isPc
isPad
isPhone
The Alpha’s Bullied Mate (Bluebell Valley Wolves #1) Chapter 30 - Hayden 81%
Library Sign in

Chapter 30 - Hayden

Monroe’s tail swished back and forth, threads of red light weaving through his fur. Hayden bristled, catching the movement. That tail was broken and useless just moments ago. Was the demon healing Monroe’s body? Or was the body already dead, and the demon was still somehow managing to puppet it?

You’re tough, I’ll give you that, the voice in his head purred. I like that. It’s no fun breaking someone without spirit. Do you know how easy it was to take this one? I’d grown used to the Alphas of Bluebell Valley being weak. If you had challenged Monroe instead of running off to join the special ops, I might never have gotten such a foothold as I already have.

Hayden sprang at him, but even as they clashed, the deep chime of the gong rang out. Monroe easily disengaged and winked before heading back to his side. Hayden had to resist the urge to jump on his back. No doubt he would see it coming.

One of Hayden’s paws was bleeding heavily, leaving a trail in the dust behind him. He felt as though every inch of him had been raked over a bed of nails. How much more of this could he take? He limped back to where Finn waited for him. The fight was tearing through his last reserves, but he wasn’t going to give up.

Something had to change, though. He needed his team’s help.

Do you really think they can save you, Hayden? It’s too late. I have what I want. You can keep fighting, but it won’t do you any good.

Hayden let out a soft snarl. If this damn demon would just shut up for five fucking seconds, he might figure out what to do. He got to where the team waited on shaking legs. His body was taking one hell of a beating.

As soon as he shifted to human form, he growled, “They know.”

Finn handed him fresh water. “Know what?”

Before Hayden could answer, the screeching of car tires made him look up. Mica, clutching an old white pail in her arms, jumped from the car. Elin and Tess were quick to follow her. They tried to pull her back, but she snarled, sounding almost wolf-like, and shoved them back.

Hayden repressed a snarl of his own. Even though his thoughts were consumed with wanting to see her, he didn’t want her to see him like this!

“Stop her,” he breathed.

Finn strode toward Mica. She yanked the lid off her pail and grabbed a handful of the glistening white powder inside.

“I have salt,” she cried, holding up her handful of salt. Her red hair whipped around her, fanning in the wind. She looked like a warrior queen. “You can’t say that I need to protect myself as a reason to kick me out. Hayden—”

Finn stepped up to her, blocking her view of him. They murmured to each other as Hayden washed the blood and sweat from his body. The pack was restless now. They weren’t giving the same enthusiastic howls of support. This was all taking far longer than they anticipated, making them nervous.

And Mica…

She was putting herself in danger by being here.

Fuck, all he wanted to do was rush to her. Pull her curvy, soft body into his arms and collapse into a bed. Feel her warmth against him, knowing that she was safe and alive. It was all he wanted. But that wasn’t going to happen—and it never would again, unless he finished this.

Ah, love, Monroe sneered in his head. It’s such a… strange concept. I used to think that love was just a way that you mortals maintained your populations. But it makes you all so weak, it can’t possibly be more useful than just straight fucking.

Hayden gulped down a mouthful of water, emptying his thoughts. He closed his eyes, working to block out all the sounds and smells around him. Mica was still arguing with Finn, trying to get him. But her voice faded to the background. He was trained for this. He was strong, and demons could only do so much.

This time, he’d tear Monroe’s fucking throat out.

You are so right. It’s time for this little dance to end.

Hayden turned. Monroe stood, slick with blood, at the edge of the challenge grounds.

“I have not seen the likes of your strength since your father,” Monroe called. Everyone fell silent, waiting. “It seems a waste to kill you. We have fought long enough, Hayden. I yield.”

Surprise rippled through Hayden. Yield? What—why? What new trick was this?

“Yield?” Spencer yelped. “You’re… yielding?”

“I am indeed,” Monroe said. He knelt in the dirt. “And I swear allegiance to the new Alpha of the Bluebell Valley pack. Alpha Hayden.”

What.

The.

Fuck?

Hayden opened his mouth and closed it again. Was this really happening? A bugle sounded through the air before he could fully comprehend what Monroe was doing. Hayden’s heart raced—he knew that sound. A beast-demon leaped onto the top of a nearby building. Dozens more streamed through the buildings, charging for the pack.

Mica.

“Get Mica out of here,” Hayden roared over his shoulder.

