Chapter 19
Osias
(Image above is Osias!)
One.
I had thirty seconds. Thirty, fleeting moments to reunite with my Angel after seventeen gut-wrenching days apart. Berlin looked so fragile in my arms, his tiny body trembling with fear as he looked up at me with tears in his infinitely emotion-filled eyes. Although it was obvious that sheer terror was taking over his sense of rationale, I didn't miss the glint of hope in his eyes as we made eye contact.
He trusted me to save him. Just knowing that alone threw gasoline on the fire that fueled my need to protect him and kill the bastard that caused him pain in the first place.
Four.
"It will be just fine, kitten. I will protect you and our pup with my life." my voice was soft as I whispered in his ear, his little body firmly pressed against mine. He was still freaking out despite my comforting words, although I could completely understand why. When you're dealing with a rapist necrophiliac, things usually don't go as smoothly as planned.
His delicate hands gripped at my chest in a desperate manner as soft mewls slipped past his lips with each sob. It was the worst of tortures to see him falling apart in my arms, completely helpless and defeated. One of my warm hands traveling down to rest on his stomach as he clung to me, rubbing gentle circles. His skin felt dry and dehydrated, a stark contrast from what I was used to it feeling like and yet another testament to how he was treated while Max kept him captive.
However, the issue of his dry skin fell from my mind when I felt a small bump against my palm. It was barely there, probably not noticeable to many but I could tell the difference. I suddenly had to hold back tears of my own when reality really hit me.
My mate was pregnant with our baby and we were still in the hands of the enemy.
Eleven.
"P-please do-don't l-let me g-g-go." Berlin pleaded through heart-wrenching sobs, his hands sliding up to wrap around my neck tightly. His sweet breath fanned across my face when our foreheads met and his eyes were half-lidded, gazing into mine with an expression that read pure trust.
"I'd never."
Under very different circumstances, I would have ravaged Berlin's body immediately within a second of him giving me that look.
But this was different.
Our lips met in a fervor, my soft lips meeting his heavily chapped ones with unparalleled desperacy in their touch. My hands slid up from his stomach to cradle his face as if it was the most delicate object in the world, while his fingers simultaneously moved to tangle in my dark hair, almost as if he was afraid I would slip through his grip at any moment.
Berlin's wet tears dripped onto my cheeks when he tilted his head with a whimper. We were pressed so close to one another that I could feel his heartbeat through the vest he wore, pounding hard and fast against the thick material.
Twenty.
My lips caught his bottom one just before we reluctantly pulled back, although I didn't waste any time in placing the softest of kisses to his forehead, nose, and each of his cheeks. Berlin's eyes remained closed, his lips parted in the slightest as he savored the moment. There was a tug at my heart when his eyes fluttered open once more, connecting with mine.
I was surprised to see that they were not filled with the many conflicting emotions like before, but only reflected one in their shiny orbs, causing my breath to hitch.
"I love you."
It took me a long moment to comprehend the whispered words that slipped from his perfect lips, my lips immediately trailing down his neck until they met my mark. I let out a shaky sigh at just the thought of his words.
He loves me.
He loves me.
I stood up with Berlin protectively wrapped up in my arms and swaddled in a thin sheet, guiding his head to rest on my shoulder as I approached the door, knowing that time was quickly running out. I could feel his hot tears trailing from his cheeks to my back, leaving long trails along my skin. I closed my eyes for a short moment, resting my head against his softly before pressing my lips to his ear. My words were barely audible, but all that mattered was that he heard them.
"As I love you, sweetheart."
Twenty-five.
Berlin's grip on me tightened when the words left my mouth, and I felt his lips press timidly against my neck in a manner that made all of the tension leave my body as if it was never there.
Yeah, he had that much of an effect on me.
Thirty.
It was deathly quiet, the only light coming from the small lamp on the bedside table. The lights on the entire floor flickered out in a moment, leaving the only light to come from the tiny windows near the ceiling. The evening light that streamed through them casted eerie shadows on the floor and walls, making them stretch across the long hallway. I could feel Berlin's eyes squeeze shut against my neck when the PA system crackled to life, spewing Max's demented drawl from the speakers.
"Time's up, lovebirds!" his disgusting cackle filled the room, giving the dark area an even more sinister feel. I pulled one of my three guns from my holster, holding it up in a defensive manner and holding Berlin's light body against my chest tightly with my free arm. I had to be ready, I couldn't let Berlin get even more hurt than he already was. It wasn't just him either, it was also the life of our pup that was a stake.
I'd be damned if Max thought I wouldn't fight 'till my last breath for the ones that I fucking love.
