Fingers grasped my neck and squeezed.

  “Time to give up,” my father whispered into my ear. “I have a special plan just for you, son.”

  I swung my fist backward and hit his nose. He flinched, but didn’t loosen his hold on my neck. I kicked behind me and punched him again, this time making contact with his cheek. Someone from the crowd grabbed me and threw me off him. My back hit the ground, nearly knocking the wind from me. I struggled to get up, but my father stepped on my stomach, digging his heel in near where the bullet had struck me.

  Victoria cried out. “Stop!”

  “Your little girlfriend wants to save you,” sneered my father. “You couldn’t protect her before, what makes you think you can now?”

  “I’m more experienced,” I grunted, trying to squirm away from his hold. “I’ve killed you before.”

  “Ah, but I’m more experienced, too.” He spat in my face. I wiped away the saliva. He dug his heel in deeper. I fought to keep my expression steady. Father laughed. “I’m so going to enjoy this. This time, it’ll be father killing son, and not the other way around.”

  I gasped for air and reached for his leg. On the third try, I wrapped my fingers around his ankles and tried shoving him off me. He fought, digging his heel deeper into my gut and laughing maniacally.

  War cries sounded from within the woods. The calls were from at least a dozen different packs, all fighting on our side.

  My father froze, glancing around. I took advantage of his distraction and flung his leg away. He stumbled, barely regaining his balance.

  The other werewolves poured out from the forest, still shouting their war cries. They surrounded the field, not allowing anyone an easy escape. We were still outnumbered, but we at least had enough for a fighting chance. I struggled to my feet. The werewolves on our side ran toward the hooded crowd, bearing weapons. They fought back in a mass confusion.

  Something hit me on the side of my head. I stumbled, landing on my knees. My ears rang. My father glared above me, holding the gas canister. He poured some onto the fire. It roared to life, reaching for Victoria and licking up closer to her. She cried out. That was when I noticed her face was bloody and bruised.

  I ran at my father, jamming my shoulders into his chest. He stumbled back and poured the foul liquid all over my back. It soaked into my clothes and soaked my skin. I pushed myself away from him and glared at him with as much loathing as I’d ever felt.

  “How dare you hurt her?” My fury built, and when it reached a boiling point, I lunged for him again. We both flew back until he slammed into a tree. The gas can rolled away. I released my anger, hitting and kicking him in a blind rage. I inched my fingers toward the knife in my pocket.

  He shoved me back. I skidded on pebbles and stumbled over something large. The gasoline canister. I fell backward, rolling over it. The side of my head hit a rock. My vision turned to double and then triple. I tried focusing on Victoria—the middle one. She squirmed, trying to get away from the flames that inched higher.

  Something hit me in the head. My father dragged me toward her. “Time for the two lovebirds to say their sad goodbyes.”

  I met Victoria’s gaze and my vision returned to normal. I reached for her. “Sweetness—”

  My father covered my mouth. “Time’s up.” He shoved me closer to the flames. “Now that you’re both drenched in gasoline, the question is whether to burn you alive at the same time or separately. Hmm. That’s a tough one.”

  I turned and punched him across the face. He barely flinched. “That just earned Victoria the first burning.”

  “You bastard!” I readied myself to punch him again, but someone grabbed both my arms from behind.

  Father brought his fingers to his chin. “Where to tie my disappointment of a son so he can have the best view of the show?”

  I struggled to get away, but whoever held me had too tight of a grasp.

  My father tapped his chin as he glanced around, ever so slowly. “Perhaps we can put him in the cage. We haven’t even opened any of our other gasoline canisters. We could really soak her. I can already hear his screams.”

  “No!” Victoria cried.

  He turned to her. “You don’t like that idea? Hmm. Maybe we should kill him first so you can watch. He did already see you die. It would only be fair.”

  I fought harder to get away and pummel my father. The arms gripping me only held tighter.

