Elijah
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't keep my word and kill the girl right now," Dante says, sitting back on his ostentatious golden throne, crossing one leg over the other and resting his ankle on his knee.
Rage boils in my veins, and I am on the verge of shifting right here and ripping the lycan king's throat out myself and damn the consequences. "Well, for one, she's your daughter. I know you're evil, but are you truly a psychopath with zero empathy?"
Asher steps forward, pushing his hair out of his eyes, and says to Dante, "I'm begging you, Your Majesty. Please don't hurt her."
My head snaps toward Asher and I can't stop the contemptuous scoff that escapes my lips; even though we want the same thing, his pitiful pleas are ridiculous. "My God, Whitlock. You're fucking pathetic, you know that? You still don't get it. She doesn't love you. She will never love you."
Asher drags his gaze to me. He has never looked at me with such hatred. Even as children, his jealousy would get the better of him, but he showed no sign of malice. The lycan before me is someone I don't know. He isn't my friend, but I'm struggling to see him as my enemy. The only thing I know for sure is that I resent him for wedging himself between the bond I share with my mate.
"Why don't you just take Elijah's life in exchange for Noelle's?" Asher asks the king.
Dante scoffs. "He is worthless compared to her and the power she could wield."
The betrayal of Asher's words is like a stab in the heart. Of course, I would give my life for Noelle in a heartbeat with no questions asked, but for him to just suggest it like it's nothing? To think this man was my best friend not so long ago is unfathomable. When did everything change, and how did I miss it? How long have I wandered around clueless? Months? Years?
I ignore Dante and turn to Asher. "How long have you been working with Dante behind our backs? I have to know, Asher. You owe me that. You owe Corbin that."
"I don't owe either of you anything. But just for the hell of it, I'll answer. It's been about a year."
I flinch. A year ago is when I officially took over as commander of the elite team. The disappointment Asher felt had been hard to miss, but I always thought that it soothed the sting when I chose him as my second in command.
"Fuck, Asher. All because you weren't appointed commander? Christ, if I thought it meant that much to you, I'd have asked Corbin if I could forfeit the position. Anything to keep you on the right side of things, to keep you away from this sadistic dickhead." I stalk toward him and grab him by the collar, pushing him against the wall, our noses inches apart. "You know about the oath Dante made to me when I was a child. That he would kill my mate. And it's Noelle. You fucking brought her to his doorstep. I may have been able to keep her away from here, but now you've fucked that up. You might as well rip her throat out yourself."
"Get your hands off me," Asher says, gripping my wrists. "If you cared about her so much, you would have kept it in your pants and let me and the others take care of her. She would have given in and been satisfied, but you had to dip your cock in for a feel. You put her in danger, not me."
I rip one of my wrists from his grasp, and in one smooth movement, punch him in the nose, knocking him to the floor. "Fuck you, Asher. If you were lucky enough to have a mate, you'd understand the situation I was in. But even the Goddess knew you didn't deserve one, you piece of shit."
Asher wipes the blood from his nose, smearing it on his face. He smiles and his teeth are stained red. "And that's why I didn't wait for Her to give me one; I took yours. And I'm going to fuck that soft body of hers until she forgets you ever existed."
I charge for him again, a guttural yell filling the room. Extending my hands to grab his neck, I fall short. Three guards grab me, and I thrash in their grip.
"Come now, boys. Let's not let a piece of half-human ass get between your friendship." Dante sits with one leg crossed over the other and an amused glint in his eyes.
"Get between our friendship?" I shout. "Our friendship? I think that ship has fucking sailed. And she's not a piece of half-human ass, she's my—"
"Elijah!" a sweet, raspy voice cries, and I am certain I'm hallucinating.
I turn toward the sound of the heavy double doors slamming against the walls. When my eyes land on Noelle, the relief of seeing her one piece is so overwhelming that I nearly fall to my knees. But even across the room, I can see the bruises on her chest, and I once again want to shed Asher's blood. The fury is too much to contain, and I shift, causing the guards to lose their grip on me, and I run toward her, skidding to a stop at her feet.
She drops to her knees and before she can wrap her arms around my body, I shift back, snatching the pair of sweats Killian tosses to me.
"Figured this might happen, boss," he says with a wink.
