Free Web NovelChapter 205: Chapter 205
Gunnar’s POV
With every last bit of strength that I had left in my body, I reached behind me and grabbed the handle of the knife that had been buried deep in my back.
The pain was sharp and constant, and it did not reduce even for a moment. My hand tightened around the handle, and I forced myself to pull it out even though every part of my body resisted the movement.
The blade slid out slowly, and I felt the blood follow it immediately. I staggered forward as I pulled it free, my breathing rough as I tried to stay on my feet.
I spat out a mouthful of blood onto the ground and wiped my lips with the back of my hand. My body was weakening, and I could feel something spreading inside me from where the blade had pierced through.
Still, I refused to fall.
I lifted my head and forced my eyes to focus on what was happening in front of me.
Emberkin stood there like nothing had changed, his expression calm as if he had already decided how this would end. His attention shifted from me to Ethan without any concern, and that alone made my anger rise.
"Our deal breaks off here," Emberkin said to Ethan, his voice steady and final. "I’m taking her away with me, and if you take a step, you’re dead."
He turned and began walking toward Riley.
Wendy was still holding Riley in place, the knife pressed firmly against her neck, and Riley looked completely unresponsive, like she was not fully aware of what was happening around her. Her head tilted slightly, and her body did not react the way it should have.
I felt instincts rise in me immediately.
"No!" I shouted, my voice loud and sharp as I forced it out despite the pain in my chest.
Emberkin stopped.
He did not turn immediately. He paused for a brief moment, then slowly looked back at me.
There was a faint smile on his face, and that expression irritated me more than anything else.
"You’re strong for holding out till this point, Gunnar," he said, speaking my name clearly. "But you won’t last."
I tightened my grip on the knife in my hand, even though my fingers were already covered in blood.
"That blade that pierced through you," he continued as he took a slow step closer, "is called Blackbane Core and I gave it to Ethan."
The name meant nothing to me at first, but the way he said it made it clear that it was not an ordinary weapon.
"It was created to kill Alphas completely," he added, his tone calm but deliberate. "It does not matter how strong you are or what rank you hold. Once it enters your body, it begins to shut you down from the inside until there is nothing left."
I could feel something in my body reacting to those words, like whatever had been left behind by the blade was spreading deeper, but I refused to show any sign of weakness.
"So be rest assured," Emberkin finished, "you are not walking out of this alive."
For a moment, everything around me felt quiet.
Then I laughed.
The sound came out of me without control, and it made everyone look at me.
I turned my head slightly and looked at Ethan.
His expression changed immediately, and I could see tension in the way his jaw tightened.
Then I looked back at Emberkin.
"Ethan," I said, my voice steady even though my body was not, "you didn’t tell him what you saw the other day?"
Ethan did not respond.
That silence was enough.
"You didn’t tell him," I continued, now looking directly at Emberkin. "You didn’t tell him that I am not just an Alpha."
I took a step forward, even though my legs felt unsteady.
"You can’t kill a hybrid Alpha, can you?" fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
The moment I said that, Emberkin’s expression changed completely.
"Hybrid?" he repeated, his voice no longer amused.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at me carefully.
"Don’t tell me you’re a half vamp-"
He did not finish his sentence.
I moved before he could react.
I pushed my body forward with everything I had left and rushed at him quickly. He did not expect it, and that hesitation gave me the advantage I needed. I grabbed him by the front of his clothing and slammed him hard against the wall behind him.
The impact was loud, and I felt the force travel through my arm, but I did not stop.
Before he could recover, I turned sharply.
Daphne was still holding Riley, watching everything unfold, and I could see that she was already trying to think of her next move.
I did not give her the chance.
My hand came up and struck her hard across the face with full force. The impact sent her crashing to the ground immediately.
I staggered slightly after that, the effort draining more strength from me than I expected. Another wave of pain moved through my body, and I felt blood rise up my throat again.
I spat it out quickly and forced myself to stay upright.
I turned toward Riley without wasting another second as fast as I could.
Each step felt harder than the last, but I kept going.
When I reached Riley, I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her toward me.
"Hey," I said, trying to get her attention. "Look at me. You need to get out of here."
Her head moved slightly, but her eyes were still unfocused.
"Riley, listen to me," I said again, shaking her gently at first, then more firmly. "You need to wake up. This is not the time to stay like this."
There was still no proper response.
I felt frustration build inside me.
"No," I said under my breath. "This is not happening."
I needed her alert. I needed her to understand what was going on.
I did not have time to wait.
I made a decision inside my head.
My fangs extended immediately.
I leaned forward without hesitation and sank my teeth into her neck.
The reaction was instant.
Her body jerked sharply, and she gasped as she pulled away from me. Her eyes opened fully, and she looked directly at me with confusion and shock.
Then she looked around at everything else.
The blood on the ground.
Caden holding up to himself by the side.
Cane standing.
Daphne on the floor.
Emberkin against the wall.
Ethan and Wendy standing nearby.
The broken things.
"What the fuck is going on here?" she asked, her voice clear now, filled with confusion and anger.
I tried to respond, but the words did not come out the way I wanted.
My body finally gave in.
My legs lost their strength, and I dropped to the ground. I coughed out more blood, and this time it did not stop quickly.
I could feel the effect of the blade spreading through me, making it harder to move and harder to stay conscious.
I tried to push myself up, but my arms did not respond properly.
I knew what was happening.
I knew I was running out of time and I could not stop it.