  A slow smile spread across my father’s face. “I do hate tough decisions.” He glanced back and forth between Victoria and me. “Or I could burn you both until you’re just about dead, then put out the fire. I doubt even werewolves could heal from that.” He turned to the person holding me. “Have you ever heard of that?”

  “No, sir.”

  “That’s an interesting twist. I think I like it.”

  “No!” Victoria shouted. “Just take me. Let him go.”

  “Not a chance.” I finally broke free. “It’s me you want. Kill me and let her go. I’ve lived all these years. She deserves a chance at life.”

  My father sniffled. “This is just so sweet.” He stood up straight, grabbed my arm, and threw his other arm high into the air. “Kill them both!”

  Chapter 97

  Toby

  My father and three other men shoved me through the small gap in the cage. I stumbled and stepped on a spike. Vampire venom hung in the air. Though it smelled stale, it would remain potent. I pulled the spike from the sole of my shoe and scratched my palm. It stung with a fierceness only vampire venom could. I wiped my hand, but it was futile.

  The sounds of fighting continued. I avoided the many spikes on the ground as I made my way to the bars nearest the action. Blood sprayed through the air in all directions. War cries continued, though weakened. I craned my neck to get a view of Victoria but couldn’t see the fire or her.

  I grasped a pole, screamed, and shook it. The roof over me rumbled, and spikes rained down. I covered my head and ducked, avoiding them all. I’d already had more than enough vampire venom to last me a while.

  Victoria’s scream pierced the air, rising above all the other noise.

  Fury tore at me. I ran for the smallest pole. I focused all my anger into it as I gripped it and pulled with all my might. It had taken three of them to force it into the soil, but I was determined it would only take one to release it. I bent my knees and put everything I had into it.

  The vampire venom stung my palm, making it harder to grip the pole. Grunting, I focused my energy. The pole wiggled. Progress! I took a deep breath and continued working.

  Victoria cried out again. That was all the motivation I needed to yank out the pole. Dirt flung out in all directions as it broke free from the soil. I threw it behind me, and it bounced, hitting the poisoned spikes along the way.

  I squeezed through the small space and hurried over to Victoria. Father fought Sal and a couple of the local werewolves. Supernaturals from our side continued pouring out from various parts of the woods. One of the men in a black robe was poised to pour more gas on the fire. I yelled and ran at him, pushing him out of the way. He clung to the can and the gas splashed on us both. Stumbling, he managed to remain standing. I punched him across the face on one side then the other.

  He struggled to keep hold of the canister. I took advantage of the moment and yanked it from his arms. He lunged for me, but I doused him in as much gas as I could. Some got on his face and he screamed, rubbing his eyes frantically. I hit him in the side of the head with the canister. He stumbled. I hit him again. This time, he fell to the ground, flailing around.

  “Toby!” Victoria called.

  I threw the can on the guy and ran over to her. The flames were growing higher. I dug up some dirt and poured it on them until the fire was out.

  “Look out,” she cried.

  Something hit me in the head. I spun around and threw a punch. It barely grazed the jaw of a black-robed werewolf. He hit me again. That time, I saw the weapon. It was a baseball bat. I grabbed it just as it made contact with my arm. I yanked it, pulling the man closer to me. I punched him in the face and then kicked him in the gut, taking the bat from him. I held it in position, and he ran away.

  I turned back to Victoria and assessed the situation. She was held up with both ropes and chain. It might turn out to be harder to get her down than I’d thought.

  “The rope’s tied in the back.”

  I ran behind her and found the knot. It was not only tight, but soaked in gasoline. My fingers kept sliding as I worked out the knot. Venom burned tiny cuts in my skin. Finally, the tie came loose. Both it and Victoria fell from the pole to the ground. I hurried over and helped her up, pulling her up. She wrapped her arms around me, and we clung to each other.

  “Run to the woods and hide,” I said. “I need to make sure my father is taken care of once and for all.”

  She shook her head. “Not without you. I’ll fight, too.”

