Blood & Wine

46 | Fynley

Once, when I was four, I thought I had experienced the worst pain I would ever face. My dad brought me downstairs, into that room he used for hurting other people and us, and he made my brother tell me to do things. I didn't listen to my brother, knowing that, if I did, I would surely sentence myself to death. My father laughed in my brother's face, and when he got tired of laughing, he beat him. "I only sire Alphas, do you understand, mutt?" he growled into his face. Then he took him snapped his body in half, and my brother laid there screaming. My father told me if I helped him, I'd be next, so I stayed next to my brother in that room and watched the light leave his eyes.

I thought that was pain.

I thought watching my dad abuse my mother was pain.

No, none of it compared to the feeling that overtook me now. Watching Eden be hurt by my uncle.

"I will rip everyone apart," I growled, shoving the window open. I climbed through it despite Iris's warning. Who cared about a second story fall? I had already done that before. I had fallen from higher heights.

I did not jump alone.

Jagger jumped behind me, and we fell, shifting as we did.

I hit the ground with a solid thud, my body absorbing the impact I didn't feel. Get Eden, I told Jagger because if I went over there, I would forget about my father. I would forget that my uncle was Dasher's to kill. I would forget about this war and defend her.

Jagger said nothing but took off.

I ran through the field, at the werewolves marching toward us. My grandmother's pack was here—but the other packs I had hustled together were already fighting, hovering through the edges of the trees and taking down the werewolves Eden hadn't weakened.

Eden.

I'll be okay, she wheezed, and it took everything in me not to turn around. I knew that was his plan, but I was too—I was too cocky. I should've never turned my back.

I couldn't say anything to her.

She knew I loved her.

My entire being burned as I ran to my father, who stood there with a smile on his face. A wicked, nasty, ugly smile.

When I got closer, he shifted, too.

I was bigger than him, more muscular, but we were the same color, the same height. I pounced, soaring through the air with enough anger to propel me over his head.

Get it together, I told myself. I had to kill him.

Fear was not my problem, though. It was my anger now. Hurting my Mate had burned everything else through me. I could feel nothing but the frenzied panic of maybe, almost, losing my Mate.

My father waited, crouching.

This time, my pounce was true. Our bodies collided into the air, and pain shot through me, but I barely felt.

You've been hurt worse, I told myself.

I could feel Jagger hanging around at the edges, a few feet away, ready to tag in. I remembered what Eden had said, the loophole she hd given me. But I wouldn't need it. He was mine to kill. He had no reason to hurt Eden.

I landed on my feet, not taking a moment to catch my breath as I went at my father again. He snapped at me. I dodged his teeth. I snapped mine at him, and he moved. Around and around we went.