Page 161 of Sawyer

I score his back with my nails, then do it again with one hand while I use the other to grip the blade under the pillow. As I lift the blade in the air, my heart beats heavily in my chest.

I can do this.

His teeth break my skin and slowly sink into my neck, and he thrusts his hips.

Fear chooses my fate, and I shove the knife into his back as forcefully as I can.

The first thing that strikes me is how easily the knife went through his skin, as though Sal is nothing more than fat and not muscle and bone. It sinks into him so quickly that I feel the tip press against my stomach.

The second is the bond that slips into my veins. Sal is now well and truly my alpha, and I stabbed him at the time of his bite.

I stabbed him.

Don’t panic.

Blood slowly drips on my flesh, warming my cold skin. It sticks to the silk and sinks through to my skin. Sal pulls away, gazing down at me. There’s no hatred there, no fear, and not even retribution.

There’s acceptance and a sliver of sadness. In his eyes, he loved me, and though the bond has yet to completely form, I can feel his shock. He really thought this was a new beginning for him. He truly believed that he would have a happily ever after, and for that, guilt churns inside of me, but delusions don’t get my sympathy.

He never gave me a choice.

The door slams open, yet I can’t see who’s there.

Fear slithers through me because I just killed a councilman.

I only hope death is swift.

“Sawyer!” Bryn’s voice fills the room, and a guttural sob releases from my lungs as though I held it in for far too long.

Sal rips free of me, and then Rumor’s there, his icy eyes wide and full of fear as he takes in my state of undress, his trembling fingers prodding the blood on my dress.

“It’s not mine,” I croak out as tears pour from the sides of my eyes.

Rumor grabs me, hauls me up, and hugs me close. “Baby girl.” It’s all he can say as his body shakes and his scent saturates the air.

I can smell him. The scent of tequila mixes with my fear, creating an odd scent, but it’s us. It’s raw, and it’s us. He’s here. They are here.

“I stabbed him. He gave me no choice.” I shake, shock slipping through me. “I stabbed him. I did it. To save myself, I killed a man.” I hiccup, and sobs rip from me. “Oh, fates, I killed a man, I killed a man.”

Rumor pulls back, cupping my face. “Baby girl, you did what you had to do to survive. Never apologize for surviving. Never.”

“You didn’t kill him.” Sin’s voice tugs at my heart.

Pushing Rumor to the side, I find Sin kneeling before his father, their eyes locked as Sal breathes slowly. “Son,” he wheezes.

“You took everything from me again and again. Did you really think you could take my mate?” Sin’s voice remains low and full of venom, until he breaks. “Did you?”

“Mine. Now.” Sal slowly smiles at his son before looking at me. I slap my hand to my throat where he bit me. “My mate.”

“No,” Sin says, and the word is more of a promise than anything else. Sin leans Sal forward before yanking the blade out of his back. His hiss of pain is all I hear. Sin murmurs in his ear and then takes the blade and slices his throat.

My eyes shut, and my nails dig into my neck, where the bond dies. Pain ricochets through me as Sal perishes.

“I killed him,” Sin states. “I killed him, Sawyer.” He’s closer now. I know it’s him when he touches me, carefully cupping my cheek. “Not you, princess. Me.”

“Why are you here?” I flutter open my wet lashes, looking at all three of them. They each stand before me, gazing at me with love that they should direct at their omega. Not me.

I’m no one. Just a gamma.

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