I peek through my eyelids, trying to see the room around me. Mandala is sprawled out on a chair. He’s been in a fight and he’s weak. He’s so weak, I can’t help but think that I might be able to take him if I wait for the right moment. I lift my head and then it hits me. The smell is intense and I take a deep breath, filling my lungs. It’s the smell of Klaus’ blood on Mandala. Terror overcomes me, knowing for sure that Klaus is dead. That’s the only way I can explain it.
I want to cry out, I want to curl up in a ball and cry my eyes out, but a sudden movement from Mandala has me jerking up. He’s trying to get his strength up, no doubt to finish what he started with me. I can’t just lie here. I won’t let him do this to me again.
I sit up and run right for him, pushing him backwards, beating him with my fists. Blood is pouring from his nose and members of the Eaters come in and restrain me. It’s when I have two men holding me up and Mandala standing before me that I realize I’ve lost.
And even though it’s probably true, I won’t let them do it without a fight. I use my feet to kick out at Mandala, pushing him backwards again. He starts to charge me, but I let my body go limp, pulling the two men holding me together and they take the brunt of his charge. They release me when they’re hit and I roll across the ground to get away from them. As soon as I do, the room fills with five men and they’re all fighting. The New Laws have shown up and amongst them I see Ronan. When Klaus isn’t with them I lose all hope that he might still be alive.
The room is large but crowded and Eaters and New Law are attacking. The New Laws are outnumbered and the fight is not going in their favor. I knock out the man that is holding me and join the fight as soon as I break free.
Mandala, barely able to stand, comes for me. But when he does, Klaus steps in front of me. His back is to me and his skin is marred and covered in open wounds. I want to touch him, just to believe that it’s really him. But I don’t have a chance. He joins in the fight, taking one hit from Mandala before he knocks him out, kicking in his face over and over until there’s no doubt that he’s dead.
The rest of the fighting goes on around us, but at least now, New Law has the upper hand. We no sooner finish the fight than Klaus is pulling me out the door. We’re all beaten and bloody, but we’re still standing. As soon as we get outside, Deator is standing there. A pretty white bear is walking around, going from person to person, putting her paws on them like she’s healing them. She has a big man standing next to her, almost like he’s her protector. I watch in awe as she walks over to Klaus.
When she puts her paws on him, jealousy rages through me but I just stand there, watching as his broken body transforms.
He points to me. “Now her.”
She comes to me without question and when her healing paws touch me, a calm comes over me.
As soon as she’s done, I tell her, “Thank you,” and she walks away to someone else.
Klaus grabs on to my hand. “You okay?”
I nod my head at him. Right now I want to fall at his feet. I thought he had died and to see him standing here, his hand in mine, is overwhelming.
He pulls me forward until we’re standing right in front of Deator.
Klaus’ grip tightens on my hand. “I love Mona. If it means I’m out of the club, the family, then so be it.”
Deator starts to speak, but before he can, Ronan walks up beside us. “Before you say anything, Dad, she fought right beside us. She saved a few of the guys in there. She may be a wolf, but she’s New Law. She’s proven her worth already.”
A few of the other guys step forward, agreeing with him.
My heart starts racing. I look around at all the New Law standing there, ready to defend me to their president, the founder of their club. They’re like the family I’ve never had. A lone tear escapes my eye and I reach up to wipe it off my cheek.
Regardless of what Deator decides, nothing can take away this feeling right now.
Deator looks around at his men. He looks like it’s weighing heavily on his mind, but he clears his throat. He looks at me and then at Klaus. “Your mother already talked to me about this before I came here. We will bring it before the club, but we’ve both decided its way past time for me to stand down as the President. It will have to go to a vote, but I will back Ronan for the President and Klaus for the Vice. It will be up to you then about the wolf shifter.”