Winter Wolf(76)

She found him again through the dozen people blocking her way. Their eyes connected just as a twisted smile appeared across his father’s lips. Bass fell to the ground, his head snapping back as he hit the unforgiving earth. Blood splattered from his lips, the fight leaving his eyes.

Katalina watched, fighting against Nico as he tried to get her to safety. His father’s foot connected with his gut, sending him flying through the air. He landed like a dead weight, his arms spread awkwardly in front of him.

“Bass!” she gasped, pulling her hand free.

She moved to run but Jackson lifted her off her feet, tucking her under his armpit.

“Bass!” she screamed.

Bass’s father looked up and smiled at her before looking down at his own son in triumph.

Katalina felt her wolf rise to the surface. She struggled from Jackson’s hold and found herself pushing through the crowd to get to Bass. She felt the moment he gave up. She felt his defeat, and as her eyes connected with his, she saw the message written on them. Sorry.

Pure fury surged through her. She pushed the people in her way, felt the growl within her building. Katalina broke through to the edge of the circle, directing her angry gaze at Bass. He’d promised her they’d make it through this. He’d said they’d build a new world together, yet he was just giving up.

“You promised!” she screamed, her wolf’s growl in her tone. “You promised me!” He felt her words like a razor’s edge. She took a step toward him. “GET UP!”

Bass moved just a split second before his father would have delivered the death blow. He jumped to his feet, his body spinning out of the way, and his elbow slammed into Alistair’s side. Already bent forward, the momentum carried Alistair to the ground, his face smashing into the slush and mud.

Bass didn’t hesitate. He hit his father repeatedly until he was a bloodied mess at Bass’s feet. He stood over him, panting from exhaustion.

“It’s over father. Enough blood has been spilt. Let this be over,” he said wearily, looking down at his father with pity.

Bass stepped away from his father, his eyes seeking Katalina. As he found her, his knees went out from under him. Katalina caught him before he fell.

“I’ve got you,” she whispered, wrapping her arm under his shoulder.

There were hushed whispers all around them. People stared in confusion, looking from Bass to his father.

Katalina heard an audible gasp. No words left her as Bass’s father lurched forward, a lethal-looking knife held high in his hand.

They weren’t going to move out of the way in time. Bass, injured as he was, couldn’t move quickly enough. Katalina screamed as the knife came toward them, glinting in the dim light. Then there was nothing but fur, light grey fur, sprinkled with white.

The knife hit Jackson as his jaws wrapped around Alistair’s throat. They fell together to the ground, neither moving.

“Jackson!” Katalina pulled him off Alistair. “Jackson!” She yanked the knife from his fur. Seconds later, he turned back into his human form.

She could hear Bass talking behind her, but couldn’t concentrate on the words. All she could think was how she couldn’t live through losing another parent. It didn’t matter how mad she was at him; he wasn’t allowed to die; he wasn’t allowed to leave her again.

“Jackson!”

His eyes opened. “I’ll be o…kay,” he gasped. She pulled her hand away; it was coated in blood.

“Oh, God,” she whispered.

Jackson coughed, his body convulsing as blood spilt from his mouth.

“Jackson!” she sobbed.

Someone lifted her to her feet as people surrounded him.

“Get off!” she screamed.

“Kat! Kat, look at me!” She focused her eyes on Bass’s face. “Let them look after him,” he said softly.

Bass swayed on his feet. Nico was there a second later, holding him up. “Wow, pal, I think you need to be on a bed right beside Jackson.”

“I can’t. I need to contain.”

There was a yell and a child’s scream. Fur erupted from skin as wolves from Dark Shadow started to fight one another.

“Enough!” Bass boomed. Immediately, the fighting around them stopped. “I understand some of you are confused and I understand a lot of you were loyal to my father. I’m nothing like my father and anyone unhappy with me as their alpha is free to leave. I won’t stop you and no one will harm you by my orders, but if you do go, remember this, the moment you leave pack land, you are never to come back without prior permission from me. Think carefully about what you want. You have twenty-four hours to decide.”

Katalina looked at Bass with pride, pleased he was trying to end this with no more bloodshed.