Death

Cara

Cara

Voices from farther in the pack territory reach me. They're searching for me, coming this way.

Desperately, I throw myself into the gap in the wire fence.

Someone seizes my arm from behind me, pulling me back into the darkness behind my hut. Fear punches me in the gut as I stumble back around, tripping over my own feet. I jerk my head up to a dark form standing over me, a snarl slipping past his lips.

Ronan.

Shit!

"You fucking bitch!" The punch comes out of nowhere and I don't see it until it collides with the side of my face. My legs crumble under me, and I'm screaming with agony as I fall over. Pain spreads up the side of my head, and my vision blurs in and out. I land on my side and stare out through the wire fence and to my sisters sprinting away. They are just two shadows vanishing, blending into the dark, already so far that I doubt anyone's noticed them leaving.

Don't you dare stop.

He grabs me by the arm and drags me across the ground, my head still spinning, my vision painted in stars.

Terror is razor-sharp, cutting into me at how I've made everything so bad tonight. I push myself to get to my feet, but I only keep tripping over myself from how fast Ronan is moving.

"Please, it's not what you think," I plead between muffled cries, my throat splintering from holding back the choking sobs.

*You're pathetic," he growls over his shoulder at me, never relenting in dragging me over the ground, rocks and twigs tearing at my skin. "I can't believe I wanted to fuck you."

I thrust against him, my legs dangling behind me, and I'm swallowed by terror. Yet my wolf still whines for him, my body buzzing with need that makes no sense to me.

When he finally does come to a stop, I'm crying and gasping for air.

We're at the main gates leading into the pack territory. Two guards stand nearby, flaming torches throwing shadows over their scowling faces. I know them, have seen them around, but now they look at me like I'm dirt. Ronan meets my gaze, and a ruthless smile spreads over his mouth.

His grip eases and I drop to the ground. I glance up, my gaze swinging to Markus, who steps out of the shadows, and I count at least six other Alphas from the pack surrounding me. All I can picture is my own death; how much they will make me suffer.

"Please." I turn back toward Markus, still on my hands and knees. "You knew my parents. This was my father's pack."

"She's a fucking witch," Ronan bellows, resulting in the other men repeating the word. "How could you not know she was in your pack?" His words are venom.

Markus shakes his head, lowering it like my very presence has humiliated him and put his position as Alpha in question.

My throat clogs, and I can barely breathe. There is no hint of sympathy or endearment in Markus's expression. All that remains is pure anger, his eyes erupting with wild fury.

"You are nothing to me," he spits the words at me. Your father knew you were a witch and lied to all of us. And just like him, you will pay the ultimate price. As will your vermin sisters." He waves his hand at one of his men.

"Bring them."

"Stop!" I bellow, rage striking me right in the core. A spark of electricity zaps down my arms, crackling like fire across my fingertips. Yellow lightning shoots outward but fizzles just as quickly. This is my fault for always suppressing my power, and now when I need it, it's dead.

"Witch!" the men shout, keeping their distance. They stare at me with contempt, while Ronan's face darkens. His shoulders curve forward like he might transform into a wolf and tear me apart on his own this very moment.

My lungs pump furiously for air. The world spins around me too fast as dread sparks down my back. I call to my power again and fist my hands, but not a damn thing happens.

No spark.

No magic.

Nothing.

"Kill her," one Alpha commands. I shudder at their hatred. These men are unsympathetic, savages, monsters.

Markus jerks his attention toward Ronan. "She is your soulmate, so the decision is yours to make."

"We're soulmates for life. You can't do this," I plead. More men shout for my death. I scramble to my feet, but someone kicks the back of my knees and I fall back onto the ground. Deep down, I know where this is going, and I need to escape.

In a second, I'm wrenched to my feet again by Ronan and thrown over his shoulder, my mind paralyzed with fear.

I pummel his back with my fists and try to kick my legs out, but his arm is clamped over the back of them like iron. "You don't need to do this. Please."

He's moving fast now through the opening gates, almost running. Darkness swallows us, and I jut my hands out, imploring my power to emerge. Anything so I can strike Ronan with it so hard, it breaks him.

Please work, please.

My teeth are chattering while I'm bouncing on his shoulder, screaming. Hot tears flow down my face and neck.

"R-r-ronan, I'm not dangerous. You are my soulmate." My voice shatters, and I feel like I'm trapped in quicksand.

"You will never have anything I want. You are filth," he croaks, then abruptly shoves me off his shoulder.

The next thing I know, I'm suspended in the air. Flying.

I expect to hit the ground, except I'm still falling. And reality tugs me into every direction. He's thrown me off the edge of the cliff that runs alongside our pack territory.

He vanishes from my sight as I descend with speed, and I'm stolen by the night.

I scream, flinging my arms and legs out. My heart is bursting in my chest when a spark of light flares over my hands, and my power ignites.

Suddenly, my back slams into something, hard and fast. Darkness sweeps in and steals away my magic, my hope, and my life.