Chapter 400

Vince yelled as he tossed me to the ground. Morgan kicked me as soon as I hit the dirt, chunks of grass and twigs flying. The swift kick to my stomach sent me into a tree. I yelped as my shoulder broke, along with a few ribs, but Vince just looked at me with surprise as a chunk of his face slowly knitted itself back together.

I looked at him through hooded eyes, watching with satisfaction as his cheek slowly rebuilt itself. Blood poured from the left side of his face. The lip hung loose, cut adrift from the portion of his cheek I ripped away. His teeth were visible, and the surprised look in his eyes made the slow healing a little easier to deal with.

Brandon looked at his father with wide eyes. “Are you okay?” He went to move closer, but that was the moment I spat out the hunk of meat I had in my mouth, as if his blood was poison.

Vince didn’t look away from me. I sat up and wretched, like I was going to vomit. His blood and bits of flesh clung to the inside of my mouth. Once it was clear, I sat, babying the side with the broken shoulder and ribs, and looked at Vince. I allowed the anger, the hatred I had for him, to bubble up. He watched me transform into a wolf who absolutely hated his existence, and as far as he was concerned, he had never even met me.

“Who are you?” His cheek finally knit itself together enough that he could speak without dislocating his jaw. I just sat and tilted my head. His eyes narrowed. “I don’t recognize your wolf or scent. You are on my land…who the fuck are you?”

I tilted my head the other way and let out a low growl. I felt my shoulder and ribs heal, the snap audible around the clearing as the bones snapped into place, but I didn’t flinch. The men – all of them. I watched the skin tighten around their eyes as I put weight on my leg, then settled back onto my haunches.

They thought I would shift and beg them to let me go. They had another thing coming. I waited. I watched. And when I see them vulnerable, I will strike. Rick watched with his arms crossed, face dead, but I could see a tiny flash of panic.

And he should be. I wasn’t expected to be back for a few days. How was I supposed to heal the kids up again by the end of the week? I felt worry bubble up, but I pushed it down. There was no way I would allow them to see that I was worried.

“Make her shift.” Brandon walked closer to me and reached out a hand towards me.

“Are you fucking stupid?” Vince went to pull him back, but I lunged. He was quick, but I was quicker. I snapped my jaws, and Brandon screamed, blood pouring from his hand. Vince pulled him back and turned him to face him. Morgan and Rick turned to look, and both winced when they saw I took three of his fingers. Brandon was screaming, holding up his hand and watching the blood pour down his arm. Vince was holding his hand up and looking at the severed stumps. “What the fuck were you thinking? We cornered her, and she already took off half my fucking face. Why would you try to pet her like a fucking dog?” I watched Vince mutter a few words, and the blood stopped. We all watched the fingers start to grow back, slow and painful.

Brandon dropped to his knees and vomited from the pain. “Stupid fucking whore.” The retching made the name-calling amusing, and I allowed myself to smile.

“Is she fucking smiling?” Morgan watched my face as I grinned wider.

“Who the fuck is this?” Rick’s question would remain unanswered.

“We will find out.” Vince walked closer and crouched a safe distance from me. “You think you are safe, girl, but you’re not. I can force your shift.”

I chuffed out a laugh and shook my head. Vince’s eyes widened as Rick nearly screamed out a laugh. “Did she just say you can’t force her to shift?” I turned to look at him and allowed my anger, my rage, to enter my eyes. Because how fucking dare he. How dare he play the victim when he was one of the perpetrators? He took a step back. “What the hell did I do?” He laughed, but I could tell it was forced.

“She looks like she fucking hates you, Ricky.” Morgan teased, and so I turned to him. I might be mad at Rick for putting me into this situation, but Morgan… Morgan I just want to kill. And for the very first time, I could allow him to see it.

“She looks like she is going to fucking kill you there, Morgan, and by the look in her eyes, she is going to enjoy every fucking minute of it.” Rick’s voice wavered as he stared between me and Morgan.

Morgan, stupid Morgan, just laughed. “I’ll take my fill once Rick is done with her… if there is anything left.”