Rylan's POV
"Daniella, get out of here and stay with the others." I gestured for her to move it and she did as she was told, quicky scrambling away. "Eliza, stay there. I won't let you out of my sight and I will protect you."
Morgan's laughter echoed in the dimly lit basement. "You think you can take me on? You're just a pup, Rylan. You are nothing without your brothers beside you. Your wolf could never be whole without them." he taunted, even as I charged toward him, adrenaline surging through my veins.
How could it be that this had been the role model that I had spent my entire life looking up to and wanting to impress? The sight of him made me sick to the pit of my stomach.
"You are nothing, father. You think you are powerful? You have nothing left and nobody to do your dirty work for you." I growled angrily. He sidestepped me with practised ease, disappearing into the shadows like a coiled serpent preparing to strike. I could hear Eliza's panicked breathing behind me, but my focus was solely on Morgan. I couldn't let him escape again after everything he had done. He wanted to hurt Eliza and that was not something that I could allow. Even after everything that happened, I still cared about that girl! I was going to do whatever I had to do, in order to get her away from this fool.
"Come on!" I shouted to Eliza, forcing my voice steady despite the storm of fear. "We have to move!"
Before I could make another move, a sharp pain pierced through my side. I grunted as I stumbled sideways, barely managing to keep my footing. Morgan had struck, his fist delivering a brutal blow. I felt the taste of blood in my mouth; the metallic tang mingled with the biting fear coursing through me.
"Rylan, quickly!" Eliza's voice broke the haze, and I refocused, locking onto Morgan. He was delighted by my struggle, a predator enjoying the hunt.
"You won't win," I spat, wiping my mouth with my sleeve, glaring defiantly as I stood my ground. "This ends now."
His smile vanished, replaced by a cold glare. "Brave words for a boy who's about to fail." His eyes glinted with a dangerous light, and I knew he would strike again. "Weak and stupid like your whore of a mother." He chuckled.
How dare he speak so badly of my mother! With every ounce of strength, I lunged forward again, ducking under his wild swing and delivering a punch squarely to his gut. I had expected him to double over, but he roared in anger and retaliated with an uppercut that caught me off guard. The force sent me crashing to the ground, stars bursting in my vision.
I felt a hand clasp around my wrist. Eliza! "Get up, Rylan!" she urged, pulling me back to my feet. Her determination fueled my resolve, and I forced myself to shake off the daze.
"Are you okay?" I asked breathlessly, my gaze locking onto hers, searching for any sign of injury.
"I'm fine, just go!" she insisted, her fear becoming strength. She grabbed my hand again, and we backpedalled toward the staircase.
Morgan chuckled darkly. "You think running away is the answer? You will never escape me! Her wolf is mine and I will become stronger again,"
I glanced over my shoulder, my heart racing at the sight of Morgan moving with an unsettling speed, swiftly closing the distance between us. "We have to get out now!" I yelled, pushing Eliza ahead of me.
The pressure of the moment bore down on me. Grayson and Alex were still upstairs; they had to know what was happening. I needed to get us there.
"Eliza, keep running!" I ordered, forcing us to sprint up the rickety steps. I could hear Morgan's footsteps echoing behind us, a predator stalking its prey.
Suddenly, I felt an icy rush of air as the door above swung open, and both Grayson and Alex appeared, eyes wide with concern. "What's happening?!" Grayson called out as Morgan's ruthless figure loomed at the top of the stairs, a shadow against the pale light.
"Move!" I bellowed, pushing Eliza and grabbing Grayson's arm as we barreled past, one step at a time. Alex grabbed his sister and threw her over his shoulders with a growl. She held onto him for dear life.
Morgan's rage erupted as he lunged toward us. Terror gripped my heart, but with a sudden surge of determination, I turned to face him one last time. "You won't take her from me!" He shouted again.
In a desperate moment, I grabbed a nearby heavy object—a fragmented piece of wood from the deteriorating door frame—and hurled it at him. It struck him squarely in the shoulder, causing him to stagger back, if only momentarily.
"Now!" Alex shouted, his voice firm. He grabbed Eliza and Grayson and bound up the stairs two at a time, ushering everyone out through the door.
Just as we burst out into the open air, I risked a glance back. Morgan's face twisted in anger and disbelief, but I couldn't allow myself to linger.
"Get to the car!" I shouted, my pulse racing as we quickly descended the path leading away from the house. Darkness engulfed us, but the urgency of our escape drove us forward.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed movement—the house's back door swung open, and I felt a chill race down my spine as Morgan appeared, fury distorting his features. He roared after us, a beast unleashed.
"He's right behind us!" Grayson urged, glancing back, panic in his eyes.
"Run faster!" I yelled, adrenaline pushing me beyond what I thought I could handle. We dashed toward the car, each step fueled by our shared fear for Eliza's safety, each heartbeat an echo of determination.
"I see it, I see it!" Daniella shouted, waving frantically as we finally reached the vehicle Theron had parked strategically close.
Alex yanked open the back door, practically shoving Eliza inside before diving in after her. Grayson and I piled in just as Daniella slammed the passenger door.
Before we could even settle in, Theron slammed the car into gear and peeled away from the house. I glanced back to see Morgan standing in the clearing, a silhouette of wrath and fury—one man against the unity of those who cared for Eliza.
"We did it; we got her," I breathed as relief cascaded.
"Welcome back, Princess!" Theron smiled into the rearview mirror. "Now, lets get you to safety."
As we sped away, my mind raced. We were safe, at least for now, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only a temporary reprieve. Eliza was here with us, but the shadows of Morgan’s fury loomed larger than before.
“Is everyone okay?” My mother asked, her voice shaky as she turned in her seat to face us. “I can’t believe we made it out!”
“I’m fine,” Eliza replied quickly, her eyes wide as she turned to look at me. Rylan, are you hurt?” She gently touched my hand, and I couldn't ignore the bolt of electricity that thundered through me.