I tug them on and pull her to me in one motion, planting kisses all over her face. "Noelle, princess, are you all right?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine." When she looks up and meets my gaze, tears are running down her cheeks. "God, I was so scared I was never going to see you again."
I hold her to my chest and kiss the top of her head. The relief I experienced from seeing her seeps away when slow clapping comes from behind me.
Dante stands and steps down from the dais. "How touching. Too bad it won't last." He motions to his guards, who shift on command and sprint for us.
Noelle spins in my grip and nods to Killian and Remi, and they change to their wolf forms.
I grip her chin and turn her toward me. Looking her in the eyes, I say, "No matter what happens, run and don't look back."
She moves my hand and kisses my palm. "I'm not leaving you to fight him alone."
I nod, unable to argue; I wouldn't leave her behind either. It wouldn't matter if I made it out safely; if I didn't have her with me, I'd die all the same.
"I'll hold them off while you try to summon some help. Pull on anyone you find and command them to fight for us."
She nods and I shift before joining the fray.
I go straight for Asher; one hit to his smug face wasn't enough, and while we are scuffling in the middle of the throne room, I catch sight of Noelle in the corner, her eyes shut tight in deep concentration. Whatever she's doing is working, because over the course of the next few minutes, more lycans arrive and join our ranks.
After he gets a few good bites in, I kick Asher against the wall, knocking him out cold. Turning away, I rejoin the fight and am impressed with the number of lycans Noelle has managed to bring over to our side. The little practice she had isn't behind her skill; this is all her. The natural instinct of a queen calling her pack to order.
A stinging pain rips through my side and the biggest wolf I've ever encountered latches onto me. I thrash in its grip to break free, but they hold tight. I snarl and snap, doing everything I can to sink my teeth in them, but it's no use. They jerk their head and swing me off my feet. I land on my side, and the wolf releases me, jetting toward my neck. Blocking out the piercing pain over my ribs, I spin to my back and bare my teeth. We fight for dominance, tumbling across the floor. But no matter what I do, they out maneuver me.
A very human scream captures my attention and I dart my gaze past the wolf above me. A gray wolf holds Noelle by the back of the neck, its sharp canines sinking into her skin. I snarl as the energy of her captor slams into me. It is unmistakable and terrifying.
Let her go, Dante, I say down the line that tethers me to our king, wrestling to break free from my opponent. This fucker is a monster, and I can't get the upper hand long enough to make any headway. I send a message down the line to Remi and Killian, but they're both fighting battles of their own.
Dante's amber eyes lock on mine and he snarls. Why would I let her go, when everything I want is just a snap of her neck away? I'll maintain my rule, rid the world of my half-breed heir, and devastate you just like I promised all those years ago. James, Dante says, and the wolf on top of me rumbles in response. Make sure he's watching.
I thrash against James until he pushes his claws so hard into my neck that I can hardly breathe, and I have no choice but to watch as my mate's father tortures the heir to his throne. Tears run down Noelle's cheeks, and the terror in her eyes rips my soul in two.
She has done nothing wrong, Dante. Just let her go, goddamnit. My sentinels will make sure she doesn't usurp your throne. Just let her live. Kill me instead to make good on your promise to me.
The king's deep laughter rumbles in my conscious. What good are you to me, Elijah? You were useless saving your mother and you are useless in saving your mate. Asher may be an imbecile, but he was right about one thing: you should have kept your dick in your pants.
He bites down and blood seeps down both sides of Noelle's neck. A high-pitched screech escapes her lips as she reaches back and pulls at Dante's fur. She thrashes her legs, fighting to break free, but it's no use. Her spine is pinned to the floor, and her untamed panic prevents her from doing what should be second nature to her.
I let out a howl that I hope sends her the message that I must get across. It doesn't jar her instinct, but it does attract another. Asher leaps onto Dante's back and grips the king's scruff, yanking him away from Noelle. Dante growls and snaps at him like he's nothing more than a nuisance before turning back to Noelle. He dives for her neck but Asher rams into the king and the two roll across the floor.
Noelle scrambles away, pressing her hands to her neck. Blood leaks through her fingers, and a sob rips from her lips. The amount of blood running down her body is alarming, and no one can reach her to help. She closes her eyes and rocks back and forth, igniting a new need inside me. I need to reach her and heal the wounds.
