The Keeper dropped his hands, and I swung my fist, connecting with his jaw. The momentum of the hit sent him backward a couple of steps. I felt powerful as I gave in to my senses. It sped through me like a lightning bolt as I kicked the Keeper in the stomach. This sent him flying back onto the ground.
In an instant I felt myself shift and I stood in my werewolf form, growling at the injured Keeper who was struggling to get to his feet. His eyes, still red from the wolfsbane, took in my sharp teeth. There was fear.
In a moment I took in the dark fur of my paws before I pushed forward, intent on protecting the people I loved. And the only way to do that was to kill the enemy.
There was only one goal and no deviation as I sank my teeth into his arm and ripped. Again and again. Blood dripped from my mouth as I ripped into his stomach and then into his leg.
Stop,Kyle instructed. The drive to kill wasn't easily distracted and I bit the Keeper again. This time he didn't move to fight back or cry out in pain.
Stop, Crystal. He's dead,Kyle yelled.
I closed my eyes tightly, trying to rein in the need to shred him to pieces. I felt the touch that calmed me enough to take a step back before I opened my eyes and looked up at Kyle.
"Why…" Travis tried to talk. I swung my gaze to him.
Flynn still had him up against the wall, tightening his hold on his throat. A Keeper lay at the feet of Harrison, dead or unconscious. I saw Hayden put the other Keeper down with a series of hits and a kick. As I looked at James, Kyle hurried to him.
"Check Bay," James instructed even though he was in so much pain.
Kyle rushed to check on her.
"Bay," he said, but there was no response.
At the sound of her name, Flynn looked back at Kyle while he looked over Bay with growing concern.
Travis was struggling but Flynn cut off his air supply, looking back only to watch the merciless Keeper die. I watched as Flynn finished him off and when his eyes were fixed, unseeing, Flynn released him and his body fell to the ground with a thump.
Flynn flexed his hand as he turned to face me. I growled at him and he hesitated. Despite his actions, I didn't trust him.
"Stop, Crystal." This time it was Harrison. He stood beside me and placed his hand on my head.
Flynn walked to Kyle, who was checking Bay's pulse.
Relief flooded through my mate's features. "She's alive."
"Can you change back?" Harrison asked me.
I had no idea. I hadn't even consciously made the decision to shift into my wolf. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm my rampant emotions as the adrenaline still kicked through my body.
"That's it," my father soothed.
My body began to change but there was no pain. I felt weak, my skin sensitive to the touch of my clothes, as I tried to stand up.
"I've got you," my father said, putting a supporting arm around me.
"What happened?" I asked, feeling like I had been watching on fast-forward and had no idea how it had happened. Hayden looked down at the Keeper he'd taken down without remorse.
"Hayden?" I questioned.
"Hayden is like me," my father said. "He knows the truth." Hayden's eyes met mine and for the first time his gaze wasn't hard and unforgiving.
"And Flynn?" I asked. Flynn was still standing beside Kyle, looking down at Bay. I had been convinced he had been on the enemy's side. He had been about to kill James. Had I missed something? Had that been part of Harrison's plan?
"He is one of us now."
So Flynn had been the enemy, and now, whether he believed it or not, he was with us.
"You guys need to get out of here now before the other Keepers get back," Harrison instructed.
