The Wolf Within (Purgatory #1)(58)

“I’m sorry,” he whispered again.

Her hand dropped. “I just…I couldn’t let you die.”

“And I’m not going to let my brother die.” Because Connor would die. With the battle coming to this prison, all of the inmates were at risk. Some would escape, some would die.

“He’s a killer, Duncan. He deserves to be here, but you don’t.”

He could still taste her. Duncan turned away from Holly. Straightened his clothes. His fangs hadn’t gone away yet. Why not? “He was taken away by whoever the hell it was that killed my family. I remember him screaming for me, but I was locked in that closet, and I couldn’t get to him.”

There was silence behind him.

“I’ll get to him this time.” A vow. “He’ll tell me what happened to them. To me.”

“And then what? You take him out, and you two walk into the sunset together?” Her laugh was bitter. “You’re a vampire now, and he’s a werewolf. He’s also out for your blood.”

He glanced back at her. “I’m not leaving him.” That was all he knew for the moment. He’d find Connor, and then…well, he didn’t know what would happen after that. “According to your brother, this prison is set to erupt in a matter of hours.”

Her eyes widened.

“Elias was a plant. Someone wants the Para Units to fail, and that same someone wants Purgatory to fail.”

“But if the prisoners get out of Purgatory—”

“Then Pate thinks a war will come. He says the vamps have been starved. That the werewolves are too close to losing their control. They’ll get out and go wild.” Because they had the baddest, most dangerous prisoners there. “He didn’t bring me here as punishment. He brought me here to stop that hell from coming true.”

Her lips parted in surprise even as she took a step forward. “I’ll help you.”

“No.” Absolutely f*cking not. “You’ll use your power over the guard, and you’ll get him to take you out of here. Now.”

“So you can fight them all on your own? You can’t do that. You’re just—”

“According to Pate, I’m the only vampire and werewolf hybrid in existence. All of the strengths of both creatures, none of the weaknesses.”

A furrow appeared between her brows. “Alpha…”

So he’d been told. He just hadn’t realized what that meant at the time. He was betting that Pate had known though, all along. Tricky bastard.

“That jerk,” Holly whispered. “He set this all up.”

Duncan suspected he had.

“So what? You’re supposed to take on all the prisoners here by yourself? That’s insane!”

“Not all of ‘em…just the * who thinks he’s in charge.” Because there would be one leading the pack. There always was. Once he took him down, the others would follow.

Or at least, he hoped so.

“I can help you.”

He shook his head. “No, you’ll make me weak.”

Her indrawn breath was painful, and dammit, he hadn’t meant the words that way, but they were the truth. Physically, he was strong. Amped up paranormal, yeah, he had that whole bit going on. But Pate was wrong when he’d said that Duncan didn’t have a weakness.

He was staring at his weakness. “If one of them gets to you, I’ll lose it.” The painful truth.

“Duncan…”

“You matter to me.” Mattered so much that he was glad she’d transformed him. Because the transformation meant that he had a chance to be with her. Not just for a few years, but maybe forever. “If I thought you were in danger, I don’t think I’d ever be able to hold onto my control.” He huffed out a hard breath. “So don’t stay, understand? Use the guard and get the hell off this rock before the battle comes.” Then he went back to her. Because he had to. One more time. “I’ll find you. We’ll both be more than just monsters.” A man. A woman. Maybe with a future?

The wound on her neck had already healed. He could feel her, though, inside of him now. “Get out and stay alive.” For me.

She nodded.

His shoulders wanted to sag in relief. Instead, he kissed her once more. Had to do it. Then he headed for the door.

“Don’t you want to know why?”

He’d unbolted the door. Duncan didn’t glance back at her.

“Aren’t you a little curious…” Holly pressed. “About why I couldn’t let you die?”

“No.” Because he already knew. Duncan shoved open the door. “You love me.”

And he…well, he was insane for her. Obsessed. Consumed.

To him, she was everything.

That was why he had to leave her. If anyone at that prison realized how important she was, he’d be lost.

Not an alpha. Not the warped hero who was supposed to swoop in and save the unsuspecting humans out there.

If anything happened to her, he’d just be…lost.

Because the vampire who’d bit him held his heart in her hands.

***

When the doors closed behind Duncan, Holly didn’t move for an instant. Her clothes were back on. Her body was still flushed, and pleasure still pulsed within her.