Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Kyra’s POV
"How dare a lone wolf film my mate!" Nathan’s voice was a guttural growl, his wolf flashing in his brown eyes. But I felt nothing except bitter disappointment.
’He knew how dangerous Chris was,’ Sylvia snarled. ’Yet he used you as bait!’
I angrily wiped my tears. "I don’t fcking care who he is, Nathan. He violated my privacy. Stole my personal things and creeped me out. I won’t wait for a chance. I will do anything I can to put him behind bars immediately!"
"Kyra—"
"You call yourself my mate? My best friend?" I yanked my wrist from his grip. "What a joke."
He gritted his teeth as rage flickered in his eyes. He rushed to the studio, and I just watched him with balled fists.
’Let him go,’ Sylvia muttered. ’We’re done waiting for his protection.’
I took a taxi home. I shouldn’t count on him anymore. If Nathan wouldn’t keep me safe, I’d protect myself.
***
I stared at the television playing the news. Chris Parker, arrested. His face was a mess of bruises—clearly, Nathan had unleashed his wolf on him.
’Took him long enough,’ Sylvia huffed.
See? He could have handled it quickly if he’d wanted to. He just never put in his best before. I was never that important to him.
The report mentioned "undisclosed charges." The public speculated wildly, but only I knew the truth: stalking, stealing, filming, and invasion of privacy.
My phone buzzed. Another message from that unknown number—probably my father. I ignored it. I didn’t want to talk to him, but he kept insisting on meeting. I had already removed him from my life the moment he betrayed me and chose his other family. He had been the perfect father to me until I learned about his sins.
"Every man we trust betrays us," Sylvia whispered bitterly. "First him, now Nathan."
I drifted off, exhausted, and fell asleep on the couch when the main door opened violently.
"What the hell are you doing, Nathan?" I angrily questioned him.
He grabbed my wrist. "We have to go. Now. Your father warned my mother—you’re not safe here."
"Wha—"
Gunfire shattered the windows.
"DOWN!" Sylvia screamed.
Nathan tackled me behind the overturned couch as bullets riddled the walls. His body shielded mine completely, his wolf’s growl vibrating through his chest.
"Move!" he ordered.
We bolted for the emergency exit, his arm locked around me. But in the parking lot, a pack of rogues on motorcycles blocked our path.
’Moon Goddess,’ Sylvia panicked. ’They’re not just humans—they’re wolves!’
Nathan snapped his fingers. From the shadows, our pack warriors emerged, clashing with the rogues.
"Who sent them?" I gasped as Nathan shoved me into the car.
"What the hell is going on, Nathan? Who are they? Why are they here at my house?"
"I don’t know who sent them, but clearly they intend to harm you. Your father wants to tell you, but he can’t reach you."
My father? I finally remembered those calls I’d ignored. I tried to find my phone, but it all happened too suddenly.
"Oh god, I left my phone in my condo."
"Don’t worry, my phone is right here. Just use it," Nathan reminded me as he drove. With the next turn, we’d be onto Coastal Avenue. I quickly grabbed his phone.
"What’s the pass—?" My breath caught as the screen unlocked instantly to our mating date. He hadn’t changed it.
’After everything... he still kept it,’ Sylvia whispered, her voice tangled between pain and longing.
The cab of the truck grew thick with silence. Nathan finally spoke, his voice raw.
"I’m sorry... Kyra." His brown eyes flickered to mine, his wolf’s grief swirling in their depths. "I should’ve torn Chris apart the second I suspected him. I should’ve protected you better. I—" His voice broke. "Please don’t leave me."
"Nathan..." His name left my lips like a wounded thing.
"I can’t lose you." His hand twitched toward mine but didn’t quite bridge the gap. "Not again."
I turned away, throat tight. "We’ll talk later. I need to call—"
My finger pressed the call button when a rogue’s truck rammed us from behind.
’Kyra! KYRA!’ Sylvia’s panicked howls.
The impact sent us careening. Nathan shifted just enough to wrap his arms around me, his body taking the brunt as we slammed into the dashboard. The collision was so strong that the car hit the barricade and flipped over.
My wolf vision sharpened as we rolled, every detail painfully clear—shattered glass, twisted metal, the smell of gasoline and blood.
When I realized we had landed in the water and were about to drown, Nathan had lost consciousness. Blood matted his dark hair. "Nathan!" I shook him, my claws pricking his jacket. My enhanced hearing picked up his slow heartbeat.
Water poured in fast. I snarled as I fought with the seatbelt, my claws tearing at it. The freezing water reached my waist.
Then the cramp hit—a terrible pain in my belly. My wolf howled inside me. No! My pup! The water kept rising, covering Nathan’s still face. I grabbed his arm with my last strength as everything went dark.
