Free Forbidden Love by Natalie Hancock

believe anything Rio told them. They would never suspect what he was capable of doing.
    Elijah stiffened when Rio stepped close to him, sneering. “You will be whipped and condemned to death. If you wish to explain your actions, do so now while you can still speak.” Rio stepped away.
    “I have only one question to ask.” Elijah stared at Rio’s back when his shoulders began to shake.
    “A question, for whom?”
    “You.”
    Rio faced Elijah, his smile still in place and his eyebrows rose. He swept his arms out. “Do ask.”
    Elijah kept himself from hitting Rio’s smug expression from his face. “Why did you sell your own daughter to the vampires?”
    Rio stiffened and his smile slipped from his face.
    The entire pack went silent.
    “What?”
    “You heard me. Why did you sell Katrina off to the vampires? How could you do that? She’s your daughter, your own flesh and blood, your—”
    “Enough!” Rio put his face close to Elijah’s. “You have no right to question anything I do—”
    “Answer the question, Rio.” A young man, taller than Rio stood up and the whispers from the pack died down. “Why did you sell your daughter—my sister to the vampires?”
    Rio shook with laughter. “Debt, my dear son. Debt. I owe the vampires and they don’t want anything but blood and…” He chuckled. “Well, women. I captured women to give to them but it wasn’t enough. Katrina was sacrificed to keep this pack safe.”
    Elijah shook with rage, his hands clenched into fists as the pack began to yell, the women screamed and the children cried. He hadn’t kept the pack safe, he had ruined it.
    “Silence!”
    As the pack quietened, Elijah spoke loudly and clearly, his words full of rage. “You spoke so casually, why?”
    “Elijah, Katrina is dead and I am pack leader of this pack. I don’t need to worry, I have control and those who move against me will be condemned to death, just as you are.”
    The pack stayed silent.
    Elijah couldn’t help but chuckle. The time for his payback had come. “Who said Katrina was dead?”
     

Chapter Ten
     
     
    Nervously clenching her hands into tight fists, Keta stepped out of the shadow, her eyes on her father as the pack gasped in shock. Anger replaced the nerves when she saw his eyes widen in shock, his mouth hung open as she walked towards him. She hated the man stood in front of her, hated what he did to her, what he put a lot of women through, all because of his debts.
    Keta punched him hard, putting all the hurt, the anger and betrayal behind it. Pain shot up her arm as Rio’s head snapped back with the force. Keta didn’t care. She took satisfaction as he staggered back a few steps.
    After licking his bloodied lip, he growled, his hands curled into fists as he lunged for her.
    Keta stayed where she was and waited for his attack, ready to take him head on, when Elijah stepped in, wrapping his fingers around Rio’s throat and slamming him into the ground. Keta raised her eyebrows, shocked, surprised and a little turned on by Elijah’s actions. Damn.
    “Rio, I challenge you!” Elijah lifted his head to the pack. “Anyone who tries to stop me from killing him will face their own death!”
    No one stepped forward. No one spoke and no one came to Rio’s aid.
    Keta felt relief sweeping through her. She was worried that Rio had commanded the entire pack to do his bidding, and, challenge or not, they would have attacked. But she was also worried they would attack to protect Rio, despite what he had done, who he had hurt.
    Elijah met Keta’s eyes.
    Do it quickly. I know he doesn’t deserve it, but I’m tired of seeing his face. At least my promise to Keta will be fulfilled.
    “I have a better idea. How about we give him over to the vampires? He can pay off his debt with them and then face death by their hands.”
    Keta smiled. That’s a great idea.
    Rio fought against Elijah’s hold. “I comman—”
    Keta jumped when a loud crack echoed around the quiet night