Izzy put her body between us blocking her father's path. Even with the pain and the graveness of the situation surrounding us, I couldn't control the effect she had on me. I wanted to pull her to me shield her from the danger that surrounded us. My eyes scanned over her body checking for any injuries she might have incurred. Nothing significant only some slight bruising on her right hip and scraps along her outer thigh.
I looked past her to the wolf standing crouched. The distance between them was too short. The threat too close. I watched, as Phillips began to tremble, his head dipping toward the ground and the shake of his body became more violent. What was wrong with him? Izzy's quiet gasp brought my attention back to her. With great effort, I pushed myself from the ground. My injured arm cradled to my chest.
I tugged her back. My hand left a smear of blood along her forearm. Izzy's worried gaze left her father. I wanted to hold her to nestle my head in the crook of her neck but now was not the time. I need to ensure that she was safe. Tearing my eyes from her, know that if I looked at the pain, the sadness that was surely there I would no longer be able to concentrate on anything but her. I set my focus on Phillips. His head jerked up his eyes meeting mine. The grey eyes of a man, not a wolf. Ones that were filled with pure terror. It was at that moment that I realized what was happening. He was fighting for control. Desperately trying to reign in his beast.
The animal within him was blinded by rage, by the need for vengeance. It was why he had looked so feral. And he, he was trying to protect his daughter. Trying to keep the wolf from harming her. As the trembles increased the distinct snapping of bones echoed. Izzy buried her face into my back her body quivering with each snap. My hand went to her side. My thumb was caressing her smooth skin, trying to comfort her. If I was honest, my actions were just as much to comfort me as they were for her. I needed to reassure myself that she was there that she was safe. Phillips finally winning the battle stood hunched over, chest heaving.
"Get away from him!" He roared his voice more animal than man. Izzy tried to move from behind me, but I held her in place. I wasn't sure how much control Phillips had over himself, and I was going to risk him hurting her to find out.
"No, not until you calm down," I said nodding toward his hands. He looked down at the long claws extruding from his fingers seeing them for the first time. Phillips took in a deep, ragged breath.
"Blackwell, get your filthy hand off my daughter," He ground out through clenched teeth. I quickly removed my hand from her not wanting to bring back the beast, not with Izzy so close, not when I couldn't shift to protect her. Immediately I missed her warmth.
"This needs to stop," Izzy said a pleading in her voice. "No one is winning anything, gaining anything from this." She was no longer behind me but standing in the open between Phillips and me.
"What are you doing here?" Phillips asked angrily now sounding more man than before. When she ignored him, he asked again. "Isabella, what are you doing here? You should be home with your mother, with your brothers," he paused shaking his head slightly. "With your brother," he corrected himself. The slight edge to his tone spoke of how much his son's death affected him. It shocked me. I hadn't thought him capable of caring about anyone or anything other than himself.
"You need to leave," he told her. It was an order, one that left no room for argument. She looked up at him defiant.
"No," she said. "I am no longer part of your pack. You can't order me around anymore." I felt pride well up inside me at the way she stood up to him unafraid but was cursing her for being so stupid. He was dangerous right now, father or not.
"Izzy, he's right. You should go. This is between him and me," I said though it sounded more imploring than I had wanted.
"Izzy? What in the hell!?" His eyes shifted black. "You've been spending time with this monster?" I'm not sure if he intended it to be a question, but it sure sounded more like an accusation.
"He isn't the monster. You are." I could feel my wolf now in full force demanding I go to her to get her away from him. I wasn't sure if it meant I could shift or not, but I wasn't going to risk pissing of Phillips more by listening to it.
"He killed my son, your brother! Does your family mean that little to you?" He took a step forward, and I did the same. There was no way I was leaving Izzy unprotected. I opened my mouth to protest, but she beat me to it.
"No, Logan tried to protect him. Nearly died doing so." The anger in her subsided, her eyes meeting mine. My chest tightened seeing her grief-stricken face. Her pain was becoming my own.
"You're defending our enemy!?" He growled. She stepped toward him within arm's reach, causing my wolf to be on edge.
"He is not our enemy," she spat. "He is my mate." Chaos erupted as Phillips shifted. His paw caught the side of Izzy's face. Blood was trickling down her cheek from the three large claw marks.
I sprinted to her shifting mid stride. The pain was radiating from my injured leg as it made contact with the ground. Izzy landed harshly on the ground as Phillips and I collided. Each of us blindly snapping at the other. My claws pierced the thick hide along his ribcage, his teeth immersing themselves into the open wound on my leg. I pushed further into him forcing him to put weight on his injured limb.
Phillips lost his footing his leg buckling under him. He struggled beneath me as I pinned him to the ground. Izzy screamed just as my teeth wrapped around his neck. I could feel the blood pumping wildly through his veins.
"Logan, don't!" She begged. I looked up at her not loosening the grip I had on his throat. "Please don't." Her voice broke. I wrestled with my wolf trying to regain control. He wanted blood wanted to stare into Phillips' eyes as the life drained from them, and if I was honest with myself so did I.
~~~~~~Author's Note~~~~~~~
Do you think Logan will kill Phillips or will he listen to Izzy?
What will Phillips do if Logan allows him to live?
What will Izzy do if Logan kills him?
What should Logan do?
Please remember to vote and comment = D