SHADOW
Target acquired.
“You’re dead.” One breath out.
“No. You are.”
I froze. My breathing stuck in my lungs. My heart thundered.
“Step away from your weapon. Don’t try to be a hero, bitch. One wrong move, I will not hesitate to kill you.”
“How can I move away without moving?” I didn’t have to look. I knew he had a gun pointing at my head.
“Don’t be a smartass. Move slowly.”
“Okay.” I drew a deep breath, dragged myself away slowly from my weapon, and then raised my hands.
“Get up. Get on your feet. Take off the other gun on your thigh and throw it away.”
I did as he said. I already heard gunshots.
The team managed to get inside the compound without triggering the traps. Casualties and wounded? I had no clue. I prayed everyone would make out alive, or it would be forever in my conscience and carry the pain for the rest of my life.
“Walk.” He pushed me hard on my back.
“Okay. You don’t have to push me.” I walked forward. My heart pumped so hard. My back tingled. I felt the same fear when we were fighting side by side not so long ago, and I felt the fear that he would just shoot me behind my head without seeing Califf and saying goodbye to my loved ones.
“I won’t just push you, bitch!”
“At least before you kill me, tell me what’s your name.”
“Why does that matter? You’ll be dead anyway.” He grunted.
I slowly turned my head. He was young but older than me in two or three years.
“How did Aciano recruit you? Did he pay you or at least cover your medical bills?”
“Shut up, bitch! I know who you are. You’re the Luna, but you’re nothing now but weak.”
“So do you. You’re human.”
“But I’m the one pointing a gun at you, bitch.”
“My name is Shadow. And you’re right. At least tell me who spiked my drink.”
“He’s Aciano’s second-in-command. He wasn’t the one spiking your drink, but he ordered it. To prove he’s worth the rank, Alpha Aciano tested him to see if he could do the task. That was his final initiation.”
“Alpha, huh?” The fortress came into view. There were no guards anymore, but there was still gunfire. “How do you communicate? Did he do a ritual pact so you could become a pack member?”
“Shut up!” He just hit me in the back.
My heart jerked in my chest. My guess was that it was the foot of his automatic rifle. I fell to the ground, my back arching as I winced in pain.
The man wasn’t satisfied- he also kicked me on my spine, and sure, his boot would be imprinted on my skin for weeks.
“Get up, or I will shoot you right here.”
I didn’t complain anymore. Gasping, I gulped air into my lungs and got up. My clothes, my hands, and my face were dirty with mud. Grimacing, I limply walked towards the gate.
“Not so strong anymore, huh? You look so pathetic and weak.”
I just swallowed hard and entered the gate. Inside, the compound was filled with chaos, becoming a battleground. Dead bodies dropped. Blood splattered on the ground.
I wanted to tell him he was losing but would rather have a hole in his heart than warn him to run.
At the corner of my eye, I saw a poor young man hiding. I gestured at him to stay there. As much I wanted to shoot him as he was one of the bad guys, he looked like he wasn’t capable of hurting a fly.
He crouched down, keeping his head low.
We were headed to the house. Somebody tore the door down. I swore it was Califf’s handiwork because I saw his naked back instantly. He didn’t have to turn around to show me his face. I knew that muscular ripped back with my eyes closed, his ass, and those strong thighs.
I let out a shuddering sigh. At least, if we were all going to die today, I got the chance to see him one last time.
“Look who I found.”
I watched Califf’s back stiffen. When he turned around and recognized my muddy face, his eyes widened. There was a mix of emotions in there, but mostly relief and anger- so much anger as he shifted his gaze to the man who held me hostage. And it felt like he just marked his next target. When he squinted his eyes, locking his jaw hard, I felt his anger everywhere, vibrating in a single growl coming out from his chest.
“I’m fine. My back hurts, though.”
The man pushed me again. Another growl erupted from his chest.
