entered me, replenishing what I’d gifted to my brothers. Shane brought his own men into the fight. After that it was over in seconds. Bodies soon littered the ground around us.
Panting and huffing through my nose, I stretched my arms wide, took a huge breath, tipped back my head and in unison with my wolf, released a war cry; a roar that rattled the air and shook the walls of the prison.
My brothers did the same.
The roar escalated until it was followed by hundreds of voices, all bellowing in unison. Death may wait for us, but the spirits of my brothers would not be broken by this arena of death and depravity.
Ember’s lips curled, her chin rose and her eyes flashed. Warmth expanded in my chest as I looked upon the resolve on my mate’s face, but still my wolf hungered for blood. I tilted my head back, opened my arms and bellowed up at the guards. “Is that it? Have you got your fill of our deaths for today, you sick fucks?” I staggered as the power from all those I’d killed hit me.
Energy buzzed through my veins, my heart pounding. I eyed the distance between me and them. It no longer appeared too far. I bent my knees and before anyone could stop me, I leaped.
The nearest guard pointed their tranq gun at me. The female tiger, I could scent her.
I snarled. It didn’t matter. I’d be on them all before they could kill me.
The first dart hit my bicep, then another embedded in my side. I didn’t care. Vengeance burned in my blood for the last four years of genocide I’d been forced to commit.
My fingers hit the metal base of the walkway and I curled them, grasping it and hanging by one arm. I blocked out the yells from those below and swung my other arm, latching on. Another sting, this time a dart in my chest.
Another. And another.
“Shit! How many is it gonna take to bring this bastard down!?” a guard from my right yelled.
There was no answer. The first guard just stepped forward and shot again—and again. Each one stung like hell; still my wolf clambered to get to her, to every single one of those fuckers. The collar around my neck burned into my skin as my wolf pushed for freedom. But even that pain didn’t dim my resolve to kill. We were both livid that these people had put Ember at risk, that they were throwing her into the ring with my brothers. That they demanded my brothers kill, that they expected me to kill, for no good reason.
My vision blurred, but was totally focused on the guards. With one massive effort, I shoved power through my burning muscles and heaved my bulk up. I peered down, weaving slightly. A sea of faces gaped up at me. My brothers looked on with grim expressions. Ember’s face was ashen, her eyes bright and wide. She shook her head, her lips forming a plea.
“No.”
I shook my head and fisted my hands. These evil bastards had to pay…
Another dart hit me from the right. I plucked it from my skin and dropped it to the ground below, then plucked out another and another, throwing them over the edge of the platform. I zeroed in on my prey while my fingers worked and was on the guard before he could fire the lethal weapon again.
A feral grin stretched my mouth and I ignored the shouts and the stampeding feet as other guards ran for us. This fucker was dead! He was nearest. I snapped his neck then faced the next guard. That grin on my face turned to a snarl as I stared down the barrel of a gun. “You think a silver bullet, or even a whole fucking clip, is going to stop me?” I growled, grinning as the female’s heart rate spiked and the stench of fear hit me. “Yeah, you better fucking shoot me, because if you don’t kill me, I will rip your heart out for all you have done here.”
“Don’t you shoot him!” bellowed a voice from behind.
I kept my attention on the guard, ready to do just as I’d promised. Armour or not I’d rip the bitch to shreds.
“Connor!” Zander’s eyes were that eerie mix of red flame and shadow as he stepped between us. “You have to stop. If you lose your shit, they’ll put you down—permanently, and that puts Ember at risk. Is that what you want when