  “You’re in no shape.” I traced bruises along her face with my fingertip.

  “I can do this.” She stood taller.

  I glanced over at Sal and the others fighting my father, who now had the help of several in black robes. “Just be careful.”

  “Of course.”

  “If you do decide to—”

  “Let’s help Sal.” She limped over to them.

  I wanted to carry her to safety, but I knew she wouldn’t have anything to do with that. She wanted to be a part of this. It was every bit as much her battle as it was anyone else’s. Maybe more. I picked up the bat I’d dropped and squeezed it as hard as I could. When I reached my father, I hit him over the head. He fell to his knees and struggled to stand.

  His hooded guard dogs turned to me. I swung the bat, hitting them both across the face. One lunged for me, almost knocking me over. Victoria pulled him off as I regained my footing. He aimed a fist at me, but I blocked it with my hand.

  “Stop,” my father ordered. “He’s mine. So’s she.”

  I glanced back at Victoria. “Run.”

  She shook her head and clung to me.

  My father glowered at us. “Aren’t you two sweet? You both going to die this time?” He pulled out a large sword and held it high, narrowing his eyes. “Meet Bertha. She’s the last thing you’re going to feel before crossing over to the other side for the final time.” He turned and glared at Victoria, aiming the sword at her.

  I ducked and rammed myself against him, pushing him back. He cried out and stumbled. I grabbed the handle, but he clung to it. We fell to the ground, struggling to get Bertha.

  Father yanked it out of my grasp and flipped me over. He held the blade high above me. “Hope you said goodbye to your whore.”

  Blinding fury tore through me. I pushed him, jumped to my feet, and took possession of the sword. For a moment, his face paled, but then he laughed. I shoved him back, jamming him against a tree. “Any last words?” I pressed the blade against his neck, nicking the skin. Blood dripped down. “Does this seem familiar?”

  His expression remained stoic. In the reflection of his pupils, I could see someone heading for us, holding some kind of weapon. Squinting, I recognized it as the wire-covered bat Father had brought to Moonhaven.

  Craning my neck, I glared at the hooded figure. “Use that, and your leader dies.”

  The figure raised the bat and stepped closer to me.

  I turned to my father and applied more pressure to his neck. Blood gushed out. “I win again.”

  He stared at someone behind me. “The wolf essence stone. You have to get it!”

  I shoved the blade through his neck, hitting the tree behind him. My father went limp in my arms. Sadness washed through me—for what could’ve been, but never would be. Perhaps one day I would have the father-son relationship I’d always desired as a father. I would never get it as a son.

  Victoria cried out. I let go of my father and spun around. A black-hooded figure grabbed her. She fought against him, but he overpowered her. I pulled the sword from my father. His body slumped to the ground.

  Releasing a war cry, I ran at Victoria’s attacker. His eyes widened, and he let go of her and rushed away. I pursued him, and finally drew close. I stuck the blade into his back and yanked it out. He fell to the ground, landing with a thud. In a blind rage, I ran around chopping heads off every robed figure I came across.

  Before long, everything quieted. Only a few robed men remained. They raised their arms into the air and gathered together.

  Still clinging to Father’s sword, I glared at them. “Remove your hoods.”

  Each one pulled their hoods down, exposing their faces. The only one I recognized was my cousin, Paul. I circled them, saying nothing. Part of me wanted to go ballistic and remove their heads for their part in everything they’d put my pack through. They stared at me, wide-eyed and pale, probably scared I would do exactly that.

  “Why do you surrender?” I finally asked.

  “We don’t want to die,” Paul said.

  “What am I supposed to do with you?” I exploded. “I can’t trust any of you.”

  “We’ll be your servants,” said a young guy with blond hair.

  “Anything you want,” said another.

  I raked my hands through my hair. “Tie them.”

  Sal and Jet hurried over to the rope I’d taken from Victoria.

  “I’ll figure out what to do with you later.” I stared down each captive.

