whipping winds and it sounded as if she were driving a motorcycle. "Just stay inside! There's a whole magic grid on the city right now."
"Are you fucking kidding me? We're on lockdown?” Viktor snapped.
"There's nothing we can do Viktor," Aurelia snapped. "We're trying to stop this member from running and that's the best way! Avoid using magic if you can! Stay with Willow. I'll be there in literally five minutes!"
She hung up before he could say another word, but I was exhausted and shaking like a damn addict. I could feel Neo and Onyx's desperation to reach me mentally, along with Dimitris and even Saint, but I was so fucking tired of it all.
I just want to sleep.
"Willow."
Viktor forced my head up, and my tired eyes met his. His eyes softened as they struggled to not show the immense emotions that were flickering in and out as his wolf seemed closer to the surface.
My poor Bria was moving further into the darkness as if she didn't want to be seen or associated with anything in this world.
Could I blame her?
I felt like I wanted to disappear...for good. To hide in the shadows and never return. The thought was like a repeating plague, and I couldn't ignore it anymore.
"I think...I need to go, Viktor."
I tried to pull away, but he held me while shaking his head. "You're staying here," he said with so much desperation, it only left me in a web of confusion.
"I don't belong here. I don't belong anywhere.... I...I just want to disappear."
"No!" Viktor snapped. "You can't disappear, understand?!”
His eyes were begging me, but even those pleading orbs of silver couldn't cut through this foggy desire.
"No one would care. You...can just guard someone el-"
"Dammit, Willow. I'm not guarding anyone else! Fuck...I'm done being just a bodyguard!"
"Then what are you?" I asked as if this were a puzzle to be solved. "If you're not my bodyguard, why don't you just let me-"
He smooshed me into a hug once more, the rest of my words muffled against his tank before he cursed in English and Russian. Before I knew it, he was pulling me back, grabbing my cheeks, and kissing me with so much force, it felt like an electric shock raced through my entire body and began to charge me up like a power port.
My eyes widened and for a moment, everything became crystal clear - the thoughts ceased, the plague of imposter syndrome vanished, and for the first time in what felt like all day, I could feel the connections I had with those who cared for me.
I felt the pack’s worry for me, their immense concern that was palpitating through the wolf bond. It wasn't just their human sides, but their wolves yearned for Bria's safety as well. I wondered how many I'd worried today. The entire day felt like a fucking blur, but I could concentrate on what was unfolding this moment.
I could feel the intense passion Viktor carried for me. That he actually…loved me.
The sudden clicks of multiple guns cut through the air, and Viktor's eyes widened as he broke the kiss. We looked to the side to see the rows of men in black with their guns pointed at the glass of the boxing gym.
"WILLOW!” Onyx's voice echoed from behind us, and I moved my gaze briefly to see Onyx, Neo, Dimitris, Jayce, Saint, and even Milo racing into the room. They were midway through pulling out their guns and weaponry, but no way would they make it in time. I turned my gaze back to the rows of men as the clear leader in white raised his hand to cue the attack.
My wolf howled in my mind as I swiftly shifted my stance so my back faced the guns and pushed Viktor with enough force that he went flying right off his feet.
His eyes widened as his hands fought to reach me as if he weren't going further away from me, but it was his eyes that were locked on mine that seemed to shatter my heart because I could see the love he'd kept hidden from me.
The intense passion was beginning to reflect immense regret the further he fell. I couldn't gather the courage to look at the others, but I felt everything - the spike of fear, the hopelessness, and the love.
My Forbidden Pack was about to witness my end, and this was the moment when I could feel just how loved I was.
And I was about to lose it all.
I