Free Healing The Alpha Collection by Jessica Ryan Page B

the kill.
    "Dad!" Rowan screamed again, trying to rush forward. Aster grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back, shaking his head as Rowan tried to get loose. It wouldn't do any good for Rowan to get involved right now; Luke would die just the same. Aster saw it now: there was no beating the demon.
    "Rowan, stop," Leena begged, tears streaming down her face. "There's nothing we can do! I don't want you to die too. Please, Rowan, stop!"
    Hearing her plea, Rowan stepped back, clenching his fists and nearly hyperventilating as he watched Abaddon advance on the fallen body of his father. Abaddon stopped right in front of Luke and glanced up at the two boys who were very quickly going to become men. His red eyes studied each one of them before finally landing on Leena. His long, pink tongue darted out of his mouth and licked his lips, causing Aster's stomach to churn in disgust.
    "Daddy!" Leena screamed, before burying her sobbing face in Aster's chest one more time.
    Abaddon snarled and dove forward, his powerful jaws clamping on Luke's throat. With a quick twist of his powerful head and the unmistakable sound of snapping bone it was over—the head alpha of Bucklin was dead.
    Leena's body lost all strength and she collapsed to her knees, wrapping her arms around Aster's leg and resting her face on his leg. "You son of a bitch. I'll never love you. I'll never be yours."
    Abaddon popped up from the ground, shifting back into the despicable form of the biker that they had all come to know. He smiled at Leena and held his arms out to the side. "I don't believe you have a choice, my dear. Who is going to protect you now? These two?"
    "You're damn right we are," Rowan said, stepping in front of Leena and peeling his shirt off. "Let's see you do that to both of us."
    Aster could feel the fear inside of him, but he knew it was now or never. He pulled himself away from Leena and stepped up to join his oldest friend, pulling his own shirt over his head. "You still have to get through both of us to get her, Abaddon."
    Abaddon rolled his eyes and flipped his hand dismissively. "An easy task to get my bride. Are you both going to come at me at once, or are you going to tag in and out?"
    "Make your jokes, tough guy," Rowan said. "They'll be your last."
    "No!" Leena screamed, jumping up from the ground and pushing her way between her brother and her mate. "Stop it! Both of you, stop!"
    "Leena…" Aster said.
    "Just stop, Aster," she said, putting her hands on his cheeks to try and calm him. "I love you, Aster, I always will. You're the only man I've ever wanted and the only one that I'll ever want."
    "I love you too, beautiful," Aster said, feeling a sickness rising in his stomach. He knew what was happening and he couldn't bear to stand by while it did.
    "And you," she said, moving to her brother and grabbing him by the face too. "You're the best older brother anyone could ever ask for. I never would've made it this far in life without you."
    "I can't make it without you," Rowan said, fighting back tears. "Who else is going to take care of me?"
    "You have to take care of each other now," Leena said, wrapping an arm around each of their necks and pulling them in for a group hug. "You both have to take care of Bucklin and the packs."
    "Leena, please," Aster said. He was cut off again, this time by her lips against his. It was the last time he would ever feel those lips. They were amazing against his, always the right taste as they danced across his own. As they stood in a final lover's embrace, Aster could feel his heart being rent in two. He would never love anyone again.
    "This is bigger than me and you, Aster. It has to be done. Take care of each other," she said, her beautiful face stained by tears. "I love you both."
    Leena turned to Abaddon, her lip curling in disgust as she looked at the gang leader who was casually getting dressed. "I'll go with you, Abaddon, but you have to promise to leave Bucklin alone forever."
    "No worries,"