Chapter 4

Kestrel’s POV

Knox raises a hand, and somehow, without even looking at him, Axel stops in obedience. Breathing heavily, I turn my glare towards Knox.

Just that… a flick of his fingers. No words. What does he think, that he’s too important to speak, or is he just dumb?

Axel remains frozen mid step. His furious eyes don’t leave me. And I glare right back at him, making sure he understands that I don’t give a shit.

There’s so much hatred in their gazes, but I make sure mine is nothing compared to the fiery darts shooting from my eyes.

“What, too scared to fight someone your own size?” I spit, enjoying the sheer madness in Axel’s eyes.

Zane chuckles. “I like this one.”

He says it like they’ve encountered plenty like us before. Have they? There’s no other hunter clan that I know of.

“It’ll be interesting to see how high that mouth of yours can scream with my dick shoved up your ass, huntress.” He laughs with dry humour.

Knox shifts, his eyes now holding a strange conflict. Yes, the resentment is there, but there’s something else buried behind his gaze. I can’t name it, but it scrapes against my soul when his stare lingers for too long.

He looks at me like he wants to kill me. And also like he can’t.

For some reason, that infuriates me.

“What’s wrong?” I snap at him, staggering on my burning feet. “Cat got your tongue, pretty prince? Or are you just the silent, brooding type who enjoys watching women chained up?”

His jaw tightens, but otherwise, he shows no reaction. As long as I know my words are getting to him, I’m not stopping.

“Come on,” I taunt, noticing how all their attention is now fixed on me. I’m not sure what they’ll do to me, but as long as Reid isn’t touched, I know I’ll be fine.

“Say something. Tell me how worthless I am. Tell me how much you hate me, how much you want me dead!”

“Kestrel!” Reid warns, his voice trembling with fear. “Please, baby, don’t make things any worse.”

Zane scoffs while Axel smirks. “Wow, they’re lovebirds.”

Knox remains silent, his hands curling into tight fists at his sides. The way his chest rises, like a starved man seeing water for the first time in days, and the way his eyes glare daggers at Reid, make him look like he’s at war with himself.

“What is wrong with you?” I sneer. “Never seen a hunter before? Or is it that I make you nervous?”

Knox’s eyes flick down to mine, and for some strange reason, one I know has nothing to do with Reid, I’m satisfied to have those glassy blue eyes fixed on me again.

“You’re nothing,” Zane says coldly.

“You’re wrong,” I cut him off, never once looking away from Knox. “I’m a nightmare wrapped in chains. You should be scared.”

If my words have any effect on him, he doesn’t show it.

“You fucking disgust me,” Axel snaps, pointing at Reid. “Both of you. Arrogant little maggots, thinking you can hunt us with your flimsy excuses for weapons. Fools! Heard your leader was too chicken to fight till the end, huh? I guess he’s the smart one out of all of you. It’s better to be a coward than dead now, ain’t it?”

Reid chuckles, bloody and breathless. “Better a maggot than a lapdog licking boots.”

Axel’s eyes darken. In an instant, he’s on Reid again, punching, kicking, and cursing.

“Let him go! Stop! Leave him alone!” I scream, terrified of how far he’s willing to go.

Thankfully, Knox grabs Axel’s arm. But the arrogant fool yanks himself free.

“Are you serious?” Axel demands, staring at him in disbelief, his body still tense.

“That’s enough,” Knox finally says.

I feel my heart beat faster at his deep tone. His voice is grounding, smooth, and calm, with a cold edge to it. Like he knows he doesn’t need to raise his voice to command attention.

“Fine. He’s not worth it. But hell, put them in their place before I’m forced to.”

I watch in silence as Knox closes the distance between us in two strides. He pulls a hand from his pocket, bending to my level. I suppress a groan as his strong fingers grip my jaw, digging mercilessly into the sides of my face.

I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flinch.

“You act all strong, but your fear is painfully obvious. Keep those lips of yours shut so they don’t cost you your life.”

I stare straight into his eyes. Soul stealing, that’s exactly what they are. They seem to blaze, flickering between gold and blue.

Okay, I didn’t think I’d be admitting this so soon, but the man is fine. Scrap that. He’s drop dead gorgeous.

But he’s a beast, and one I shouldn’t admire.

I shift back slightly as he leans closer. He’s too close. His warm breath brushes against my lips, and instinctively, his eyes flick down for just a second. My fingers tighten around the chains I’m tied to.

I prepare to spit in his face when his nostrils flare slightly, almost as though he’s…

Sniffing me?

My heart stutters. Why would he be doing that?

I don’t get my answer as new footsteps echo through the cell. The guards step aside, and everyone makes room for the next man. Knox releases my face as well.

An older man, robed like a king, strides in. His resemblance to Knox, especially in build, is uncanny.

He has midnight black hair, cut short like Axel’s, and eyes as deadly as Knox’s. Like Zane, he wears a tattoo on his neck.

He’s older, with silver strands lining his temples. Still, his strength is unmistakable. Even his silence demands silence from everyone around him.

All three brothers straighten, with Zane making the greatest effort.

The old man’s gaze sweeps over us. Me. Reid. Then his sons.

Then back to me.

I swallow, knowing that my end is near. The blue dust had given me hope, but with both of us tied up like chickens, escape seems impossible.

“So,” he says. “These are the humans who kill my kind.”

I remain silent. Something tells me he won’t show mercy. Perhaps, like Garrett, he won’t hesitate to eliminate his enemies.

“You hate what we are,” he continues, stepping forward. “You butcher us. Call us beasts, monsters.”

“You are monsters,” I spit out, my rationality slipping away.

“Then let’s see how you fare as one of us.”

His words strike me like a blow.

He turns to his sons. “I’ve made a decision.”

With a satisfied grin, he points at Reid and me.

“These two will be turned. Marked by an Alpha. They’ll be forced to walk in the very skin they fear. Let them live with the stench of wolf in their own bones. It’ll be lovely to study how their minds unravel.”

My limbs go numb as I collapse to the floor.

“No…” I whisper.

Zane and Axel smile with satisfaction. My eyes search Knox’s, but his gaze holds just as much hatred as his brothers’.

“And you, Knox, as the pack’s enforcer, you will be the one to turn them.”