BEARing it All (Wylde Brothers 3)

No, that was a death trap. It didn’t matter how fast she ran; a panther could catch her in no time. The town was a better option, where she’d be able to hide, blend in. Maybe she could get someone to help her, to take her in for the night until she thought of something else. She had no money and only the clothes on her back, but she had her life, and that was more priceless than anything else.

The sounds of the wild animals inside grew to a deafening roar, and Kenzie didn’t want to be one of those girls who got killed right as they touched freedom.

No, just go. Run as fast and as far as you can.

And then she did just that. She ran as fast as she could, taking to the tree line, moving around boulders, fallen logs, but her sight on the town ahead.

And then she heard him. She sensed him. She smelled the sadistic panther on her heels.

A quick glance over her shoulder showed Rook coming closer. She was no match for him, and before long, he was on her, tackling her to the ground. The air left her violently as she was moved onto her back, Rook’s big animal body crowding her. He hurt her, so much, not just emotionally, but physically, deep, to the bone… to her heart.

His black fur was matted in several places, and she saw a few gaping wounds covering his body. That sight had pleasure coursing through her, because even if he hurt her or even killed her tonight, he had suffered as well.

His hot breath covered her face and throat, his menacing growl filling her head.

A flash and a pop sounded, and he was back in his human form.

“Shh, pet.” Bile rose to the surface. “No, precious. You’re the only one who truly makes me feel powerful.” He leaned in close to her ear. He slipped his hand down to her neck where he slowly started adding pressure. She felt his claws dig into her flesh, tearing her skin, opening her up. The scent of blood filled the air, consumed her nose and head.

Everything that came out of his mouth was a lie and always had been. The air slowly started to leave her, and Kenzie was ready for death, even welcomed it.

Gasping and feeling panic rise inside her, she reached out and grasped the hard, gravel-laden ground. Instinct told her to grab his hand, force him to loosen the hold, but she wanted death, didn’t she? Her mother and father’s faces flashed before her eyes, and although she just wanted to let go and be with them, their voices rose inside her head, telling her to fight, to not give up.

An image of Bram flashed through her mind, and as strange as it was, a wave of serenity went through her.

It was then, as her parents’ voices filtered through her ears and Bram filled her mind with calmness for the first time since she was a young girl, that Kenzie realized she didn’t want to die, not by Rook’s hand.

Bram protected her, kept her shielded from this panther until shit hit the fan. Her fingers brushed along a large rock, and she tried in vain to reach it. After several attempts, she finally managed to get it in her grasp.

She clutched at it for only a second before bringing it up and toward Rook’s skull without any hesitation. The sound of the stone cracking against his head came through in sickening clarity.

And then he loosened his hold on her throat. A blank look covered his face, and a gushing trail of blood slid down his temple and splashed against her chest.

“Kenzie,” Rook gasped out. “You’ll always be mine.” That was the only thing he said, in a deep, guttural voice, before his eyes rolled back in his head and his body went limp against hers.6She quickly moved out from under him and stood there transfixed as she watched the blood continue to fall from his head and make a pool in the dirt beside him. It looked like spilled ink under the moonlight, growing and growing until she was forced to take a step back so it didn’t reach her feet.

The front door of the bar slammed opened again, and she spun around and raised the rock in her hand. Marek was thrown out of the bar in his human form first, and then Tank had the same fate, but he was still a cougar. Bram came out, his body still that of a bear. He was a massive animal, and when he roared out at Marek and Tank, the vibrations seemed to rattle the glass of nearby vehicles.

She was only a few feet from him but close enough that she saw his massive wounds. They made her wince, had bile rising in her throat, and all she wanted to do was bring the rock down upon Rook’s head once again. How anyone could get off on harming another was beyond her, but Rook had been the worst of the worst. Kenzie looked back down at Rook and saw him in the same state.