All Chapters of Bite: Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

I lay face-up and conjure shadows that dance around my fingertips. I’m not sure if I want to escape them or lean more into whatever power this is. All I know is that the coldness in me keeps stretching, and I don’t know who I’m going to be when it pushes me to my breaking point. I turn, spying the three beds in the room with me: two empty, one with Axel facing the wall, his tattooed back on full display. A part of me is just glad we’re all together again. “Ax?” I say into the dark bedroom. Hunter left an hour ago, and Talon a few minutes after that. I know they went to see Olivia. I want to as well, but I’m scared of what she’ll think of me now. Shadow power and all. “Ryker, did you say something?” Axel’s voice echoes. Shit. I didn’t think he was actually going to answer. “No,” I say sharply, but after a while, my tone softens. “Yes.” He’s quiet for a moment before he murmurs, “Are you scared?” My fingers tangle in my necklace. Telling the fearless Axel Parker about my panic

Other than Dillon and Ricklan—who stay behind in their shared room—the rest of us get ready for this meeting with the Penwood residents. We’re not invited, but I would rather cut off my arm than let Olivia face them alone. By the time we all get dressed and head to a grand hall the followers told us to meet at, several people are gathered there. I have a hazy memory of this place from when I was a child—it was used for town hall meetings I think, I was far too young to remember the specific reason it exists. Today, it’s this run-down room repurposed for Nester and his followers. It has a large table running through it, and many people perch themselves on seats along the table’s edge. The second we walk in, the followers turn to us in sync. I shiver at their shadowed eyes, all the same shade of dark. All spooky as fuck. “Well, that’s not creepy as shit,” Hunter murmurs. He and Olivia fall behind the group. I try hard to keep my face straight and stare forward, but I can’t h

It all happens at once: The shadows fly. The people scream. Axel is in front of Olivia literally faster than the speed of light. I reach forward to pull my former Alpha away from danger, but the shadows from the pale-haired man have already torn through his shirt and begin seeping into his skin… Except they don’t.The shadow bounces off Axel’s back, hitting the wall with a zap. His tattoos glow brighter than any measly light in the hall, and I have to squint against him to properly watch what is happening. The pale-haired man roars, throwing another bolt of shadow, but the same thing happens: a rip in Axel’s shirt, and then it bounces back. “Holy shit,” Liana mutters. Now in tatters, the shirt slides off Axel’s shoulders. His toned chest and back glow with golden tattoos. Pale-faced Olivia presses her hands to his chest. I can’t determine if the look on her face is stunned, terrified, or a secret third thing—some sort of awe and affection for Axel. All I know is I don’

Roanna is on me before I can even recognize a threat is here. She pounces, body slamming mine to the ground. “Talon,” she snarls. It’s mocking and bitter, echoing with the distinct sound of the undead. My heart pounds as I try to get her off me, pushing with all my might. But it’s not just physically that I feel stuck; it’s also in my damn head. Images of times she’s been on me in the past flash through my mind: time after time of her groping my pants, cupping my face, whispering in my ear, telling me not to let my parents know the evil that is being done to me. I’m trapped. Roanna’s knee digs into my back, pressing me into the hard gravel floor. She’s stronger now, even stronger than before. And when it comes to holding me down? She’s always been strong. I gasp for air as I hear the door slam open. I feel the presence of my friends as thickly as I shiver from my fear. I don’t want them to see me like this. I don’t want them to know what she has done to me. I pray to the go

I wait with bated breath for the people to respond. I realize these aren’t exactly the most ideal circumstances to make them like me, but I also don’t really fucking care. I will kill Roanna, whether that makes me their villain or not. But it’s still nerve-racking to watch them make a decision about me, eyes flitting between Roanna and myself. I’m about to explode from the silent tension when someone steps forward: a man with roguish red hair and clear blue eyes. He’s handsome, and clear, he’s not part of the undead army. Roanna shuts up the second he’s in front of her. He sizes me up, and I hear my boys growl behind me in warning. Safe to say I like having my own personal bodyguards. The boy ignores them, pointing at Roanna. “You say you want to burn her alive?” I nod curtly. No need to dwell on the facts when I’ve already placed them before him. He stares down at her, eyes hardening. Roanna mumbles through her stuffed lips, a slew of things no one will ever understand thank