I stepped inside, standing beside Califf. On the knees was Waylon, and Kain was pointing a gun at him. I was not sure if he was still on play on our side, but I was hoping he was.
“Looks like a pretty nice reunion just happened.” Aciano smiled confidently. “You, dear. Poor thing. Meet my Beta-”
“So you’re the guy who killed my wolf.” I looked at the man in his thirties. He was big and muscly and almost had the same build as Tor. I could easily rip his throat out if I were a Lycan, but knocking him down would take a lot of effort in my human strength. And I would still take my chances.
“It’s nothing personal. It was my initiation to be Beta.”
“Well, congratulations. Might as well enjoy your moment because it won’t be long till I will kill you.”
“You’re tiny little fragile, bitch. You can’t kill me.” He smirked, fueling loads of rage towards Califf.
“Just kill them already.” Aciano stepped back. “Make sure it’s a silver bullet.”
“Wait.” I raised my hand. “You’re the Alpha, and don’t lead your pack to the war, and you just bark orders. Wow. How about the Alpha to Alpha challenge?” Undoubtedly, I was stalling.
He cocked his brows at me. “Why would I do that? If your Alpha dies, I will have the entire Night Stalker Pack at my knees.”
“Is that so? Quite an ambition.” I arched a brow, matching his, even if I was shaking inside. If I only had a pack link, I already called everyone, but shit, I didn’t have that luxury right now. I was talking, merely stalling. Did Califf call for help?
“I have greater plans.”
“What would that be? Do you think it’s a coincidence Waylon is here right now? Then Alpha Califf and that stupid guy who called me bitch just caught me? No, it isn’t, Aciano. Today, mark your last day, and your mate is next because I won’t stop until I find her and drag her back to the pack and show everyone what the example of betrayal is.”
“Just shut up. Shoot them.” He whiffed his hand.
“With pleasure.” The moment those two words left Kain’s mouth, I held my breath and gripped Califf’s hand, but I made sure I saw the man who killed me.
I gasped at the gunshots, but I was still standing. It happened so fast that two of Aciano’s men fell to the floor in the blink of an eye.
Kain went next to the Beta. “This is your Beta? He doesn’t even know what Beta means.”
“What the hell did you just do?” he yelled at Kain, anger and fear laced in his voice.
“I want to be your beta.”
My eyes widened. Oh, no.
“Okay. Okay,” Aciano said, panicking. His eyes were wide. His face was pale as he pointed at Califf. “Now, kill him first.”
“Really? Just like that, and you sold your Beta?” Kain laughed out loud.
His Beta just froze now that Kain had his gun on his head. “W-what are you doing, Alpha?”
“I thought you’re stronger,” I said to the Beta. “Why haven’t you shifted and killed me yet?”
“Before Alpha Califf and Waylon? Who do you think would win, Aciano? I’m not stupid. And you said it yourself that you’re doing this for your son. So, I guess blood is thicker than water, eh? And I don’t want to be your fucking Beta.” He shifted into a beautiful tiger. He was big, robust, and tall.
Then, something happened that caught Aciano off guard. The Beta was still shocked to react before the werecat ripped his throat out. The blood sprayed out. The tiger spat out the Beta’s throat and roared at terrified Aciano.
“Now you know the taste of betrayal, Aciano. I may have lost my wolf, but I’m not broken. I have my family and my pack who accepted who I am.”
Califf jumped onto Aciano, who was still gasping for the unforeseen event before him. With an ounce of remorse, he lifted Aciano on the neck with one hand and growled. “You shouldn’t have betrayed me. You shouldn’t have come after my mate. You shouldn’t have pulled that antics, but I will find your mate and tear her apart so she could join you in hell. You know the punishment of betrayal, Aciano. Life.”
A gasp escaped from my throat as I watched Aciano’s fear taunt him. Then, a haunting crashing sound of Aciano’s chest as Califf clawed in, ripped his heart out, and snapped his neck before his body fell on the floor.
And that was the first time Califf killed a man before me.