"Run, run as fast as you can!" Max's voice bellowed throughout the hall before a silence settled over the dark place. It was a sight straight out of a horror movie, and frankly I was beyond ready to get the fuck out of there.
"Let's go." I growled out, turning towards Ortiz and Corey before gesturing my head towards the hallway. They immediately jumped into action, drawing their guns from their holsters before moving up behind me and holding them up in a defensive manner, almost as if they were afraid that the shadows would suddenly jump out and strangle them.
Berlin's hands gripped my shoulders in terror, and I could feel him biting his lip hard against my neck. The thought of him being so terrified caused my jaw to tick in agitation, the muscles throughout my body growing taut as we moved down the hallway.
Immense shadows danced along the tall walls, licking at the high ceilings as if to shroud the entire floor in mystery. And a mystery it was, as there was no scent trail to follow or indication of where the hell Max could be on the entire floor.
The floorboards creaked and strained underneath our feet, subtly interrupting the stillness of the room. I didn't even want to breathe, feeling as if I did so I would miss a crucial piece of the puzzle. I ground my teeth together, listening for even the slightest shift in the air as we moved down the corridor, but there was simply nothing to grasp.
I turned to glance at Ortiz and Corey, only to be met with the sight of them holding hands with their unoccupied ones. Ortiz, my 'big, bad beta', looked almost as terrified as Berlin, the veins in his forearm straining from his hulk-like grip on Corey's hand. However, Corey was as subdued and professional as ever, his expression remaining stony as he looked ahead down the seemingly endless hallway. If the situation allowed, I would bet money that Ortiz would opt for being pressed up against his protective mate, even if it meant he would have to give up his little act of faking 'straight'.
"I sense movement at the end of this hallway. We should proceed with the utmost caution." I was surprised to hear Corey's deep voice out loud, as he was definitely a man of few words. Ortiz let out a dramatic exasperated sound, his eyes widening as he looked up at Corey with an incredulous expression.
"You're fucking kidding, r-right?" he choked out, suddenly pinning himself against his mate's side and gripping onto his bicep in fright. Corey shrugged, wrapping his arm around Ortiz's waist and yanking him further into his side.
"Stay close." was all Corey uttered down to his mate, still holding his gun out in a brave and warrior-like way. His voice was extremely deep, surprisingly even more so than mine. It was hard to believe that both Berlin and Corey came from the same litter, seeing as to how they were practically polar opposites.
Hell, I considered promoting Corey to pack Beta with the way Ortiz was acting at that moment. It was almost like he was a frightened Omega rather than the second in command of one of the most well-known packs in America. As if to prove my point, Berlin let out a small sound of fright and buried himself even closer to me, his nails digging into my skin. As much as I wanted to drop everything and comfort my Angel, I had to get this over with. My entire pack could've been getting killed on the lower levels for all I knew.
"Lay low." I whispered, even though my actions to remain quiet were probably futile due to the fact that Max has enhanced hearing just like the rest of us. "I'm going to need one of you to take Berlin when we find Max. I'm killing this asshole myself."
My grip tightened around Ber at the thought of not having him in my arms in such proximity to that pompous dick, but I knew that it had to be done.
Either that, or I'd have probably ended up getting everyone killed because of my fucking over-protective nature.
I pressed my back against the wall when we neared a large, African Rosewood door at the end of the hallway that was open just a crack, allowing a teasing sliver of light to slip through and cast a line across the wooden floor. I could sense a presence on the other side of it, but there was only one way to be sure of who it was.
With my gun held to my chest and Berlin tucked in my other arm, I peered just slightly around the corner, the line of light across the hardwood floors interrupted by the shadow of my face.
There he was.
Max sat at a single chair in the center of the room, his legs draped leisurely over one another as he inspected a sharp knife as if it were a rare diamond. His lips looked curled up in excitement as he pressed each fingertip against the tip of the blade, pressing down hard enough to draw blood before licking it off of his skin like a child would a dripping ice cream cone on a hot day. He was obviously so intrigued in the knife that he didn't notice our presence, giving us the perfect upper hand -- The element of surprise.
I gestured to Ortiz and Corey, holding up five fingers and slowly lowering them one by one in a countdown.
Four fingers.
Max frowned, trailing his finger down the blade slowly and flicked it against his skin, creating a gash across his finger that bled profusely and dripped down onto the carpeted floor of the room.
Three fingers.
The blood soaked in and Max watched with a look of satisfaction as it did so, leaving a dark red stain in the cream fabric.
Two fingers.
His face screwed up with a look of confusion as his eyes suddenly snapped up to glance around the room frantically, looking as if he had a revelation.
One finger.
