Chapter 48

“Damn it. Maybe one of us should stay here so we can tell the others to come aboard. If they’re sleeping, we can all take them out and just leave. Do you know how to drive a yacht? I have no boating experience.” Zev peers around the cockpit, staring at all the buttons and levers. I spot a radio, and rush to it.

He locks his fingers to my shoulder and stops me before I have a chance to look at it.

“They could have other boats around here. I wouldn’t try to call for help just yet.” Again, I realize Zev is far more strategic than I am. My dad would be fucking ashamed. He had drilled it into my head that I have to think first before acting, especially in moments that I need to fight for survival. Oh well. Shit has changed. I’m not dealing with people... sort of.

“I can pilot this bad girl. I think. If not me, I think Jeff knows how. He’s done a lot of traveling. I think he can even fly a plane.

You should ask the asshole sometime. He was a nature photographer.” It’s one of the few things I really know about anyone here is what they were doing before.

“All right. Let’s hurry up. I don’t like how quiet it is. But if they haven’t heard us by now, then we might be okay. The staterooms are on the opposite side, I believe.” Zev motions for me to follow him, and we head back toward the stairs.

Holding my breath, I listen to the world around us, half-expecting to hear howls and fighting or some shit. I don’t like how eerily quiet it is.

Zev heads to the stairs, and I remain right behind him.

Neither of us spots the wolf waiting in the salon. The beast doesn’t growl or warn us or anything. It might have been stalking us this entire time.

Zev shouts, swinging the sword at the wolf. It darts around him, dodging out of the way. I kick my leg, managing to strike it in the side, but I’m not strong enough to send it sprawling.

“Run! Run to the others!” I shout, tensing and preparing to be devoured.

Zev doesn’t hesitate, using me as a distraction to head toward the pathway leading to the swimming platform.

The wolf paces and releases a growl that strikes me in the gut.

“Change back into a fucking man and face me. You’re only in wolf form because you know that I’ll kick your ass otherwise.”

Am I stupid for this kind of threat? Maybe. I just need him to hesitate to buy time. I know if he bites me, shit will get even more real. I don’t think I’m strong enough to survive this crap.

My words must dig under the werewolf’s skin, because the man shifts, standing before me completely naked.

“Put your weapon down,” he says, his deep voice still sounding a bit animalistic. “You’re not going anywhere, so there’s no point in fighting me. Even if you take this boat, you will never be free of this sland. That I promise you.”

Anger rushes through me. The edges of my vision shadow with my rage, and I rush the man. I’m not going to give him the time to strategize how to overpower me.

He surprises me, transforming into a wolf as I tighten my arms around him. I don’t get a chance to restrain him completely.

Whipping his head, he locks his teeth to my shoulder.

I see stars from the pain.

Fuck. I’m a dead man.

Punching the wolf in the snout, I get him to release me. I jab my knife, stabbing him in the side. He screeches and transforms back into a man. I don’t stay to fight though. Fuck that noise. His groans are enough to know that if he catches me, he’ll destroy me. Fuck me up. Ensure I feel the same pain I caused him. Spinning, I rush toward the pathway leading out. Another wolf growls in the walkway, blocking my path. Fuck me.

“Breck, jump!” Sasha screams from somewhere in the water. “Jump!”

I swivel and grab onto the metal-rung barrier, looking over the side. Shit. It’s still a good drop to the water. If I didn’t see Sasha treading by herself, I would consider fighting the wolf.

“Hurry!” she calls, baring her teeth. “There’s another boat coming.”

The wolf charges toward me, understanding Sasha, and I suck up my fear and summon my courage to throw myself over the side. I squeeze my eyes shut as the world blurs around me and my stomach flies into my throat.

I hit the water and sink under. I kick to the surface only to have Sasha throw her arms around me and squeeze me fiercely. I realize it’s because she’s swimming. I don’t know how this beautiful bombshell of a woman knows to keep going even after being bitten, but here she is, trying to save my ass.

“The others are still on the boat. Zev needed help. He said that you were following behind him, so here I am. They told me to go.” Sasha gasps a breath, kicking only one of her legs, but she now wears a life vest stolen from the boat. “I don’t think we should leave though. We should fight.”

I kick my legs, trying my best not to use her too much as a floaty, but I need her support. “You’re right. I don’t have anything to lose. I was fucking bit.”

“What?” Sasha asks, her voice ringing through the air.

“Yeah, a fucker on the boat. I guess we’ll find out if I’m worthy of the damn change or not.” I grind my teeth and roll my shoulder, showing her the teeth marks on my skin, the blood washing away in the water.

Fuck. I hope I don’t attract sharks or something.

“Shit,” she breathes, huffing in my ear and making me shiver.

“Tell me about it.” I lick my lips, tasting the salt of the sea. “This is fucking hell.”

She blinks a few times and cranes her neck, trying to look around. I realize she’s not focusing on me at all. “It might get worse.

Dante called to me. His pack is coming. They’re the ones on the raft.”

I don’t know whether or not I should be thankful that someone who might be on her side comes or if I should freak the fuck out because Sasha no longer trusts the wolf man. I don’t even know what to think. We’re trapped. There’s no way we’re ever going to get out of here by stealing a boat. I also don’t want to think about the fact that if Dante’s pack is coming now... who was on the boat? I’ve been bitten by someone from another pack.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you. I’ll die first,” I say, snaking my hand around her waist and into the life vest, sharing it.

“Breck, no. Your life is not worth less than mine.” She peers around again.

“You’re wrong. It is on this island. And I don’t mind. I’ll protect you, Sasha. You don’t deserve this kind of fate. You don’t deserve to bow to a fucking wild man or their twisted desires. It’s fucked up. Disgusting.” I clench my teeth with the words. I could never imagine what it’s like to be her. All I can do is try my best to ensure she’s safe. “Like I said. I don’t think I have much to lose. I’ll either die or transform. I’m not sure about the second. I’d rather make sure you get away from here instead.”

I don’t get a chance to say anymore, because a blinding light illuminates around us as the motor of a boat hums in my ears.

“We got two over here. One’s the female,” a man shouts. “Net them. They might put up a fight.”

I kick my legs, trying to swim with Sasha away from their boat, but I’m too slow. The pain’s too much and I’m exhausted.

A net cascades over us and drags us through the water. Sasha struggles and clings onto me as a couple of men yank us into the small, motorized raft.

I don’t see the others with them. Evan, Jeff, and Zev must still be on the yacht. I can’t see much through my blurry eyes.

“Stay down. Don’t try to fight. It’s time you meet our alpha,” a familiar voice says. “This can be easy or hard, but I know you’re a smart group.”

I shudder as I spot Dante sitting next to Sasha, helping to pull the net away from her. He was screwing with us and was never on our side. This was probably his plan all along, getting close only to betray us.

“Fucking traitor,” I snap, trying to yank the net off. Something hits me in the back of the head, igniting pain in me. I fall forward and sprawl across the small seat.

Another man ties me up.

I guess it’s time to find out who this alpha really is. And when I do, I’m going to fuck him up. He’s going to realize that no one messes with me. I’ve been training my whole life for this.

I have nothing to lose. I will take them down, even if it’s the last thing I do.