Page 28 of Forsaken Devotion: Part 2
“Get up, Alpha,” he taunted.
I snarled, yanking and pulling despite the pain in my rotator cuffs. Lucian lifted onto all fours, and he moved so fast, grabbing Beard by the neck. He dropped his eyes in the face of Lucian’s dominance. Showing that the only reason they were able to do this was because he was allowing it. Anger flitted over Beard’s face.
“That’s not taking a beating,” Drake tsked. He wrenched my arm higher, ripping a scream from my throat. Lucian snarled and let go of Beard. My heart hurt so much. Redhead slammed the bat into his back, and Lucian was again flat on his front, his breath exploding from his mouth. Beard rolled him onto his back and swung at his midsection. I screamed as it connected. Lucian jolted, his body curving onto its side. That connection broke something, I was sure of it.
“Stop,” I screamed. “Please. Stop!”
They did not.
Beard and Redhead took turns, and lacerations opened across his skin, causing blood to smear over his body. I couldn’t stop the tears.
I could only half-see as the bats connected. They kept going, harder and harder, obviously straining by their panting, but Lucian didn’t make a sound. As angry as I was with him, I didn’t want to see him suffer. I didn’t want him to hurt.
“He’s a stubborn fuck.” Drake’s voice rumbled behind me, and I wanted nothing more than to kill him. How could he be so happy watching someone being beaten?
Beard hit his legs, and a loud snap blended with their ragged panting.
Lucian jerked and hacked up blood.
As I screamed, Drake’s laugh fired through my veins. Redhead was positioning himself near Lucian’s head. Lucian seemed to have lost consciousness. He hadn’t moved! That swing would hit him hard and at such a soft spot . . .
I threw myself back, and the movement gave a little on my arms so I could elbow Drake. He grunted, and his grip slipped. I took the small release and threw myself forward, managing to get free.
I bolted and threw myself over Lucian just in time for it to come down on my shoulder. A deep, tissue-level throb traveled through my back and arm, numbing my fingers. I whimpered, and the bat no longer connected with me.
“Stop,” I begged, my chest curved over Lucian’s head protectively. My wild eyes met Drake’s, and his head was cocked, no emotion in them. He was frightening—a monster. I blinked, and tears trickled down my cheeks.
He waved his hand in a sweeping motion, and the two males strutted past, heading for the dropped duffel. I scooted down and cupped the side of Lucian’s face, ignoring the sting in my arm from the movement.
“Lucian?” I whispered, so much sorrow in my voice.
His dark eyelashes fluttered, and when he opened his eyes, the moonlight caught them, reflecting the beautiful gold in them. They stayed open for only a brief moment before sliding closed again.
Drake slowly approached. I tensed and hovered over Lucian, still and waiting to see whether I’d need to pounce. I’d undoubtedly die if I went for this Alpha, but he wasn’t killing Lucian without ending me first; I wouldn’t allow it.
“If you don’t want one of my bitches to challenge your soft mate during the next Blood Moon, get me my new land,” he instructed, crouching down next to us. “Pleasure doing business with you both.”
I remained beside Lucian. Prepared to shield him with my body. Agony spiked up my side, but it was bearable in the face of Lucian’s bloody body under me safely.
“Don’t be too upset, sweets,” Drake taunted, as he smoothly stood. “He’ll live.”
I growled, watching him leave. Bastard! The trees moved with his retreat, and he was gone.
I waited in the silence, my breaths mingling with Lucian’s harsher ones.
“I’m sorry,” I whimpered, sliding my hand under his neck, bracing it so it wouldn’t lie on the grass. He didn’t twitch or groan, and that scared me more than anything. He desperately needed medical care. My hand wouldn’t stop trembling as I grabbed at the slim cell phone Verity let me borrow. It was one of those pay-per-use ones that only served to make calls or simple texts. Finally getting a hold of it, I pulled it out of my pocket and hesitated. This would drag her deeper into my world. Lucian trembled, unconscious. I didn’t have a choice. I dialed Verity, and she answered immediately.
“Did you leave?” I croaked.
“No, I’ve been sitting in my truck, watching the forest you disappeared into with that guy. Girl, I know you’re heartbroken, but maybe shacking up with that guy?—”
“Drive up to the spot you saw me disappear at. I need your help.”
“Okay, be right there.”
I let out a relieved sob and clicked off the call before she could ask any further questions. Lucian was bleeding from all over his face and from the many injuries slashed into his skin. The bat with sharp edges had caused this ripping damage. I’d never get the image of them hitting him with such viciousness out of my head. Of him jolting with each strike as if they reveled in the sound of the bat meeting flesh.
What was even worse? We couldn’t go after them. Shifters followed few laws, and one of them was not to step on an Alpha’s private land. I’d been the one to fuck up.
