And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

"There's no point in having him blindfolded. He can't communicate with them anyway; plus, it'll be a lot more fun having him watch us prepare to destroy his pack."

The sadistic comment from the man to my right, the burly one with the scar, and he stared at me with hatred. I wasn't afraid of him, though. Only one thing could scare me, and it wasn't anywhere near me right now. If I got free, he would be the first one I ripped apart simply for thinking he could fuck my mate as if she would actually allow it.

"You really must compensate for that tiny dick you have. Sitting there talking and thinking about raping a woman," I spat. "Not to mention you have a death grip on the knife like you think you will actually use it on me. He'd kill you for that."

His eyes widened as his jaw clenched, his knuckles turning white against the blade's hilt. Before he could even say a word, though, the other man quickly hit me again, and eventually, black spots invaded my vision, causing me to slip into darkness. "Fucking let him watch. It'll be more fun seeing the terrified expression in his eyes when he realizes he's going to die." One of the men said, his voice getting shallower and shallower until they tossed me into absolutely nothing.

*******

I wasn't sure how long I was out, but as I slowly came to, I realized one thing.

We had stopped moving, and I was not alone in the van.

Fear crept through me, wondering if we had made it to my back yet. If we were here, and my people were dying.

However, approaching footsteps caused my mind to calm a little as the door opened, showing Alokaye and Allison standing before me. His eyes trained on me with a smirk.

"Good, you're awake. It's time to prepare for the final event."

"What are you doing? This is absolutely ridiculous. There are innocent people behind those borders," I snapped at him, rage showing on my face as the effects of the silver slowly dissipated in my veins.

However, not enough for me to be able to fight back properly.

"That is their problem. They chose their side," Allison sneered as she placed her hands on her hips. "Plus, they're not the goal that we want. It's that stupid little bitch you call a mate I want."

Chuckling to myself, I shook my head. "You have no idea what you're messing with regarding her. She will kill you all."

I was warning them, hoping they would heed that warning and turn back and realize how foolish they have been, but that was not the case. Instead, they were going to continue pressing forward and learn how unforgiving my brothers could be. "She can try. She is nothing compared to me."

Alokaye turned to her with a narrowed gaze and shook his head. "You're foolish to underestimate her, Allison. She will kill you."

He knew it to be true, and thinking about her now, a pit of guilt formed in my stomach.

All I wanted was one more kiss, one more night with her, one more chance to tell Ivy how sorry I was and how much I loved her. Instead, I was dragged from the van, put on my feet, and forced to walk. I knew what was coming as if the fates had sent out a calling song to take me home.

Walking and walking, my feet crunched against the dirt and gravel on the ground. The men of the Council were both dressed and, in their wolf forms, and slowly maneuvered through the woods towards my border.

I knew by now my brothers would have had the guards on full alert, and I would have prayed they heeded my warnings and taken serious precautions.

Goddess knows, though, I had given them plenty of guidance on what we would do in case of an attack, and Talon being the man that he was... knew what to do.

Talon wasn't like the rest of us. He was murderous, and his Lycan had a taste for blood far surpassing anything I had ever seen. He would fight to protect what was his until his last dying breath.

"We're closing in on the border," one warrior said softly as he approached Alokaye and Allison, who stood with smiles on their faces.

Casting his gaze up towards the sky, Alokaye smiled brightly. "It's almost time."

"What is?" I snapped with worry.

He turned to me with a wicked grin and laughed. "We cannot proceed properly until she is present." Turning from me, he smiled at the warrior. "Let them know that we're here. Let them know that I have arrived."

Shock filled me, realizing just how serious this was and exactly what would happen. They were going to be awoken in the middle of the night; unprepared, unaware, and Ivy, my children, they all were going to suffer because of this because I allowed the Council to get me.

This was all my fault.

"No!" I cried out, trying to break free. Trying to get word to them to be prepared.

There was not much fight left in me, and now with every piece to the puzzle fitting together, I could have a little more clarity. I was the bait to get to Ivy. I was the sacrifice they were going to make.

I wasn't sure why I was being

sacrificed... but nothing was done under this moon unless ritual. Something big was brewing,

and

with me being incapable of bet

anything, my people and my pack's fate were literally in the hands of my brothers and my mate.

Goddess, protect them.