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I've felt pieces of it before. Controlled. Restrained. Always pulled back before anyone could understand how much power he carries.
Not now.
There is no control.
RYLAN'S POV
Darian's aura slams into me. For half a second, I don't recognize what I'm feeling. Raw Alpha power floods the clearing. Darian has been holding this back. All this time.
The force rolls through the camp like a physical wave. Rogues stumble. Several drop to their knees. Even our warriors struggle to stay upright as the earth trembles beneath us. The runes along the tunnel walls flicker, and branches shake overhead.
My Lycan pushes forward in response to another Alpha's power, but I force him back. Darian isn't challenging me.
He's losing control.
I follow his stare and see why.
Arlene is still standing.
I don't know how.
The dagger is buried in her chest, the silver handle protruding from her body as blood runs down the front of her shirt. More drips from her fingertips and hits the dirt beneath her. Her legs shake, and pain twists across her face, but she doesn't move away from Selena.
She's still protecting her.
One of Arlene's arms stretches behind her, keeping Selena at her back while her eyes remain locked on Candice. She's been stabbed in the chest, and she's still standing between that woman and my pregnant mate.
Selena clutches Arlene's arm with one hand while the other wraps around her stomach.
“Arlene!” she screams. “Arlene!”
Darian roars again.
His aura surges harder.
Candice flinches. Whatever satisfaction she felt a few seconds ago is gone. Her face drains of color as she finally seems to understand the amount of power coming from the male standing across from her.
Zeke understands too.
His face pales. “Candice.”
She doesn't answer.
“Candice, we need to go.”
Darian takes a step toward them, but another violent pulse of his aura rolls through the clearing. The ground shakes harder.
“Darian!”
He doesn't hear me.
His eyes are locked on Candice.
Fuck.
I grab his shoulder. “Darian!”
He jerks away from me with a growl, his eyes flashing as his wolf fights at the surface.
