The Princess's Revenge Chapter 42

Logan’s POV

"NO!" I howled, throwing myself at his attackers.

I managed to kill one of them, my claws tearing out its throat. But the other two dragged Clarence away from me, their teeth still buried in his flesh.

More wolves blocked my path as I tried to follow. I fought through them with savage desperation, but I could hear Clarence's screams growing weaker.

Thunder crashed overhead as the storm intensified. Rain pelted down harder, mixing with the blood on the stones. Lightning illuminated the scene as the wolves tore Clarence apart.

I watched helplessly as they ripped his arms from his body. His screams cut off abruptly as another wolf clamped its jaws around his throat.

"CLARENCE!" I roared, my voice breaking with anguish.

I'm sorry, Knox's fading voice whispered in my mind. I can't help you anymore.

No, I thought desperately. Not now. Clarence needs me.

But Knox was gone. I could no longer feel his presence in my mind.

The last of my wolf strength drained away. My body began to shift back to human. Within seconds, I stood naked in the rain, surrounded by countless wolves.

I stumbled toward where Clarence's body lay in pieces, the wolves parting to let me pass. They knew I was no longer a threat.

I fell to my knees beside his remains, gathering his head and torso in my arms. His eyes were still open, wide with the terror he had felt in his final moments. Blood covered his face, mixing with the rain.

"I'm sorry," I held his broken body against my chest, my hand trembly. "I should have been more careful," I continued, the guilt crushing down on me like a physical weight. "I should have listened to you."

The guilt was crushing. My arrogance, my failure to see the trap, had cost them everything.

"Yes, you should have," a man’s voice agreed coldly. "But you didn't. And now everyone will pay for your rashness."

I stared at the approaching figure through the rain. A lean man with black hair stepped through the wolves. His face wore a twisted smile of evil satisfaction.

My blood turned to ice as I recognized him. Elton's Beta.

"Zephyr," I growled, my voice raw with rage.

He walked closer, completely unbothered by the rain soaking through his dark clothes. The wolves parted respectfully as he passed, their red eyes never leaving me.

"Well, well," Zephyr said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Look what we have here."

I clutched Clarence's broken body tighter against my chest. "You fucking bastard," I snarled.

Zephyr threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoing off the cliffs. Without warning, his boot connected with my ribs. Pain exploded through my side as I doubled over, still protecting Clarence's body.

"Is this really the kingdom's strongest warrior?" he taunted, delivering another vicious kick to my stomach. "Stripped of his wolf, sitting in the mud like a pathetic waste of space? Can't even protect his own men?"

I gasped for air, blood mixing with rainwater in my mouth. "You piece of shit!" I managed to roar.

Zephyr's fist crashed into my jaw, snapping my head to the side. Stars burst across my vision. "The mighty Logan," he sneered, grabbing a handful of my hair and yanking my head back. "Reduced to a bleeding, naked fool."

"Did Elton send you?" I spat blood.

His knee drove into my chest, and I heard ribs crack. "A dead man doesn't need to know so much," he said casually, stepping back to admire his handiwork.

"Fuck you," I gasped. "Is Dorian a spy? Is he working for Elton?"

Lightning flashed overhead as Zephyr's boot found my face. My nose broke with a sickening crunch, blood streaming down my face mixing with the rain.

"Oh, Logan," he laughed, wiping mock tears from his eyes. "You really are idiot. This is all because of your incompetence. You couldn't protect Dorian's wife and children, could you?"

"Dorian is a smart man," Zephyr continued, his voice full of satisfaction. "He knows who's worth following. He knows who actually has power in this kingdom."

I stared at him, the pieces finally clicking together in my mind. My suspicions about Dorian hadn't been paranoia - they had been reality.

The rage that exploded through me. Dorian - the man I had trusted, had given patience and understanding after his family's tragedy - had betrayed us all along.

"Go fuck yourself," I snarled. "I WILL KILL YOU ALL."

Zephyr's boot crashed into my skull with brutal force. Pain exploded through my head as my vision went white for a moment. Blood poured from a new gash on my scalp.

"EASY, you pathetic fool," Zephyr laughed, pressing his boot down on my head and grinding my face into the muddy stone.

I tried to lift my head, but his boot pressed harder, forcing my cheek against the rocks. The weight was crushing, humiliating.

"You really are the biggest fucking idiot in the kingdom," Zephyr continued, his voice dripping with amusement. "Falling for some wolfless bitch. Tell me, Logan - was she good in bed? Did she moan your name when you fucked her?"

My blood turned to ice. "Don't you dare-"

His boot slammed into my ribs again, cutting off my words. I doubled over, gasping for air as pain shot through my chest.

"Oh, but she is quite pretty, isn't she?" Zephyr said, crouching down so his face was level with mine. His eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction. "That pale skin, those big purple eyes. I can see why you'd want to claim her."

"I'll kill you," I whispered, my voice raw with rage.

Zephyr threw back his head and laughed. "You? Kill me? Look at yourself, Logan. You're bleeding, broken, stripped of your wolf. You can't even protect yourself, let alone anyone else."

He stood up and delivered another vicious kick to my stomach. I retched, blood spattering the stones in front of me.

"But don't worry about your little whore," Zephyr continued conversationally. "After I cut off your head and present it to her as a gift, I'll make sure she's properly... entertained. I'll fuck her until she screams, and then I'll pass her around to my men. By the time we're done with her, she'll wish she had died with you."

The words hit me like physical blows. Valencia. My Valencia. The thought of these animals touching her, made something snap inside my chest.

"NO!" I roared, my voice echoing off the cliffs despite my injuries. "She's MINE! I'll fucking kill every last one of you!"

I knew I was surrounded by dozens of wolves, poisoned with wolfsbane, my men were dead. But I didn't care. These bastards thought they could threaten Valencia? They thought they could take her from me?

I would show them exactly why I was called The Mangler.

Deep inside my chest, I felt something stir. Not Knox - he was gone, silenced by the wolfsbane.

Axel!

My second wolf. The one I had locked away years ago after he had proven too dangerous to control.

Let me out, Axel's voice whispered in my mind, dark and hungry.

LOGAN! He growled.

"I'll teach you why they call me The Mangler!" I screamed at Zephyr, fighting to push myself up despite my injuries.

YES, Axel howled in my mind, his voice growing stronger. Let me tear them apart!

The shift began immediately.

Zephyr stepped back in shock as my body began to grow. "What the fuck-"

Within seconds, I stood before them as a massive silver wolf - twice as larger as any normal wolf.