Chapter 0334
Zachary
Her body slammed against the wall.
Blood sprayed from my mate’s collarbone.
I had aimed there on purpose.
Not her heart.
Her body could heal from a shoulder wound.
It couldn’t heal from death.
I needed to know if Isabella was truly gone.
Lucas stared at me, his hand moving toward the gun in his belt.
He frowned when he realized the weapon I held wasn’t his.
His remained securely holstered.
He shot me a disapproving look but stayed silent.
I wasn’t stupid.
I knew how to handle firearms.
I used them back when I was human.
With a Hunter in the pack, I decided it was smart to carry one again.
Sometimes I surprised myself by not having drawn it on him sooner.
"You shot me!" roared the voice that might have been Isabella’s—or maybe it was Julian’s.
I couldn’t tell anymore.
I saw my mate’s face, but the words sounded nothing like her.
I never thought it possible—what Athena claimed.
That a soul could overtake another’s body.
Then again, I once didn’t believe in werewolves.
Or Lycans.
Now I was ready to kill the person who wore my mate’s face.
I honestly never thought I’d pick up a gun again.
I kept the weapon steady as Isabella clutched her shoulder.
She slid down the wall, leaving a bloody smear.
I wasn’t sure I could actually kill my mate.
Even if she wasn’t in there anymore.
But I could slow her down.
"Zachary." Alexander’s voice was a low growl. "What the hell are you doing?"
His hand closed over the gun, but I didn’t release it.
I met his glare. "She’s a threat now. Whether you accept it or not."
A harsh laugh burst from Isabella.
It was all wrong.
Her body straightened. "You’ll have to do better than that, Lycan!"
"Give me the gun, Zachary."
"No." My finger tightened on the trigger.
Alexander released his grip and stepped in front of his sister. "You can’t kill her. She’s your mate."
Why didn’t he say she was his sister first?
"She is. But he isn’t. I can kill him."
A dull ache spread through my chest.
My heart hammered wildly.
Heavier with every beat.
Sparks of pain shot through my body.
I was losing her.
Fast.
"Why are you doing this?" Athena demanded, staring at my mate.
I noticed a thin trail of blood from her left ear.
She’d been standing close when the gun fired.
"Second chance," the voice replied.
"You’ve had more than a second chance," Alexander snapped. "You’re like a damn cat with nine lives."
"Big brother, you know me so well." My mate smirked and released her shoulder.
The wound had nearly healed.
The bullet went straight through.
Alexander pulled Lucas aside.
I heard him ask if there was any way to get Isabella back.
Lucas shook his head slightly while my mate watched me.
"Maybe with a Witch. But by then, it would be too late," Lucas whispered.
"I can lock her in the dungeon," Alexander suggested.
"You’ll still be too late."
I stared at my mate while Alexander brainstormed ideas.
Why had Isabella let this happen?
Why did she give up?
Why didn’t she fight for her life?
'Come back to me, Isabella.'
I tried linking her, hoping to hear her voice.
Her face turned toward me.
A slow smile curled her lips.
“She can’t hear you. She’s resting now!”
I wanted to punch that smile off his face.
But it would be her body I hit.
I looked at Lucas, my heart stalling. "She’s really gone, isn’t she?"
He turned and studied Isabella’s body. "Yes."