Chapter 9

• Henry's POV
• The bartender trembled behind the counter, his eyes wide with terror. I approached him, considering to offer him a swift, merciful end. "Don't worry, friend. You won't feel a thing... maybe just a pinch," I said with a sinister smile.
• “Please..."
• As I reached for him, he made a sudden, desperate lunge under the counter. What was he after? A weapon? I hadn't detected any threat, but—
• He flung a handful of white powder into my face.
• "Ahhhh!" I screamed, my skin searing as if engulfed in flames. Wolfsbane! The bartender had ambushed me.
• Panic set in as I frantically scrubbed at my face, desperate to remove the deadly substance. It burned, eating away at my flesh and skull. My eyes stung, vision blurring.
• No time to think. Find water. Now.
• I stumbled through the room, blindly seeking relief. But the bartender wasn't finished.
• A gunshot shattered the air. A bullet tore into my back, unleashing a firestorm of pain.
• "Ahhhh!" I roared, rage fueling my agony.
• First, the wolfsbane. Then, the bartender.
• I resumed my frantic search for water, driven by urgency and fury. The old man wouldn't let up, relentless in his pursuit.
• "I'll send you back to whatever hole you crawled from," he snarled, delivering three rapid blows to my ribcage.
• "Ahhhh!" My screams echoed off the ceiling as I collapsed to one knee. Fury incinerated my pain.
• Through blood-red, blurry vision, I saw him cocking the rifle. The audacity!
• Ignoring my agony, I lunged across the bar, determined to grab him. But he vanished, leaving me to crash painfully into the wine shelf. Bottles shattered, raining glass and liquor down on me.
• The bastard seized the opportunity, unleashing a hail of bullets at point-blank range. I tried to shield myself, but the onslaught was relentless.
• My vision faded to black as the shots continued, each one pounding me like a sledgehammer. I slumped, motionless.
• Author's POV:
• Bob's thrilled expression faltered as he gazed upon Henry's lifeless body. "Folks won't believe I killed a fucking werewolf. Gotta take its head as proof."
• He retrieved his butcher dagger from the storeroom, knelt beside Henry, and positioned himself for the gruesome task. But just as the blade hovered above Henry's neck...
• Henry's eyes snapped open, and he whipped around, his gaze locking onto Bob with unadulterated rage. The liquor from the broken wine had unexpectedly washed away the wolfsbane from his face.
• Bob's heart skipped a beat, but he refused to back down. With a snarl, he swung the dagger at Henry, slicing across his cheekbone, just below the eye.
• Henry's fury intensified. His fangs bared, he clamped down on Bob's arm, tearing flesh and bone.
• “Ahhhh!"
• "You could've had a painless death," Henry growled, gritting his teeth. "Now, you'll suffer."
• With inhuman strength, Henry lifted Bob and slammed him against the bar stand, shattering wood and bone. Bob coughed up blood, his spinal cord severed.
• Henry's grip remained relentless. He seized Bob's head and leg, ripping him apart with a sickening crunch of bones and splash of blood.
• "Ahhhhh..." Bob's scream faded into eternal silence.
• Henry stood, chest heaving, eyes blazing with fury. The bartender's mangled corpse lay before him, a testament to his unbridled rage.
• As he caught his breath, Henry's thoughts turned to the events leading up to this moment. The humiliation from the young wolf, the betrayal of the alpha and pack, the pain. It all fueled his anger.
• Memories of the glory days as well as the sacrifices he had to make in the past just for the benefit of the pack and alpha flooded his mind causing his rage to grow..
• “I need something to calm me down. Being in the arms of a beautiful lady should help. There should be a brothel close by," Henry discussed with himself.
• With a final glance at Bob's lifeless body, Henry turned and walked away, disappearing into the night, leaving behind a trail of blood and destruction.
• The moon cast an eerie glow over the carnage. The bar, once a haven, now lay in shambles.
• Brian's POV
• After ensuring Bella's safety at her parents' house, I couldn't shake off the lingering anger and concern. The image of Henry's twisted grin haunted me. I had to take action.
• I dialed a number, my fingers trembling with anticipation. David answered immediately.
• "Meet me at the usual. Bring the others." My voice was low, urgent.
