by Fel Fern
Charity tried to keep her hands from shaking, desperately searching for other avenues of escape, but there was none. The closer Alberto and his men came, the harder it was to formulate a plan, let alone think. Shit. Why had she underestimated Risa time and time again?
Risa was nothing like Ragan. With no morals or honor, Charity should’ve known Risa would resort to anything to get her away. Risa wouldn’t hesitate to write off a task to someone else if she thought it was beneath her.
That made Charity pissed for some reason. It enraged the lioness inside her, but Charity couldn’t count on the beast to save her. Taking on three powerful werecats even if she could shift was a definite game ender. From somewhere nearby, she heard the sound of a caw, a raven heralding her doom maybe? Jesus. Her imagination was running wild.
“That’s what I always liked about you, Charity. You’re such a goddamn challenge, a prize worthy of having. Soon enough we’re going to wipe that prissy arrogant look off your face, though.”
Charity’s gaze swept to her knife for a moment. Maybe ending her own life would be the better option. The thought of a quick death certainly sounded more tempting than the slow, torturous rape-and-murder combo Alberto and his men promised.
“Charity, do you want to die so badly?” London once asked her. Back when she became his captive the notion certainly appealed, but not now when she had so much to lose. She gritted her teeth, silently berating herself. Thoughts of suicide fled. Charity was better than this. London and Ferus believed she had steel in her spine, thought she was wonderful and brave.
She squeezed her eyes painfully for a few seconds. What made her decide to deal with this on her own, when she had two wonderful supportive mates on her side?
Charity knew the answer to that one. They wouldn’t understand. Ferus and London might think they knew what they were up against, but only Charity knew what her family had been capable of. Her father and Risa would never stop hunting or targeting her mates. They’d make up lies, paint London and Ferus as monsters who took a Vivaldi, a reject, but a Vivaldi nonetheless, against her will.
“Most werecats would turn their noses at seconds left behind by mutts, but pussy is pussy to me.”
Charity opened her eyes.
“Small wonder no decent werecat in her right mind would volunteer to fuck you even when mating season comes around.” Oh God. Charity needed to shut up, but her mouth kept on running on her. “You’re not man enough for it, since you can’t even handle one flawed shifter yourself.”
Alberto growled, his eyes turning catlike yellow, his body shaking, on the verge of shifting.
“Calm down, boss,” one of the goons hissed, but Alberto ignored him.
Somewhere a bird cawed again. Okay, Charity hadn’t been imagining it. Hope and slight annoyance flickered inside her. A black small blur launched itself from somewhere above the wall behind her, a crow screeching, talons sinking directly over Alberto’s eyes.
“Aubrey!” Charity shouted in alarm.
Alberto howled, swatting his hands at his face and missing each time. “Get this fucking thing off me!”
“Hold still, boss.”
“You fucking hold off. I can’t bloody see anymore.”
His large hand managed to swat Aubrey off. Not wasting the precious seconds Aubrey brought her, Charity broke into a run, swiftly catching Aubrey before she fell.
“Idiot, you could’ve been killed,” Charity hissed at the bundle of feathers cradled in her hands. No response. Aubrey remained unconscious in her arms. Shit. Charity would rather die first then let her friend come to harm for her sake.
Alberto cursed behind her. “Fucking get her. Don’t let the traitorous bitch take another step closer to Vivaldi territory!”
Heavy footsteps and grunts thumped from behind her, before they turned to the sound of paws and snarls. Charity’s chances of outrunning men were good. Her body was in top form as a result of all those morning runs around the Scavos estate with Ferus and London, but against a few shifted mountain lions? Her chances dwindled painfully to zero.
Panting hard, Charity forced the aching muscles of her legs, terrified of the growls soon closing in on her. She zigzagged and passed a maze of side streets and alleyways, occasionally passing by the occasional seedy denizens that came out at night. Pimps, drug dealers, and whores plied their trade on this side of Vivaldi territory, and all of them, in some way or another, were under the pockets of her family. None of them would help her. Charity was on her own.
