That was all it took for me to no longer see the man who had been at my side since birth. Who knew everything there was to know about me. Who was there for me when I couldn’t even be there for myself. Who I not only trusted with my life but also withhers.
Six words was all it took for me to do what I never thought I would.
I attacked Kieran.
CHAPTER 4
CASTEEL
I launched myself at Kieran.
And he didn’t do a damn thing as I came at him. I was fast, but with his wolven senses and the newly developed Primal ones, he saw me. He could’ve lifted his hands. Could’ve stepped out of the way. He could’ve done anything.
But he didn’t.
Icy-hot eather pulsed in my veins as I slammed my fist into his jaw, driving him back several feet and down to one knee.
“Fuck,” he gasped, leaning onto his hand as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
My brain had clicked off. I was nothing but violent reaction as I stalked forward and grabbed him by the tunic collar before he could find his footing. Lifting him off the floor, I slammed him into the closed door, cracking the wood. He grunted, his head snapping back. His eyes locked onto mine.
“How?” I ground out, all other voices fading into the background. My chest felt like it had been ripped open. “How could you?” I shouted, lifting him away from the door and slamming him back. “Answer me!”
The eather in Kieran’s eyes brightened in a flash of silvery-gold as he grasped my forearm. “Do you think Iwantedto make that promise? I didn’t, but I—”
“Had to?” I shot back, and his eyes widened slightly, either at the sound of my voice or the laugh that crawled its way out of me. He likely didn’t recognize the darkness in it. The aching coldness and the shadowy undertones. Neither did I. I didn’t give a fuck, though. “Don’t give me that bullshit. You don’t have to do shit you don’t want to do.”
“Really?” Letting go of my arm, Kieran slammed both hands into my chest. I didn’t budge an inch. “Really? I don’t have to do shit I don’t want to do? Better than anyone else, you know that isn’t true. So, you want to rethink that statement?”
“Fuck you,” I spat, the rage inside me taking hold as I stepped back and yanked Kieran from the door. Twisting sharply at the waist, I threw him across the chamber.
“What the—?” Reaver moved out of the way as six feet and some inches came barreling at him.
Kieran twisted in midair and landed in a crouch. His flesh thinned as he rose, a shadow of fawn-colored fur sprouting on his hands and arms.
“I trusted you.” The words tore their way out of me as I prowled toward him. The corners of my vision turned a shadowy crimson, but I was too far gone for that to give me pause. “I trusted you!” The words were like a crack of thunder. “I trusted you, above all others, with her!”
“And she trusted me!” Kieran thundered.
That was the absolute last thing he should’ve said.
The temperature of the chamber dropped as I lunged at him.
A heavy weight crashed into me before I could reach Kieran. I hit the floor on my stomach, hard, the impact knocking the air from my lungs.
“You idiotic fucks,” Reaver snarled. “Do either of you think this is the time for your little bitch fight? And you?” He drove his knee into my back. “You need to control yourself.”
My nostrils flared as I slid my hands under me.
“Get the fuck off him,” Kieran snarled.
“Are you serious right now?” Reaver shifted back, digging his bony-ass knee into my kidney. “Do you want me to let him rip you apart?”
“I want you to mind your own damn business,” Kieran snapped.
“Well, then. I’ll just—”
Pushing up, I tossed Reaver off my back, sending him rolling into Kieran. Their curses were lost in the pounding of blood in my head and the hum of eather in my veins as I shot to my feet. I’d heard Reaver’s words, and the sane part of me knew he was right. This wasn’t the time for this. I needed to get a hold of myself. But as my head snapped toward Kieran, that part was onlysomewhatsane, and the pain of betrayal cut deep, unleashing pure, unbridled rage that shredded what little sanity remained.