An angry sneer pulled at Max's lips as his eyes locked directly at the door, the knife suddenly flying through the air straight at my face.
So much for the element of surprise.
I easily jumped back to avoid the knife as it embedded itself in the wood of the door barely an inch from where my face was, the force enough to make the door swing open with a creak.
"That was too quick! I wanted a longer game!" Max screeched, standing up from his chair and plopping himself onto the floor instead, pouting like a five year old that was reprimanded and given a time out on the carpet.
I was quick to hand Berlin to Ortiz, forcing myself to ignore his words of protest from being separated from me. I quietly instructed the both of them to stay outside of the door while Corey and I went into the room to handle Max. I'd never want my Angel to see me kill someone, his soul was simply too pure to be handle being tainted by such a sight.
And knowing myself, I was going to make this one particularly messy.
I cracked my neck and knuckles before walking into the room, holding one of my three guns up and aimed straight at his head. Corey did the same as he entered behind me, his eyes hard, serious, and expertly focused on the target.
Max glared daggers at the two of us as we entered the room, his eyes following our every move. His legs were sprawled out in front of him in a straddle and his arms were crossed on his chest in a manner that read "spoiled little brat". It was almost amusing to see him sitting there, seemingly unfazed at the two guns pointed and ready to blow his brains out.
Just the sight of him was enough to make my blood boil over, and I could feel my canines elongate at the thought of sinking them into his esophagus. I couldn't help but think of all of the pain that he has caused not only my mate, but countless others that fell victim to his twisted agenda. It was time to put an end to his stupidity.
"I could pull this trigger and your brains would be scattered across that carpet, so I suggest you drop the cocky act." I growled out, lifting my thumb and flicking the safety off on my gun. York was on the edge of coming to the surface when he sensed the man that had to audacity to rape, whip, and starve our mate in such proximity to us. He was screaming at me to just kill the bastard, but I wanted him to die at my hands, and not at the hands of such an easy weapon like a gun. That was taking the easy way out.
But that didn't mean that I couldn't play dirty.
Just as Max went to respond arrogantly, a loud scream escaped his lips instead, drowned out by the sound of a gunshot.
I smirked at the sight of the round bullet wound in Max's thigh and the thick fountain of blood that fell onto the cream carpet. Although the skin was already healing around the wound from his Alpha healing abilities, unless he pulled the actual bullet out the healing would only be skin-deep.
However in the proper Max fashion, he suddenly began to giggle senselessly, banging on the carpet with hysterical laughter. I raised an eyebrow at his action, looking over at Corey to see if he understood Max's actions only to be greeted with a confused shrug from him. Max wiped just underneath his eyes as if he'd been crying from amusement, glancing at us with a satisfied smile through his laughter.
What the hell? Did I miss something?
"Even though I'm mad that you ruined my game by finding me so fast, I thought that you would be smarter than that!" he chuckled out, taking in deep breaths between each bout of laughter.
"Man, this just gets better and better! You're such silly boys, really. Leaving your ugly Beta and my Berlin outside unattended is really not a good idea!" he shook his head at us like a mother would to a child that did something ridiculous. He patted his leg that was covered in blood, smearing it all along his hand before taking a long lick as he smiled.
That shit was just fucking disgusting.
My brow raised in worry when I suddenly sensed Berlin's distress skyrocket, and Corey twirled around towards the doorway with me at almost the same exact time, probably sensing the distress of his own mate as well.
"Remember, I'm always one step ahead." Max added, his voice suddenly deeper and holding a sinisterly serious tone to it that seemed completely out of character for him.
The sight before me caused my joints to lock and York to howl out in mind-numbing pain.
There stood Callie, with a gigantic red bump on her forehead where I knocked her out and a triumphant smirk gracing her lips. She held Ortiz in a head lock, the knife that was once embedded in the door pressed threateningly against his throat. Berlin was thrown at her feet, tears of terror streaming down his face as her heeled shoe dug into his tiny baby bump. Berlin's beautiful face twisted up in pain when she giggled much like Max did, twisting her heel deep into his skin.
Something told me that I should've killed that bitch when I had the chance.
Corey and I growled as both of our wolves came straight to the surface.
And that was the absolute last straw. No more playing games. Max obviously had no clue what the fuck I was capable of when my mate and unborn Pup were threatened in front of me.
With that, I lunged.
☯
Thank you for reading! :)
I am so sorry for the wait. I am going through some medical things, and I ended up in the hospital. I wanted this chapter to be much longer, but I really didn't have the strength to do that along with being in the hospital. I hope you can forgive me. <3
Please Comment and Vote! They motivate me more than you know!
love, coolingsun
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro