“I know you don’t want to die, but the experimentation can’t continue,” I say.
“What if it’s the natural evolution of things?” Chief bellows. “What if you and Kyle are the next wave of Primals? Who are we to stop that?”
I gnash my teeth at him and smack him across the face. Blood forms on his fur and Chief manages to flip me over. His claws dig into my stomach, and I can feel them crunching against the protective iron my skin has managed to create over my stomach.
His eyes whip up to mine, and I know exactly what he’s thinking.
“You are the prophecy,” Chief says. “You’re going to save us.”
“Maybe. Maybe not,” I growl as I roll us back over. “But that isn’t for you to determine. That’s for the humans who want to transform to determine. And I can guarantee you that they don’t want that. They aren’t ready for it. The world it isn’t ready for it.”
“And who are you to make that decision?” Chief asks.
“Clarissa.”
My eyes pan up to Theo, and I can see the hurt in them. The betrayal. The anger. The hatred. But most of all? I can see the worry. He’s worried, but not for Chief.
He’s worried for me.
“As one of your experiments, I think I’m more capable of making the decision than you are. And as far as Kyle and I are concerned? There’s one thing the experimentation didn't take into account,” I say.
I sink my teeth into Chief’s neck, and I can hear Theo screaming. His bellows of anguish rock the ground we’re standing on and I’m thrown off Chief’s neck. I pumped him with saliva, but not enough to kill him humanely. I want this war to be over, but I don’t want people to suffer. He’s choking. Sputtering on his own blood. Dying a pointless, painful death for something he isn’t even sure about.
I can see Sebastian holding Theo back as I roll over and walk back to Chief.
“You forgot about pheromones,” I growl as tears rise to my eyes. “Kyle is repulsive to me now.”
Chief’s eyes go wide, and his claw comes up to my face. But instead of slashing it like I think he’s going to, he cups it. I can feel the sorrow dripping from him as he holds the wound in his neck. I can smell the guilt pouring from his body. It makes me sick. This man is dying. Morphing into his human form and staining the ground below him.
I can hear Theo’s bellows as his heart breaks at the edge of the woods.
“Tell him I’m sorry,” Chief says.
“Who?” I ask.
His eyes flicker around before a small smile appears on his face. His eyes grow unfocused, and I can’t watch it any longer. I dip my jaws to his neck and tear through the rest of his artery, killing him instantly. It doesn’t matter who he wants me to apologize to. I’ll apologize to them all. To Kyle. To Theo. To Sebastian and Vlad. I’ll apologize to all the men who are caught up in this because of me. Who are throwing themselves into battle because of Chief. Because of the Council.
I back away from his dead body as my eyes rise up to meet Theo’s.
I don’t know if he will ever forgive me. The look in his eye is nothing I’ve ever seen before. My heart aches for him, and I don’t know if our relationship will ever be the same. I hear the final snap of General Tera’s wings, and I look over. I see Vlad tearing Tera’s only ability away from him before he snaps his neck. So much blood. So much death. And for what? Greed? Desperation? A want to continue existing to matter the cost?
I look over and see Sebastian at Theo’s side, but their eyes are trained on the horizon.
I turn around and my eyes bulge. Hoards of Primals are coming our way. Marching underneath the flag of the Council.
And Toshi is in chains in front of them.
We’re sorely outnumbered. Toshi looks as if he’s been beaten. Tears fall from my eyes as Vlad approaches my side. I look over at him, and I don’t know what to do. My anger is blinding, but I know my actions might cost Toshi his life. I don’t know what they have planned for him or how to set him free. For all I know, those chains are lead, and they will weaken any of us who try to break him free.
“Theo will never forgive me for this,” I growl.
I feel Vlad caress me with the fur of his side and I lean into him.
“Fight now, talk later,” Vlad rumbles.
Then, as if Theo can hear the question rolling around in my mind, the ground shakes violently underneath us and a shadow is cast over my body. I look up and watch Theo morph in midair, his clothes falling into tatters on top of Vlad and me. He lands in front of us in his full bear form, his shoulders strong and his stance tall and his dedication unwavering.
“They won’t touch you,” Theo bellows. “I’ll make sure of that.”