A Howling Heart
Chapter forty-two

Fae's

POV.

"Just take me... spare Matias." It's a simple request in my eyes. Matias will suffer the consequences of the curse because we have not properly mated yet, he will be weakened, vulnerable, but still will have a chance at surviving if he could just accept it and move on, if Nate wouldn't pursue him after I'm dead.

It sounds far-fetched, but I'm holding on for dear life to this fantasy that Matias, at least him, if it has to be one of us, can walk away from this unscathed in the physical sense. Let fate tear me away from any future tomorrow but fill his tomorrows until he's old until he's gray. My mother may be sick now, but she did live a good life for a while there. That's better than living no life at all.

Nate begins to shake his head when I hold out my hands for him to wait. For a moment, I feel like a toddler wanting to be held the way he stares at me with annoyance. I let my arms drop down to my sides and clenched my hands into fists. "Wait a minute, wait. If you kill me, we won't mate, and he won't become alpha... but he will still be able to live for many years until he succumbs to the curse. Just take me. Just kill me and spare him."

Nate laughs maniacally, and the sound climbs the walls until I'm completely surrounded by the madness of it. The condescending tune makes my blood boil. Heat fills me, making a path for rage as he finishes his assault with some unkind words.

"You think your life is valuable enough to keep me from killing the Alpha?"

He runs a hand over his face, his expression falling and now I know that he just views me as a burden that's taking up space in his precious life.

"You are worthless. Killing you in front of him is just the icing on the cake. Don't waste my time with this garbage petition."

He goes to leave again, but I don't want to be empty-handed. This will all have been for nothing. All of it. I will die, Matias will die. All of this arguing and fighting and falling in love and finally hoping for a destiny that has us together will have been for naught. I can't let that happen! I can't let our bloodline end here! Not happening!

I have to do something to help Matias! Anything!

If I can get out of this room, maybe he'll be able to sense me if I make a run for it... or if I can attack Nate with something!

Ugh!

I hate being helpless! Maybe if I was already a Luna, already having transformed into my wolf form then I could take on this kind of strength. It's too bad... I'm screwed...

Absolutely screwed.

A loud crash makes Nate's head jerk sideways, the door opens as he moves into the hallway to look for whatever has created that noise. It is the perfect distraction. God must be on my side today! I decide now is my chance. He's unguarded, a bit disoriented and fearful that it is Matias already. I pray it is!

I'm not going down without a fight. I won't be shot like a dog in a cage.

I run for it, moving past the door to the left, away from Nate. I hear him curse behind me before I feel him running after me. The sensation of being chased causes the hairs on my body to stand on end and nausea to spike inside of me as I run as hard and fast as I can.

"Matias! Can you hear me? Please!" Desperately, I tug at our soul bond, screaming at him in my head.

It's silent, so I run farther. I know I'm running out of time as the seconds cruise by, and within the next few meters, I'm tackled to the ground, my head smacking against the ground hard. That's when I hear a growl and another set of footsteps pounding against the creaky floorboards until I see him as he runs smack into Nate, knocking him down the hall to the ground.

Relief washes over me. "M-matias. You found me. You found me...." My voice is a raspy sound as I fade in and out of consciousness.

I will not fall asleep.

Not until I know Matias is fine.

I will fight.

Right alongside him.

I pull myself upward, unsteady, as I sway sideways gently.

Just as I look up, Nate and Matias deliver punches to one another. I cry out when Nate manages to kick Matias in the chest, and he stumbles backward into the wall.

"You think you're all mighty and powerful. Do you think you're worthy of being the Alpha? Your uncle thought the same, and I almost killed him. All it took was a little poking and prodding to some of the members of the Amoux pack and your uncle being in the right place at the right time. Thank God for this renewed strength now that his failed mate has returned, and there's the potential for a true bond to be formed... not that I'll allow one."

Matias growls. "It was you! You demented, twisted piece of-"

"Save it. Now I will kill your mate in front of you, and when you feel the pain she felt as the life faded out of her, I will kill you too."

Nate hurries toward me, withdrawing a knife from his pocket as Matias tries to straighten himself and run after him, but the blow has dwindled his reflexes momentarily. He can't catch up. Nate's hovering above me with the knife. I'm going to die.

Matias...

His voice is in my head again.

"No!"

"I love you."

The words are out of my mouth, and they've never felt so true in my entire life. Nate grabs hold of my hair and presses the blade to my throat; the steel stings as he digs it into my flesh and begins pulling it across my throat. "No!" Matias's scream is the last thing I hear before the dizziness and pain take over, and I fall into darkness once more.