Page 83 of Bound

“I bet they do,”Gage growls through the bond.

“So let me take her back to them,” Kane says, mistaking Maddox’s quiet for consideration as he takes a step toward him. “She was never going to truly be a part of your pack, Maddox. She’s broken.”

“No.” That one word has Kane frowning in confusion, his guards behind him tensing as if they register the threat.

“No?” Kane asks in confusion.

“No. If what you say is true, you wouldn’t have paid someone to kill her. You wouldn’t have unleashed a dozen other rogues, just to get to her.”

“You don’t?—”

“Stop,” Maddox says, cutting him off and stepping closer, the twins flanking him, ready to take on the guards the moment Maddox strikes.

“I’m done with your lies and deceit. You are no longer fit to rule the Westgrove Pack.”

“What are you saying?” Kane asks, his eyes bouncing between the three powerful alphas stepping toward him.

“For your crimes against the Silverstorm Pack, I challenge you to a fight to the death.”

Kane’s eyes widen in fear because he knows he'll never win against Maddox, not even close. He licks his lips, then does the last thing I expect: shoves one of his guards toward Maddox and runs out the back door, shifting as soon as he crosses the threshold, his clothes shredding as he changes form.

Maddox knocks the guard aside, not caring about him or the other one who stares at him in fear. He shifts and runs out after Kane.

I follow quickly, glancing back to see Gage kneeling ‌beside Red.

“I’ve got her, brother.”

I’m only ten feet from the back door when I see Maddox pounce on Kane’s wolf, sending him sprawling. He doesn’t hesitate to sink his teeth into his uncle’s neck and rip his throat out.

I glance around for other threats, but the other dozen wolves out here already resemble Kane—dead.

Nobody goes after our family and lives.

Maddox shakes him a few times, then steps back and shifts. He lifts his head, seeing all the dead bodies, and sighs.

“This is going to be such a mess to clean up.”

“Hurry, it’s happening!” Gage yells, making us sprint back inside.

“Where did his guards go?” Maddox asks as we step into the kitchen.

“We let them go. I don’t think they knew what was happening,” Hunter explains.

“We can just kill them later if need be,” Chase says distractedly as he studies Red’s neck. “I’d prefer they aren’t here for this.”

I shift as I approach where Gage is holding Red’s head in his lap, his fingers holding back the fur at her neck as he glances at us. “Look, it’s healing.”

“Thank the Goddess,” Chase whispers, as we all settle around her.

We watch the wounds slowly close, praying to anyone that will listen that she comes back to us, just like she did last time. When it seems like all the puncture wounds from the rogue's bite have gone, I tell myself not to blink, wanting to see the first sign of her body lighting up.

Minutes tick by as I start to question if it took this long last time.

“Please, please, please,” Hunter whispers as we all stare at her, holding our breath.

“Come on, angel,” I whisper. Then I see it, the soft glow starting to cover her.

“It’s happening!” Chase says in awe as we lean back. The light increases until it gets so bright that we have to shield our eyes, then a burst of light and power shoots through the room.