  Zack, the leader of one of the local packs, came over to me. “Toby, we have a jail on our land for our enemies. We can hold them as long as you want us to.

  “That would be perfect.”

  He whistled, and a group of men and women appeared from the woods and dragged them away.

  I ran over to Victoria. A large werewolf with a baby face spoke with her. He stepped forward and extended his hand. “You must be Toby. I’m Benjamin.”

  “He helped me when nobody else would,” Victoria said.

  I shook his hand. “Then I owe you a lot of gratitude.”

  “Think nothing of it.”

  I turned to Victoria. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Is it really over?”

  “The jags are back in Central America, your old pack is dead, and now so is mine. I’d say we’re finally free of our enemies.”

  Her expression lit up. She pressed her palms on my face and kissed me deeply. Shivers ran through my spine. I combed my fingers through the length of her hair and returned the kiss with renewed strength and hope for the future.

  Chapter 98

  Victoria

  I woke with a start, trying to figure out where I was. Looking around, it took me nearly a full minute to realize I was in the main living room in Moonhaven.

  Toby stirred next to me. “Are you okay, sweetness?”

  “I am now.” I laced my fingers through his. The rest of the pack lay sleeping, sprawled around the room. Memories of the previous night filled my mind. After beating Toby’s old pack, we’d all trekked through the woods and returned home, exhausted but too wired to sleep. Jet and Zia had warmed up food for everyone since between the impending full moon and from the battling, we were all starving. We ate and then all dropped from exhaustion in the living room.

  In the morning, I woke and leaned back against Toby, his warm embrace comforting me. “That’s how I want to drift off every night from now on.”

  He twirled a strand of my hair. “Me, too.” He kissed my ear and whispered, his breath giving me the chills. “Except that I want to be locked behind closed doors, able to do this and more.” He nibbled on my ear and trailed kisses to my mouth.

  “Get a room.” A throw pillow hit the sides of our heads.

  Jet’s eyes danced as he gave us a playful smirk.

  I tossed the pillow back to him. “Easy for you to say, married man.”

  He tucked it under Ziamara, who slept on the loveseat next to him.

  “She’s been sleeping a lot lately,” Toby said. “Is she okay?”

  A slow smile spread across Jet’s face. “Most definitely. She just needs extra sleep now.”

  My mouth dropped. “Are you guys expecting?”

  Jet beamed.

  “When did you find out?”

  He frowned. “After the battle, believe me. If I’d had any idea…”

  “What are you going to—?”

  “Why don’t we talk about it when she’s awake?”

  Excitement ran through me. “I’m so happy for you two. Congratulations.”

  “You didn’t hear it from me.” He kissed Zia’s cheek and rose. “I’ll make some breakfast.”

  “Why?” I asked. “What about…?” I glanced around the room, suddenly realizing I couldn’t remember seeing Brick the night before. Soleil slept in a recliner alone. “Wait. Where’s Brick?”

  Jet’s expression sobered and he cleared his throat. “I’m going to start breakfast.” He hurried out of the room.

  I turned to Toby, whose face had turned downcast. “Toby?”

  Tears shone in his eyes. He shook his head.

  My throat closed up. “It’s not true. It can’t be.”

  He pulled me into an embrace and rubbed my back. He shook, and his tears drenched my scalp.

  Tears filled my eyes. “No. What happened?”

  Toby sniffled. When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse. “He sacrificed himself so I could escape and find you.”

  We sat together and cried until the aromas of bacon, eggs, sausage, and coffee filled the room. The others woke and stretched. Soleil just moaned, not moving from her spot on the recliner.

  “Come and eat,” Jet called. “It won’t be as good as we’re used to, but we all need it.”

  My stomach twisted in knots. Suddenly, I had no appetite. I sat up and squeezed Toby’s hand. “You eat. I’m going to check on Soleil.”

  He gave a slight nod, brushed some hair from my face, and kissed my forehead. “We’re going to hold a memorial fitting for a king later. Whatever she wants.”