Chapter 162

Alyx

After removing his clothes, Alyx let the shift come over him. He fell to his knees, the bones in his body cracking and reforming. Even though many years had passed since his first shift, it still hurt. But it didn't faze him like it did when he was little. A moment later, he stood on four wide paws. His ears twitched as the sounds of the forest washed over him.

Behind him, Jeremy did the same. He nuzzled Alyx’s flank a moment later, wagging his wide tail. Alyx nodded his head at the guards, and the gate opened. He tore out into the forest, Jeremy nipping at his heels.

They started on the usual loop, the ground soft beneath his paws. Snow swirled down from the sky, gathering in his fur, and sticking to the bare branches of the deciduous trees. Tall pines and blue spruce rose to the sky, dotted with bits of snow.

They left paw prints behind them in the thin layer of white, tearing up clouds of it as they tore past. Alyx knew he should be weary of ice, but he was having too much fun.

Jeremy nipped at his heels again, and Alyx growled low in his throat. He ran faster, and Jeremy followed. They were pretty much equal in speed. Equal in most things. Jeremy was just smarter than him, a tad darker.

He had just rounded a corner, slipping between two towering trees, when he picked up the scent. He slowed, his nostrils flaring. Jeremy came to stand beside him, sniffing at the ground. There were boot prints in the snow, leading off between the trees.

Even as a wolf, Alyx grinned, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.

He’d been waiting months for this.

He took off into the trees, Jeremy behind him again. It didn’t take long to catch up with the owner of the prints. He was leaning against a wide tree, snow gathered in his dark hair.

Alyx slid to an abrupt stop, growling low in his throat. Jeremy nearly crashed into him.

Matt cocked his gun, and Alyx pinned his ears. Fuck, he should have been more careful.

“Look who it is,” Matt said, pointing the gun at Alyx, then moving it toward Jeremy. Alyx growled again, bringing his attention back to him.

Matt looked rough. He had a five-o’clock shadow and dark circles beneath his eyes. His skin was pale, and he’d lost weight. His white parka hung limp on his shoulders. A faint bruise stood out on his cheek.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said.

Alyx darted his eyes to the side. Maybe if they made a run for it, they could get out of his line of sight. The gun proved an obvious problem.

“I should’ve done this much sooner,” Matt said, stepping away from the tree. His blue eyes were cold.

Alyx shoved his brother to the side with his shoulder, trying to edge him out of the way. Jeremy snapped at him. Matt just gave a slightly off-kilter smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to execute you, as much as I’d like to. I want Celeste.”

Alyx cocked his head, staring pointedly at the gun.

“Shift and I’ll put it away,” Matt said.

Alyx exchanged a glance with his brother.

“I just want to talk. Face-to-face. No gun.” Matt lowered it but didn’t remove it from his hand. “I want to make a deal.”

Alyx took a step forward and forced the shift to come over him, even though every one of his instincts was roaring at him to stay a wolf. He was a lot more vulnerable as a human.

“Tell your dog to back up a bit,” Matt said.

Icy wind cut across Alyx’s naked skin, leaving goosebumps behind. “Step back,” Alyx said. Jeremy’s hackles were raised, but he took a few steps back.

Matt put his gun back in his holster, but he kept his hand close to it. “I want Celeste back.”

“Oh,” Alyx grinned. “Come to plead?”

Matt frowned. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll drop to my knees and plead. I’ll give myself up. I know Ronan wants me.”

“Why?”

Matt ignored him. “I’ll let you kill me. Just let Celeste go.”

Alyx pretended to think about it. “Alright, plead. I’d like to see you on your knees.”

Matt frowned, but much to Alyx’s surprise, he dropped to his knees in the snow. He looked up at Alyx through his dark lashes, a pinched look on his face. “Please let her go,” he said. His hand drifted further away from his gun. “Please. She’s innocent.”

“I don’t know. I’m not feeling it.”

Matt’s expression broke. It looked like he couldn’t breathe for a moment, and he rubbed his fingers across his chest. Alyx grinned, enjoying every moment of his pain.

“She’s quite the girl, your Celeste. She didn’t put up much of a fight before, but she’s getting better.”

“Please, just let her go. I’ll do anything.”

“Put the gun in the snow, and I will. I can’t negotiate with an armed man.”

Matt’s jaw tightened, but he did what he was told, leaving the snow in the gun beside him.

“Push it to me.”

He did.

Alyx picked up the gun, feeling the weight of it in his hand. Then, before Matt could react, he lifted it and pulled the trigger. Matt flinched but didn’t drop to the ground. Alyx frowned and pulled the trigger again.

“I’m not stupid enough to give you a loaded gun.”

“But you are stupid enough to come here without an actual weapon,” Alyx countered. “You’re never getting Celeste back.”

Matt tensed.

“You know, Ronan wanted me to bring you back alive, but I’d rather just kill you.”

Alyx let the shift come over him. Matt did as well, until they were standing in front of each other, their hackles raised. Matt’s white clothes littered the ground at his feet.

Alyx lunged forward, fast enough to scrape his claws down Matt’s side. He yelped and darted out of the way. Jeremy joined him, latching onto his back with his sharp teeth. Matt moved to the side, trying to shake them off.

Matt caught Jeremy’s front paw in his jaws and bit down hard. The crunch of bone split the air, followed by Jeremy’s deep howl.

He managed to break away from Alyx, taking off into the trees.

They chased after him, Jeremy limping, but managing to keep pace. They were fast, but Matt was much faster. Despite the blood he left in the snow, he managed to outrun them.

Alyx eventually had to slow. He growled, frustrated.

Jeremy panted beside him with his ears pinned back. Blood dripped from his leg, staining the snow a bright crimson. Ronan was going to be so pissed.

They turned and headed back for the compound, taking a wide arc different from their usual routes. The last thing they needed was to be caught unawares again.

When they got back, Alyx and Jeremy shifted. “What are we telling Ronan?” Jeremy asked, studying the wound in his broken arm.

Alyx shrugged. “Something creative.”