• Five minutes later, I entered an undisclosed apartment, a sanctuary for my closest friends. David, Tom, Alex, Mike, and Chris – all loyal members of my father's pack – awaited me with concerned expressions.
• "Brian, what's going on?" David asked, his brow furrowed.
• I locked eyes with him, my gaze burning with intensity. "You know about Bella, right?" My voice cracked, emotions simmering.
• They nodded in unison. "Yes," David replied, his hand on my shoulder. "Henry's a coward. Is Bella holding up?"
• I felt a wave of anguish wash over me. "She's pretending, but I know that monster scarred her soul forever." My anger resurfaced, boiling just below the surface.
• David's expression turned sympathetic. "Sorry, man. But your father, the alpha, gave Henry a fitting punishment."
• I frowned, a cold smile spreading across my face. "Not nearly enough."
• My friends exchanged uneasy glances. I continued, my voice dripping with venom. "That's why I called you here. I want Henry dead. A slow, agonizing death. He'll suffer for what he did to Bella."
• The room fell silent, my friends stunned by my declaration. Tom spoke up, caution etched on his face. "Brian, I don't think the alpha will approve."
• I met his gaze, my eyes flashing with determination. "That's why he can't know. Understand?"
• They nodded, their loyalty to me unwavering. As the leader of our friendship clique, I knew they'd stand by me, even against my father's will.
• "Whatever you say, Brian," David vowed, the others echoing his sentiment.:
• "Thank you, man," I said, my gratitude genuine.
• "We'll start tracking him tonight," David declared, already gearing up for action.
• I held up a hand, halting his enthusiasm. "No. None of you will join this hunt."
• Confusion etched on their faces. "I don't understand," David said, his brow furrowed.
• "Henry's too unpredictable, too deadly. I won't risk any of you getting hurt," I explained, my voice firm.
• David protested, "Come on, we outnumber him five to one. We can handle him."
• I shook my head. "I insist. I need professionals for this job. I know with the banishment order out some wolves are already on his trail but I want experts, real killers to join the hunt so he will have no chance of escaping."
• Chris's eyes narrowed. "You're putting a bounty on his head."
• I nodded, a cold smile spreading across my face. "Exactly. I want Henry eliminated, and I'm willing to pay for it."
• David's expression turned thoughtful. "We'll find the best in the business. People who can handle Henry's... particular skills."
• "I'll leave it to you," I said, trusting my friends to assemble a formidable team.
• As they nodded, determination etched on their faces, I knew the real hunt for Henry had begun....
• Henry's POV
• Fully recovered from the wolfsbane's deadly effects, I craved release from the lingering tension. The nearest brothel beckoned, a den of temptation where I could indulge in fleeting pleasures. I am certain Peter and co wouldn't be the last set of wolves to come after my head. Like I have said earlier; I have a lot of enemies and I am sure they will come, one by one or even together now that they think I am vulnerable. This is the more reason I need to relax and ease away my stress because I will be needing a clear mind to deal with the things to come...
• As I approached, a cluster of beautiful, desperate women surrounded me, each promising unparalleled delights in exchange for cash. I smirked, knowing none would claim a penny from me. I never paid for sex.
• One woman stood out, her slender, curvy frame and fiery red locks echoing Bella's captivating beauty. Though she paled in comparison, she would suffice.
• "Come with me," I commanded, my voice low and husky.
• The woman's eyes sparkled with delight as I led her to a private room, leaving the other ladies to seethe with envy.
• Their curses and scornful glances only fueled my anticipation.
• "Don't mind them," she whispered, her voice husky. "You won't regret picking me. I promise to blow your mind away with pleasure."
• I smiled, my eyes glinting with sinister intent.
• As the door creaked shut, I revealed my true nature. "Today, you'll learn the difference between a man and a beast."
• My gaze locked onto hers, but she misinterpreted my words as playful bravado. Her smile faltered for an instant before she recovered, lying seductively on the bed.
• "Alright, baby boy. Come show me what you got."
• Her invitation hung in the air like a challenge, but I knew the game was far from innocent. My eyes roamed over her, and my hunger stirred.
• "Undress," I growled, my voice low and menacing.
• She hesitated, her smile wavering, but her desire to please won out. As she began to strip, I watched, my anticipation building.
• The room seemed to darken, the shadows closing in around us.