily ever after.

I thought about Darragh and how I wished I could see her one last time.

I felt that grief of losing my own happiness, of being loved and loving Cian, of having his babies.

I thought of it all and felt like crying. But I wouldn't. I was stronger than what life threw at me. I’d proved that to myself countless times. And right now wouldn’t be any different.

Because I knew if losing my happiness helped ensure that others didn’t get hurt, it would be worth it.

I just wished I had a little bit more time to love Cian before he was taken from me.

25

Cian

I ran hard and fast through the woods, the long strip of deserted asphalt parallel to me. I was purely running on animalistic instinct right now, allowing my wolf to take control. My senses were heightened exponentially, more than they’d ever been before.

I was no longer human, the sheer determination to get to my female and ensure her safety like fuel in my veins, air in my lungs, the very beat of my heart.

I was vaguely aware of several vehicles coming over the crest of the road, their halogen lights illuminating the darkness in a glow of neon blue. I didn’t have to see who was in the cars to know it was Adryan and his soldiers. I didn’t even try to rationalize how he’d found me or how he knew where to go.

I ran faster, my mouth and body eating up the distance, my paws digging into the dirt as I picked up my pace. I smelled blood and gasoline before I broke through the tree line, finally spotting a small fire burning from the hood of an overturned van.

My heart skipped a beat. I thought I was too late, that Evie was already taken from me. But I reminded myself that I still felt her, felt my mating mark pulse in my blood. She had to still be alive. I wouldn’t accept anything else.

I heard shouting, cursing, and screaming. I filtered out all those sounds and only focused on finding my female. I scanned the surroundings, the fight, the bloodshed. And then I saw my Evie, her body seeming so small among the carnage as she fought against another woman. It was clear the other female was part of the Assembly by the clear way she fought, her moves skilled, obviously trained. My mate didn’t stand a chance against someone like that.

I tipped my head back and howled in rage and vengeance.

I could see the wounds covering Evie, could smell her blood even from the distance. And then there was Odhran, naked and bloody, his wounds covering so much of his body it was all I could see. He was holding off several men, fighting in the way our kind did. No mercy. It reminded me of all the times we’d been in battle. I knew his many wounds were the reason he hadn’t shifted. He was too hurt to shift, and as I inhaled deeply, I picked up the scent of chemicals. They’d weakened him with something, causing him to be unable to take his wolf form.

I focused on Evie again and let out a growl as I lunged forward, moving faster, needing to get to her. My wolf was vicious as we jumped right into the fight, snapping and tearing flesh from anyone who got in front of me.

I was on the human woman attacking Evie, latching my massive jaw on her leg until she screamed in pain. She swung her arm out, and something sharp slammed into my shoulder, but I didn’t feel anything but the adrenaline rushing through me, and the need to kill her ran strong.

I didn’t think about anything but bloodshed as I tore a chunk of her calf off. She screamed again, and I fucking loved the sound. I launched myself fully onto her. She fell backward, her body supine, her eyes wide and terror-stricken. She lifted her arm up, and I saw the hunting knife she held. If she thought that would stop me, if she thought stab wounds littering my body would bring me down, then she knew nothing about a Lycan and how powerful we were at protecting our mate.

I was in a haze as I finished her off, my canines and teeth tearing at her flesh, blood coating my jaw, all the fur down my chest covered in the gore. It was only when I stumbled back and swung my head in Odhran’s direction that I saw two human males coming after Evie. I could see their mouths moving, assuming they were shouting, but I heard nothing but the rush of my pulse in my ears.