Page 77 of The Return
CHAPTER20
JONAS
My wolf’sfeet thudded on the forest floor, crushing dried leaves beneath them. I ran full-out, trying to burn off all the excess energy that was building inside me. This was worse than when Dad took me away the last time. I knew the reason was because Corey and I had finally bonded. His blood was now part of me, just as my come was part of him. Everything we had been was now everything we were. There was no more Jonas or Corey. It was now and forever “we.”
I ran harder, unable to blot out the pain. Was Corey hurting? Could he feel me, even from hundreds of miles away? The only thing I was certain of was there was a Corey-sized hole in my heart, and it was consuming me. I’d been stupid when I said he could go without me. We should never be separated, especially not like this. My mind worked overtime, thinking of so many problems that could occur when I wasn’t there to protect him. Yeah, Dad was there, but he wasn’t me.
He hadn’t even been gone a day and already I was a wreck. I skipped eating, because I couldn’t stomach the thought of food. I dug into the pack information again, but had no clue what I was looking for. This was all so maddening. The only thing I had was the scent I picked up the night Kinsey was shot. Why was it so goddamn familiar to me?
“Hello, Alpha.” The words were spat with venom.
I turned and came face to face with the last person I ever expected to see again.
The barrel of the gun glinted in the dappled lighting filtering through the trees. “Shift. I want you to die as a man, not as a mongrel.”
My mind raced. I could try to outrun them, seeing as how I was faster in wolf form, but doubted I’d be able to dodge a bullet if they were a decent shot. I opted to follow along, at least for now. I shifted, then rose to my feet. “What the hell are you doing here?” I demanded. “You’re not allowed on pack grounds, and you know it.”
“I’ve been here for weeks. Watching your boy, waiting. I knew you’d come back for him eventually.”
I looked for an opportunity. Something—anything—that would give me an edge. The thing was, the gun didn’t even waver. There weren’t any nerves there at all.
“And now he’s gone, and it’s just you and me.”
That look was pure insanity. Delight danced on the delicate features that had once been so familiar to me. I took a step forward and froze when the ground in front of me blew up in a puff of dirt.
“I will kill you” came the warning.
“Why? Why were you trying to hurt Corey?”
A laugh. “Corey? He’s insignificant. Useless. I wanted him out of way, and you all were too happy to oblige. You sent away the bodyguard, sent away Corey. You left yourself exposed, because you and I were always destined to have this meeting.”
The gunshot echoed off the sheer rock walls at the edge of the forest. The bullet ripped through my shoulder, knocking me down. I lay on the ground, trying to catch my breath. I know in action movies the hero always gets up and acts like he’s fine, but that shit hurt like a motherfucker.
“Have you claimed your mate yet? Do you think he’ll feel it when I put the bullet in your brain? Will it kill him too? I’d be okay with that. I mean, I don’t bear him any ill will, but if he dies, I won’t mourn him.”
“Why are you doing this?” I demanded.
“Why? You have the nerve to ask why? You took everything from me! I loved this pack. I gave it everything I had, and you stripped it away like it was nothing. You didn’t even give a damn.”
No, I hadn’t. Not once. “You know why, so don’t pretend to—”
I screamed when the second bullet tore into my leg. I tried to reach my wolf, but nothing happened. Heat ripped through my body, and I clawed at the ground. A shadow fell over me, and I looked up into the craziest eyes I’d ever seen.
“Wolfsbane. It’s a thing, you know. The poison cuts off your bond with your wolf temporarily.” A hand stroked over my head. “Don’t worry, though. I’m not going to kill you here. I’m taking you somewhere special, so you can see all the damage you’ve done.”
With that, the final shot ripped through my chest, and I blacked out.
COREY
“No!”I screamed, lurching up in the seat.
Delray swerved to the side of the road and slammed on the brakes. “What the hell, Corey?”
“It’s Jonas. We have to go back”
“We can’t. We have to be sure you’re safe.”
“It’s not me they’re after!” I insisted. “It was Jonas the whole time.”