James presses a paw to my cheek, smashing my face to the ground. I have no choice but to watch the battle between Dante and the lycan who was my best friend. Asher takes the upper hand and traps the king beneath him. He surges forward, aiming for Dante's neck, but the king pushes him away with his back legs. Asher stumbles back and Dante rushes for him.
Stupid, lovesick ass! Dante's gruff voice says through our conscious. He dives onto Asher and crushes him under his weight. You defied my orders, choosing to fuck around with the girl, and when you do bring her to me, you can't manage to cover your tracks. And now, you dare to intervene on her behalf!
You swore you wouldn't hurt her, Asher says, his voice inside my head dripping with fear and devastation.
And it's my prerogative to change my mind, about her and about you.
No! Asher's scream is cut short. His wolf flails and gurgles blood onto the floor.
Dante shakes his head and a bloodied tuft of white fur and flesh flies from his mouth and lands with a wet slap, and Asher lays still at his feet.
I struggle against James, trying like hell to get out from under him, but his grip on me is tighter than ever. My growls and snarls are feral, but nothing can stop the lycan from doing Dante's bidding.
I catch Noelle in the corner of my eye, and my panic mounts within me, my heart flying at an alarming speed. The amount of blood she's losing is too much; her skin is ashen, her movements sluggish. Killian, Remi, I send through the connection. You have to get to her. Now.
Noelle's eyes dart around the room until they land on our friends. In an instant, the wolves fighting Killian and Remi back off like a switch has been flipped, and my two sentinels rush for her. Remi slides to the floor, lapping at her neck wound while Killian stands in front of them, shielding them from any wolf who means them harm.
Dante isn't deterred; in fact, seeing two more of his minions controlled by Noelle seems to spur him on. James, keep him contained. I want him to see every bit of what happens next. I want him to see me kill his best friends right before I kill his mate.
I growl in response before sending down the thread, You aren't killing any of them, you fucking tyrant.
Watch me.
With that, he walks toward my mate and my best friends, murder in his eyes.
But he's so intent on destroying everything that means anything to me that he doesn't pay attention to his surroundings—fighting 101. The first thing we all learn when we're training for battle.
Asher bolts at him from the side, blood staining his white fur, his dim green eyes, drained of vibrant life as he slams into Dante. He knocks the king to the ground, and they slide across the marble floor.
I told you not to fucking hurt her, Dante. Even in my head, Asher's voice is cracked and weakened, and I know in my heart these are the last words I'll ever hear him say.
You fucking idiot. I hope it was worth it, to see her live for one more second, Dante growls, biting down on Asher's throat and ripping it out in one motion, slamming him to the tile. The cracking of his neck and spine echoes from across the room; there is no doubt this time that he is dead.
But that instant is all Noelle needs to shift, her ivory and caramel wolf sailing through the air with all the grace of a jungle cat leaping to the grass from a tree branch. Her neck wound is fully healed, and the power she has found in her new station has given her the strength to hold her father down, her claws pressed into his muzzle, no mercy given, no weakness shown.
With Dante under her control, all she has to do is take one look at James, and he immediately releases me from his hold. I shake him off, giving him a good kick with my back legs as I walk away.
Noelle raises her head to look at me, her dual-toned eyes glowing fiercely, giving me permission to do what I've needed to do my entire life, ever since that bastard slaughtered my mother and I saw her take her last breath at his hand.
I stalk toward them, my gaze locked on his. The joy of retribution fills me, and I flash my teeth in a wicked sneer. When I reach Noelle, I brush my cheek against hers and turn to her father. He kicks beneath her, but she doesn't let go.
The standing lycans turn to us with wide eyes. Noelle lifts her chin and with a command that sends chills down my spine, she says, Back down.
Whimpers echo around us as every wolf drops their front legs and rests their chins on their paws.
It looks like your half-breed daughter has just taken her place as the next lycan ruler; I say to the wolf beneath me.
Dante screams down the communication thread for the wolves to attack. Although they can hear his command, not one of them moves. He is powerless, and my mother is avenged.
I lean in, my nose a centimeter from touching his. All hail the lycan queen.
My teeth plunge into Dante's neck, and I end his life.