Yorick:
My parents did not even know if their plan had worked.
I scread again, the sound tearing out of in pure rage.
I lunged forward and shoved my father aside when he tried to block . My fist collided with Charles’s jaw, and he tumbled away from Mariana.
"Yorick," Mariana whispered.
I glanced at her and saw the concern in her eyes.
"Oh fool, what are you doing?" my mother shrieked as I stepped in front of Charles, blocking him from reaching my mate.
Charles was on his feet again, lunging at Mariana.
I stepped into his path, but his body stretched in a way no human body should. His arm elongated and shot toward . His fist closed around my neck and lifted off the ground.
"No, let go of my mate," Mariana scread at him, straining against the ropes. "You want to eat , right? Then co and eat . Please, do not hurt my mate."
Even as my vision blurred, her words cut through .
Was this what loyal love looked like? Was this what it ant when love ran both ways? She was risking her life for mine.
I drove my elbow down on his forearm and tore his grip loose. As soon as my boots hit the ground, I blocked his next swipe with my forearm and slamd my shoulder into his chest, forcing him back several steps. His skin scraped against mine and it felt so rough and scratchy.
At this point, he was no longer my brother.
He snarled and swung again, but his gaze flicked past to Mariana. He lunged for her.
I jumped onto his back and locked my arm around his throat. Using my weight, I twisted and dragged him down, rolling him across the dirt until he crashed onto his side.
"Move aside, you stupid boy. Let him do it," my father shouted. "Your brother will beco normal. Do you not want that?"
They kept their distance from , but they stayed close enough to ensure Mariana could not free herself.
Charles swiped at my ribs. I caught his wrist midair and shoved him back. His bones felt wrong beneath my grip. He folded low, his towering fra bending inward as he snapped his teeth inches from my face.
"You are not touching my mate," I growled, driving my knee into his abdon.
He staggered, then howled and rushed at again.
We kept colliding, clawing against fist, breath against breath, until my eyes fell on the bags lying near the tree.
The files.
I had read them. There had been one specific detail about my brother. One injection. One poison strong enough to end it.
It would not be easy.
This ti, I let my claws slide free. I slashed across his stomach and raked upward, tearing through rough skin until blood poured down his torso. He stumbled back, howling in pain.
I had seconds to think.
My parents rushed toward Charles, then hesitated, fear keeping them from getting too close. My father suddenly turned and ran toward .
"What are you doing?" he demanded as he saw reach for the bag and pull out a needle.
"No," he shouted when he understood.
"Jill, stop Yorick while I help Charles get closer to Mariana," my mother scread.
My father obeyed her at once. He lunged at , not to kill, but to knock out so they could finish this while I lay unconscious.
Before his punch could land, I caught his wrist and twisted it hard.
A sharp cry tore from his throat. I glanced at my mother. Fear filled her eyes.
She understood then.
I was not giving them another chance.
"Have you lost your mind?" my mother scread. "You are going to hurt your father for that bitch? Have you not already lost one mate and found another?"
She kept her distance from Charles. Fear held her back even as she turned toward my father.
Charles rose again. This ti, he moved faster.
He lunged toward Mariana, my innocent mate who had been dragged into this nightmare.
I had promised her last night that I would keep her safe.
My parents had always found a way to ruin anything good in my life. This ti, I would not let them.
I rushed at Charles and raised the needle to strike. Before I could drive it into him, he spun and swung his arm into my chest.
Pain exploded through my ribs.
I crashed to the ground and struggled to breathe. When I forced my head up, I saw Mariana had sohow freed herself.
Charles had her.
He gripped her face with both hands and pressed hard against her skull. I saw her eyes begin to redden.
"No, no, no," I roared as I forced myself onto my feet.
I stopped thinking.
I charged him and drove the needle straight into his back.
He jerked and his fingers loosened. His hold on Mariana’s face weakened until it vanished completely.
She dropped to her knees.
I shoved Charles aside and caught her from behind, pulling her away from him. I wrapped my arms around her and held her against my chest as her body trembled.
Behind us, chaos broke loose.
My brother collapsed to his knees and scread in agony while my mother stared at him, horror spreading across her face.
"What have you done?" my mother cried as she dropped beside Charles, who was writhing on the ground like a fish out of water.
It was not easy for to watch him like that.
I loosened my hold on Mariana and turned away, covering my face because I could not bear the sight.
"It’s okay," Mariana murmured as she stepped closer to comfort .
I turned back to embrace her, but as I did, my gaze caught my mother standing behind her with a silver dagger in her hand, already lunging forward.
"No," I shouted.
Mariana spun around and caught my mother’s wrist before the blade could land, twisting it sharply so the dagger turned toward her instead, and within seconds they were struggling against each other.
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