Thank God, she knew the layout of the area by heart. The secret corners and shortcuts not many knew, courtesy of her father, who send her so often on unsavory tasks. How ironic.
She became certain of one thing. If she wanted to survive, she needed to get off the road. Charity broke from a maze of side roads into a low mid-residential area. Spotting a rider getting off his bike on the curb, she didn’t hesitate. She sprinted toward him, tucking the still-unconscious crow shifter into her pocket as she ran.
“Sorry about this, pal.” She easily pilfered his keys, shoved him aside, and started revving the engine before he could react.
“What the—” he exclaimed, but she ignored him.
Slight pain traveled up her leg, a claw digging into her calf, but thankfully the bike roared to life, easily shaking off her pursuer. A frustrated roar of rage came from behind her, followed by paws skating on road gravel, but the bike easily outran them.
“Fuck. I actually did it,” she whispered to herself. The night wind caressed her face, her momentary victory quickly dissipating at the reminder the night was far from over. Sticky blood seeped from the scratch on her leg, putting her at a further disadvantage. “Making it to the Vivaldi main house in one piece would be a bloody miracle at this rate.”
A muffled, suspiciously annoyed caw came from her pocket. Charity sighed. “You better stay in there. I plan to drop you off somewhere safe.”
Thankfully, Aubrey remained quiet. She steered the bike to the roads leading to the more lavish residential areas of Stocoma City. Similar to the lavish neighborhood where House Scavos housed their enormous estate, House Vivaldi’s main house stood on top of a hill. The shifter guards posted at the front gate seemed to be expecting her arrival, because they didn’t give her much trouble.
“Getting in is the easiest bit. Getting out is hardest,” Charity murmured. Aubrey cawed in agreement. Charity parked the bike by the enormous fountain in front of the main door. While most of the lights in the giant Victorian remained open, she sensed few shifters lingering around. “Explains why Risa would challenge me now. Most of the family must be on some kind of retreat or meeting, or something.”
Charity gingerly swung her leg off the bike, wincing as another bolt of pain traveled up her thigh. Aubrey managed to free herself from her pocket and settled for squawking at her angrily from her shoulder. “You’re not going to leave, are you?” Charity asked. She let out a breath. “Fine, but you better stay out of sight.”
Aubrey swiftly disappeared under the branches of a nearby oak. Charity looked up at her friend.
“If I fail, will you pass Ferus and London a message? That I…” Charity faltered, unsure how to continue. What she would tell them? She swallowed the painful lump in her throat. “Tell them I’m sorry, and that I’m thankful, for them loving me.”
Aubrey didn’t respond, but Charity knew she heard her words. Certain Aubrey would deliver her message, she turned to the house. Aubrey cawed in warning and Charity smacked into a broad chest. Charity’s entire body tensed, but before she could enter into a fighting stance, someone grabbed her shoulders.
“Easy. Easy there, little sister.”
Charity blinked at the calm voice and at the man that spoke them. It took her a second to place Ren, one of her brothers and Ragan’s twin. Quiet and unassuming, Ren had been one of her siblings Charity seldom saw. Uninterested in politics, power, or any involvement with the family business, Ren had left the house the moment he turned eighteen. Charity
had never seen him since. Like his twin, he was one of the few family members who cared about her.
“Ren?” She asked, wondering if she imagined him, but the reassuring squeeze on her shoulder told her Ren was real. “What are you doing here?”
“Ragan called me. She’s currently out of the city with father, River, and Red.” Ren named Charity’s two other elder siblings. “She suspected Risa might be plotting something, and she was right.”
“You came on Ragan’s behalf?” Charity asked with visible relief.
Ren shook his head, his dark green eyes uncommonly lit with an emotion she couldn’t place. “Yes and no. I came back for a variety of reasons. Father dying, trying to keep our brothers and sisters from ripping one another apart, and most importantly, I came back to make sure you didn’t get yourself killed. I haven’t been the best of brothers, but I’m here now. If I can’t convince you to back out from the fight, I will fight in your stead.”
Touched, Charity shook her head. “I’m sorry, Ren. While I appreciate you having my back, this is my fight.”
