Page 27 of Forsaken By Fate

“You’re not an alpha, Lachlan,” Aurora mumbles, her nervousness evident even without seeing her face.

She’s in danger. This shifter is a lunatic. She’s right.

“I could be if the Galvin brothers were out of the way,” Lachlan replies happily. “I’m high up in the pack hierarchy. If there were a vote, I could take their place if they were… gone.”

There’s a long silence as Aurora processes this revelation, and I cast the Galvin brothers a sidelong look. Not one of them appears moved by this, Lancer downright amused by the suggestion.

“But the Galvin brothersdorule Oklahoma,” Aurora reminds him. “You can’t just ask them to leave.”

“I’m not going to ask the Apex Alphas to leave. If the Goldens want you back, they can kill them for me.”

“What?” Aurora screeches. “They would never do that! Why would they do that, Lachlan?”

“You better hope they will or you’re going to die instead,” Lachlan says smugly. “How’s that for a trade?”

“Oh, hell no!” Wyn growls, his shirt tearing away from his body, his brothers following suit.

No one needs to tell me what to do, the six of us bursting through the stable doors in a now unified army.

Chapter 9

Zane

Lachlan recoils in horror as we fly through the doors in a wall of fur, feathers and scales, fire shooting from Victor and Wyn to light him up before he knows what’s happening. Fenris jumps forward in a flash of sparking, silver claws, swiping at Lachlan, who turns his wrath on Aurora.

Screaming, he curses at her, the sound infuriating me, but my dark, falcon eyes dart toward her, wings protectively swooping down to shield her from any stray debris as the others attack.

“NO!” Lachlan screeches, struggling to shift into his dragon body, but it’s too late, his betrayal exposed to his pack and us.

We drag the traitor outside.

Flames lick at him as he waves his arms in terror, swinging wildly to last out at anyone around, but the effort is beyond futile. He is dying where he stands, but our collective fury is just beginning.

My brothers and the other Alphas take turns swiping, biting and burning at him as I stand protectively, shielding Aurora from the trauma of blood and gore.

My wings expand wider as Aurora trembles wildly beneath me. Victor and Wyn unload another fireball on Lachlan, and hehowls wildly. Fenris pounces onto his smoldering back, bringing him to the ground, and the last of Lachlan’s life slips away, before our eyes.

Lachlan’s last breath increases my heart rate, the wheezing gasp fueling the yank in my chest.

“Zane?” Aurora gasps, her voice trembling as I slowly lower my wings.

A tightness grips my chest as a brilliant glow emanates from our hearts, spreading outward like liquid gold. The light pulses in rhythm with our now-synchronized heartbeats, connecting us in a way that transcends the physical.

Victor and Fenris halt mid-stride, their gazes snapping toward us. Their forms pivot, and a golden halo ignites from their chests, pulsating through fur and scales alike. The glow resonates with mine, like an unspoken vow binding us together. Above, the sky comes alive as shooting stars streak across the heavens, nature itself acknowledging the power of our bond.

The air vibrates with energy, a raw, magnetic pull between us that intensifies with each passing moment. It’s as though an invisible thread is tightening, drawing us closer with a force that can’t be denied. I can feel their thoughts merging with mine, an immediate telepathic connection sparking to life. Every beat of our hearts drums out the same unspoken truth: this bond comes above all else.

Heat flares through me, a primal fire awakening that demands to be answered. The bond snaps fully into place, and in that instant, I know there is nothing we wouldn’t do for each other—for Aurora.

“They’re mates!” Rex calls out, shifting back into his human form, a wide, shocked grin forming over his face.

We all transform back into our human forms.

“Let’s give them some privacy,” Wyn suggests, gathering Lachlan’s body to take care of the remains.

Unable to speak, I can only stare in wonderment at Aurora as she searches our faces, her breaths still synching with ours, the telepathy rushing through in a torrent between us.

Can you hear me? Is this real?Aurora asks.

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