Kill or Be Killed (#1 Eastern Werewolves Pack Series)

A second wolf fell to the floor and breathed heavily as the shot went through his ribcage. He couldn’t shift back to his human form as the sudden movement in the bones could put his life in danger.

Seth’s wolf whimpered in intense pain on the ground as blood flowed out of its gunshot wound. Jaxon didn’t hear his Beta was running to his way because of the loudness of the gunshot earlier.

Zia searched the source of the gunshot before Joshua came out of the darkness and was wielding a shotgun. Jaxon stood before Seth’s wolf to protect his Beta at any cost necessary. Joshua had his gun pointed to the Alpha’s head as he was ready to pull the trigger once and for all. Zia ran and stood before the gun with her arms spread. She didn’t know what made her became this bold to stand before a loaded gun, but she had to. Someone had to stand against Joshua because Samuel wasn’t here to do it anymore. It was up to her to do what felt right.

“Dad, no,” Zia shook her head.

“Zia, step aside!” Joshua ordered her.

“Brody is dying. If we don’t send him to the hospital right now, he’d die.”

He glared at her before he lowered his weapon and turned to Brody who had gone unconscious against the tree. Zia glanced over her shoulder as Joshua walked to the Brody.

“Go now,” she murmured to the two wolves behind her.

She secured her weapons and ran to Brody. She helped Joshua to bring the unconscious man out of the woods. Zia took a final glance at Jaxon’s wolf as there were a few other wolves came to help with the wounded one.

She returned home after had waited nearly three hours in the private clinic that affiliated with Joshua and his business. Brody was given a strict order not to join the business for a few months at least. He suffered several bones fractures and would be bedridden for a few weeks before he’d start his physiotherapy. Zia sat down at her bed and thought about what had happened for tonight. Too many things happened at once and her mind could barely get any grasp of anything.

“Joshua, stop, please!” Laura shouted and pleaded for something before the door of Zia’s bedroom slammed open.

“Leave us!” he growled to his wife who scurried away as if he’d do something regretful to her.

Zia gulped as she came face-to-face with her father once more. She knew that what she did earlier was unexpected and unforgivable in Joshua’s eyes. It was part of the many rules where a hunter should never ever stood before another hunter’s target. Zia had broken many rules ever since she had known Jaxon. She knew that Samuel would have wanted her to do the right thing even if it involved going against Joshua. If Samuel was ready to put his life on the line to fight for what he wanted, then why would she not go to do the same thing?

“What the hell were you thinking earlier?” Joshua demanded.

“If we argued any longer than intended, Brody would have been dead by the time you pulled the trigger!” Zia defended.

Brody was hanging to the last strand of his life by the time they arrived at the private clinic. If they were late by an hour or so, he’d be dead.

“Or maybe you were protecting the mutt!”

“Dad, did you hear yourself? You accused your own daughter!”

“Those mutts killed Samuel and you defended them as if your brother’s death means nothing to you.”

“His death impacted me as much as it did to you. We mourned for him.” Zia grabbed her bag.

“If you walk out of the house to see the mutt, you’re out of this family.”

Zia halted with her feet almost stepped out of her room before she spun around, “What are you doing, dad?”

“You disobeyed my order not once but thrice. I know you went out with the mutt earlier.”

“Are you going to beat me up as you did to Samuel when he refused to kill the woman?”

Joshua’s jaw clenched. Zia knew that her father hated it when someone eavesdropped or sticking their nose into his business. She never spoke about the night she witnessed Samuel got beaten up. She used to think that Joshua wanted them all to involve in the family business to protect themselves and those who couldn’t protect themselves. But, it was much more than just about protecting those they loved.

“Your brother was a weakling, and you’re about to be the same as him.” he spat.

Her hands clenched until her knuckles turned white, “How could you say that about Samuel? Between all of us in this house, he had the biggest heart.”

“Look where it got him. He was buried six foot underground because he failed to pull the trigger.”

“Why did we have to bring up his death in every argument, dad?” Zia sighed. “I’m going to see Brody.”

At least, that didn’t make him said anything else. Zia was tired of arguing with her father and each time he’d bring up about Samuel’s death as if it was her fault that he died on that night.

She didn’t want to think about anything else for tonight. Brody almost lost his life in this profession. Zia understood the danger, but she didn’t want anyone close to her died in vain just because their work was more important than their own life. She drove to the private clinic and went to the room where he was admitted for a few weeks. There were several tubes connected to his body and his left arm was cast. Brody looked like he had been hit by a truck. She didn’t know how it went wrong for him. This was the first time she had seen him injured this bad.

“Hey,” Zia murmured as she stood next to his bed.

Brody opened his eyes and smiled weakly, “I thought you wouldn’t come.”

He raised his right hand to reach for hers and Zia permitted it. There was no need to feel angry at him for what happened a few nights ago. She sat down on the bed, holding his hand.

“What are you saying, Brody? Just because we’re no longer dating, it didn’t mean I’d break our friendship too. How are you feeling?”

“I thought I was hit by a truck.”

“My thought exactly.”

He chuckled but ended up hissing in pain. “Don’t make me laugh, please. It hurts.”

Zia laughed softly, “Whatever you say, Mister. How did it happen, Brody? How did it end this way? Did the Alpha do this to you?”

“Zia, you know I was there when Samuel got killed.”

She froze but nodded regardless. Why everyone was bringing up about Samuel again?

“I remember the eyes of the killer when he killed Samuel.” Brody went out as his eyes focused on her. “That pair of eyes wasn’t part of the werewolves we were hunting tonight.”