Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond novel Chapter 398

~ Josie ~

I can hear they are close by, at least one of them in the dining room.

Keeping crouched down low, I move behind the furniture, using it as a source to hide behind until the very last moment.

They made a mistake coming here, this was my home. I knew every part of this house, every corner. They’ve completely underestimated us yet again.

Who were they, what exactly did they want… I can’t think of that right now, I need to keep calm, not let the growing rage within me take over.

I need calmness, complete control.

I see him, he’s moving around the dining room table…arrogantly. He’s taking in the paintings on the wall, the pictures…even running his spare hand across the dining room…I feel sick just watching him touch what is ours.

The scoff he gives as he stops by the picture of all five of us, brings nausea to the back of my throat. It was a silly family portrait shoot Auntie Alora made us do. We were only young, innocent children…how dare he base judgement upon us.

I don’t wait, I don’t even give him the chance to acknowledge that someone was watching him, that I was better than him. I point my gun and take aim.

Three down…I was shooting to kill and not wasting any time. I didn’t have any time to waste.

With stealth I move into the hallway again, discreetly moving towards the kitchen. Two bodies laid on the floor, untouched. I said this would be their tombs.

The other one has to be in the kitchen or near the back door, by the utility room that leads off from the kitchen.

As soon as I’ve taken this last male down, I can move on to the meadows, help my family…get to Knox.

That’s all I can think about…that he and they are safe, that they aren’t hurt.

Just the thought of them in danger gives me the determination I need to push my feet towards the kitchen entrance…until I freeze.

I feel it through the pack bond and it temporarily immobilises me. I feel as if the floor beneath me has disappeared and I’m being dragged under.

Stunned…I can’t breathe.

“The alpha is down!” Beta Riley’s voice roars through the pack mind-link, my entire body frozen in a state of panic.

Dad…Dad was hurt. What about the others…what about Mum…she was shot also. I saw it with my own eyes.

It’s the voice behind me that breaks me out of my trance…surprisingly a female voice.