To her surprise, Ren warily smiled at her. “Ragan told me the same. Would you let me stay as your second?”
Charity nodded. She needed someone to guard her back, and despite Ren’s absence, she knew he’d stand by his words. Ren glanced at the tree where Aubrey hid. “Your friend may come if she wishes. She wouldn’t be harmed.”
She didn’t bother asking how he knew Aubrey was there. Ren hadn’t been the best fighter or the most powerful shifter among her seven siblings, but he’d always been the most observant. Charity gave a curt nod to Aubrey, who elected to follow them in the background.
They didn’t head inside the house, much to Charity’s relief. Walking the old hallways, corridors, and rooms would only summon old memories and distract her when she needed her mind sharp. Not all her memories of the place were bad. Still. Charity might have grown up in this house, but it had never been her home.
“Charity, can I ask you something?” Ren asked as they made their way around back, to the challenge circle where most personal duels and disputes were settled.
“Sure.” Charity sounded calm and confident, but inside, she was a mess of emotions.
“Why agree to Risa’s challenge in the first place? From what Ragan tells me, you seem…content, happy, even with your wolf mates. London Scavos is high up on the Scavos hierarchy. He’d take you under his protection.”
“Everyone keeps asking me that.” Charity steadied her breathing. Alberto must have informed Risa of his failure, because Risa waited by the challenge circle with some of her men. “You know father and Risa. Do you think they can let this one go? I’ve lived with the knowledge I was an unimportant chess piece, but I’d rather die than let them use me as leverage.”
“You’ve grown, little sister,” Ren said a little sadly.
“Ren, what are you doing?” Risa hissed, seeing them. “Did Ragan send you?”
“I’m just an observer, Risa. No need to throw a tantrum.”
Risa bared her teeth at Ren, then turned her attention to Charity, leveling her emerald gaze and showing Charity the bright hatred there. “Today you die, bitch.”
“We’ll see.”
“Brave words, but unlike before, words would not save you.” Risa sneered, walking to the edge of the circle.
Charity did the same. Ren clasped her shoulder, and silently wished her luck. From the nearby trees, Charity spotted Aubrey perching on one of the branches. Charity closed her fingers over the handle of the knife Aubrey gave her and silently prayed her friend could give an account of her end that would make Ferus and London proud.
“You know what I’ve never been able to figure out is why you hate me so much. I mean, you wanting me dead because I mated the enemy is one thing, but you’ve always wanted me dead,” Charity drawled. “Am I allowed to carry weapons with me this time?”
“I don’t care what weapon you use,” Risa spat. “As for why you deserve to die? Mating with wolves isn’t enough. You’re a taint that needs to disappear, and I’ll end you if father cannot.”
“That simple, huh?”
Risa had enough of trading words. She peeled off her clothes and began to shift. Before she finished changing forms, Charity made her move. Knife in hand, she ran and tackled Risa to the ground. They tangled, but Charity rolled away when claws raked at her clothes. Breathing hard, Charity got back to her feet and eyed the golden mountain lioness a few feet from her. Tables turned, Risa leaped at her, teeth snapping. Charity barely managed to wedge her knife between her teeth, crying out when Risa’s claws sunk into her chest and abdomen.
Somewhere, she heard Aubrey give a protesting caw and her brother letting out a gasp. It would only take seconds before her arm gave out, and Risa would sink her canines into her throat. Charity reached out for her caged lioness, but like the hundred other times, the beast refused to come to her aid. Unfair. Why was the outcome always like this?
Anger surged inside her veins. The desperate will to live poured into every fiber of her being, screaming at her to do something, anything. Didn’t she badly want to live, now that she’d found her mates?
Didn’t she want to return to Ferus and London? She owed them an apology and explanations, but Charity knew they’d only tuck her between their arms. It’s okay, kitten. We understand, and we forgive you, just promise to be always honest with us from now on, okay? she could almost hear Ferus saying. London would be pissed, but he’d eventually cave in and even ask her if she wanted her favorite milkshake and ball of yarn.
God. Breathing unexpectedly hurt.
“Get off me,” Charity growled.
