Page 1 of Savage Torment

1

LINCOLN

Iknow who I am.

I know what I’m capable of.

Generally, I know most things because my pride won’t settle for anything less.

But I can’t fucking fathom what the hell my life is right this second.

My limbs tingle with the erratic thunder of my pulse as I blink at the doorway. It was empty a moment ago, barely even ajar as the nurse explained the complications they’re facing with Polaris. I wish that was still the case now.

Polaris.

Midnight.

MyMidnight.

We should never have left for the job The Crow set out, but we’re puppets on a string, ready to perform at his every command. Well, Asher is, but we’re family, which means if he’s a puppet, then we all are. Especially when he’s dangling things over his head that benefit all of us. If we want to put an end to this fucking curse, we have to take his bait.

Ithoughtwe were winning. Midnight smashed the hell out of the trap set up in the room with all of the keys, and the sound ofthe lock as it turned at her command was music to my ears. Until an arrow was protruding from her chest and she was falling to the floor.

She shouldn’t have been there.

We should have gone without her.

I thought it was possible to let her in, like the others. I’d been so against it, refusing at every step, but in that room, before it all went to shit, I could visualize it. I could see exactly what we all are to one another, I could see the prospect of… more. Wolf or not, I could see it, despite my better judgment, but if being a part of our family only brings her pain, then she doesn’t deserve it. We don’t deserve her.

Now, after spending what feels like an eternity pacing back and forth in this tiny-ass medical room, praying with all that I am that everything’s going to be okay, I’m met with the complete opposite.

Instead of my prayers being answered, I’m consumed by the thick tendrils of a nightmare as I stare at the intruder.

That’s what they are. An intrusion. And if the words from their lips are true, they’ll be a dead one soon enough.

“What did you say?” Asher snarls, his anger rippling through me as my hands ball into fists at my sides.

“We all know I didn’t stutter, motherfucker.”

I bare my teeth, taking a step toward the sole focus of my rage, ready to leave carnage in my wake, but then a hand clamps down on my shoulder, silently pleading for me to stay put.

Tatum.

Anyone else and I’d launch them across the room for getting in my way, but not him. Never him. That’s probably why he’s always the one to stop me in my tracks before I do something stupid. Although, right now I really can’t see a single issue with what I have planned.

“Start talking before Tatum releases the fucking mad hound,” Wylder grunts, aiming his thumb in my direction as his gaze remains set on the enemy in the room.

His words do nothing to our unwanted guest. They actually seem to encourage them more. But it’s not us they’re directed at, it’s the nurse.

“Polaris Beauchamp is bound… to me. We can continue to waste time here or we can do something about it.”

“You’re going nowhere fucking near her,” I snap, dropping my shoulder out of Tatum’s hold before I bolt across the room. Slamming my hands against their chest, they don’t fight back, moving willingly as they smile at me with a sense of pride… of achievement… like they’re still winning.

Fuck. That.

My chest heaves and nostrils flare as I fight to contain the rage igniting in my bones. The desire to slam my fist into their face is raw and more real than anything I’veeverfelt. I rear my arm back, curling my lips in excitement, but they make no effort to move and the nurse’s soft voice cuts through the air.

“If what he says is true, we need to act now.”

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