He spared a glance to see Finn, Elin, and Tess all dragging Mica toward the car. She yelled, kicking at them, as her pail of salt scattered on the ground. Hayden took his wolf form, rushing to meet the beasts.

“Archdemon,” Mica screamed, her voice barely audible above the sounds of thunderous battle.

With a howl, Hayden led his pack into the fray. He tore into the first beast, nearly getting gored in the process. To his surprise, one of the wolves he knew was possessed rushed to latch onto the rump of the beast. Hayden jumped onto its back and snapped down on its neck.

All around him, the wolves were fighting the beast-demons… even those possessed. What the fuck was happening here? His heart raced as he tried to piece it together. Why would the demons turn on each other like this?

The wind whistled, and he turned in time to see a beast nearly on him. Its horns glowed bright red—but then Monroe was there. He rammed the beast, shoving it off course. Hayden’s eyes widened.

She told you, boy , Monroe’s voice mocked. She told you exactly what is going on here. Didn’t you hear her? Or are you not going to listen to your precious Mica? She will be my mate, you know. Although I can’t say, I’m looking forward to it. Why you mortals enjoy fucking so much, I’ll never understand.

Hayden twisted, his eyes seeking out Mica. She was back in the car. Tess and Elin were both shouting at her, trying to wrestle something from her grasp. The key?

Finn had taken wolf form. He was surrounded by several of the beast-demons, all of them trying to get to the car. Hayden wheeled around, trying to get to them. A beast jumped in his path, pawing the ground. It threw its head this way and that as he drove him back. Hayden stumbled. Blayke and Maverick both jumped to his defense.

He threw back his head, howling. Protect the Luna!

Several wolves raced to join Finn. Four of them took down one of the beasts while another leaped over the car to chase off a demon from the other side. Hayden tried to get to them, but every time he made progress, more beasts poured into the space between them. His fight with Monroe left him shaking, weaker than he should have been.

Archdemon. That’s what Mica had said.

Finn tore into a beast-demon. One of the wolves protecting his flank glanced over toward Monroe. Then, he turned, fleeing—leaving his flank open.

Another beast-demon tore through the ranks. Hayden howled a warning, but it was too late. The beast caught Finn in the side, flipping him up through the air. Another reared back on its hind legs and crashed down on Finn’s body as he hit the ground.

No!

Hayden put on a new burst of speed. He leaped into the path of a charging beast-demon, hardly noticing the danger he put himself in. It veered off course, but he didn’t let himself wonder why. He dashed through the battle and pounced on the back of the demon, savaging Finn. It twisted, trying to shake him off as he chomped at it.

But even as he tore through the thick hide of the beast-demon, another sensation started to rise up his spine. A cold, tingling feeling like a shadow creeping over him. He killed the demon and moved to the next one as it charged the car. He grabbed it by the horns, but it flung him off, and he drove one of those twisted horns through the car's hood.

Finn lay unmoving on the ground while Mica stared through the car window, her eyes wide and horrified. Tess seemed to have the key now. The engine made a sick little whine.

A shiver ran across Hayden’s back. Despite the heat beating down on him, the cold feeling enveloped him. His head spun, and he lost his footing. He started to lose his footing when it was as though a giant hand reached out and straightened him. He was turned, not in control of his own body.

She did warn you, that voice whispered again. But it no longer sounded like Monroe’s voice. Instead, it seemed to rage from the very center of the earth. It sounded like a thunderclap, a roaring fire, the chiming of bells. It scoured Hayden’s mind. He wouldn’t have been surprised if blood started to drip from his ears.

His body was turned again. His eyes were directed toward a figure in the midst of the battle. Monroe’s form, being torn to pieces by the beast-demons.

But there was more.

Wolves all through the ranks of fighters glowed with a red aura. Their forms rippled, the images of the demons moving around them as though puppeteers controlling their puppets. As he howled, his throat and body working without his permission, it all came together. Every last piece of the puzzle.

It wasn’t an aura-demon he was dealing with.

Archdemon.

Mica had figured it out. An archdemon had managed to possess Monroe. And he had dropped to his knees, yielding to Hayden because he wanted the pack united once more. Under a new Alpha, he could possess. That was why the show. And he’d gone after Finn to make sure that nobody would know the truth.

That’s right, boy. You understand now why I say your Mica is my mate, don’t you? Because she’s your mate. And you are now me.

Chapter List
Display Options
Background
Size
A-