Energy poured into her legs, enough for her to kick at Risa’s belly. Risa snarled, releasing her claws, and Charity used the distraction to put some distance between her and her murderous sister. Pain flared from the wounds where Risa’s claws had sunk in, but Charity hardly cared about a little pain. “Screw this. I’m going to live.”
Risa let out a furious roar, leaping at her again, but Charity dodged this round. She knew she wouldn’t be lucky the next time. No matter how much anger clouded Risa’s human mind and her beast took over, she was simply too fast and deadly. Eventually, she’d land a lucky strike and it would be the end.
Charity, for some reason, found herself yanking at the mate marks linking her to Ferus and London. She felt them on the other end, not hesitating to lend her strength.
Adrenaline sang through her veins, although she barely whirled at Risa’s next attack. Claws raked at her injured leg, but they weren’t fatal. Only scratches.
What the hell. She reached out for her beast again and to her shock, the lioness responded. Growling, clawing at its spiritual prison, Charity saw London and Ferus’s wolves in her mind’s eye. Saw them flank themselves protectively on either side of her lioness, surely leading her.
Charity dropped the knife. A scream tore out of her throat. Bones crunched, skin tore, and the change took her for the first time. Damn but it hurt, but soon didn’t matter though. Pain soon ebbed away to give way to something that had been denied Charity her entire life. Power, savage and unyielding, coursed through her as she hit the ground on all four paws. Risa egged at her desperately again, but Charity had finished shifting.
Risa came alarmingly close, going for her throat, but found empty air instead. Charity danced away with ease, marveling at the speed with which she moved, frowning at Risa’s clumsy movements. Charity fainted again, letting Risa come close to her sphere of attack, only to dodge and sink in her claws and teeth. Tumbling over her back, Risa shrieked in pain. She screeched again when Charity sunk her claws into the tender fur of her belly.
Triumph. Had Charity really been afraid of this petty and weak creature? All of Risa’s men tensed on the outside circle, torn between defending their boss and upholding the rules of the challenge circle. Interrupting a fight would lead to the worse kind of punishment for any Vivaldi lion—exile.
“I suggest you men t
ake a short coffee break. The outcome has been decided,” Ren said. Despite being absent most of the time, Ren still pulled rank. The men traded looks with one another, before bolting like cowards back in the house.
Charity’s gaze fastened on Risa’s throat. So easy to tear it out with one brutal yank of her teeth, and her beast wanted to. Ending Risa ensured she could no longer hurt London, Ferus, or her.
“Charity, it’s done. You’ve won.” It took Charity a second to realize Ren spoke, and had repeated his sentence a few times. “You’re better than her, than all of us. Prove it by letting her live.”
Charity snarled in disagreement. Softhearted Ren could never understand, and since when she had been better than any of them? Her lioness seethed with rage, and strangely began to calm down, sensing her mates nearby.
Charity knew she’d regret it, but Ren was right. Killing Risa out of petty vengeance would continue to hound her conscience afterward. Just as she retracted her claws, about to get off Risa, her sister pounced on her, reversing their positions. The murderous look in Risa’s eyes told Charity plenty.
Before Charity could curse herself for being so stupid, something gray, large, and furry rammed into Risa, separating her from Charity. Charity forced herself back to her feet, recognition sweeping through her at the abnormally large wolf. London didn’t hesitate. He tore out Risa’s throat in one quick and efficient jerk.
Another wolf rubbed at her golden fur. Ferus nudged at her side, touching her muzzle with his in reassurance. London soon joined them, tongue darting out to lick at Charity’s nose. Annoyed, Charity pawed at him, but that only made him rumble. Staying mad at them for interfering seemed hard to do.
“I don’t want to interrupt, but you three need to get out of here. Things are about to go downhill from now on,” Ren said, holding out his hands in surrender when both Ferus and London growled at him. He looked Charity in the eye, gaze softening with familiar brotherly affection. “I always knew you had it in you. Go on. All anyone needs to know is that you managed to shift and best Risa. No one needs to know one of the alphas of House Scavos interrupted the duel. Ragan would back me up, and River, too, I think.”