They were halfway down the steps, Gideon’s gaze glued to Claire, when two hands shot from between the steps to grab hold of Gideon’s and Darius’s ankles. A hard yank pitched them forward, sending them tumbling down the unforgiving steps and onto the concrete floor in a tangle of limbs.

Two lycans flew from beneath the stairs. Crouched on his hands and knees, Gideon struggled to rise, battling his dizziness. Hard steel struck him in the back once, twice, forcing him to the floor with a jarring thud. Pain thrummed through every inch of his body. Groaning, he struggled to rise again.

Claire screamed, the sound piercing his soul.

He twisted around in time to see the pipe descending to his head. Rolling to the side, the pipe grazed his shoulder. His hand brushed cold metal. His gun. Grabbing it, he swung around and fired at the lycan swinging the pipe. Once. Twice. The lycan’s body hit the ground.

Crouching, Gideon ignored his dizziness and spun around, searching through the murky air for the second lycan. He spotted him springing through the air toward him. Gideon fired again, jerking out of the way as the lycan collapsed to the ground beside him.

His gaze sought Darius then, finding him restrained with a pipe through his chest, impaled to one of the basement’s support beams.

“One move and I snap her neck,” Cyril called out, recapturing his attention.

Gideon swung his gun in the direction of Cyril.

The alpha held Nina before him, two hands wrapped around her neck. “Toss the gun down.”

Gideon’s gaze moved beyond Cyril to where Claire hunkered, clutching at her chest, breathing abnormally fast.

“Claire?” he called, dread consuming him. No. Not yet.

Her frightened gaze met his, mirroring the dread welling up inside him.

Cyril glanced over his shoulder at her and an evil smile curved his lips. “You’re too late. It’s already begun. She’s mine now.”

Claire struggled to steady her breathing as her gaze shot back and forth between Gideon, Darius, and Cyril. She straightened, trying to still the wild thumping of her heart with deep, calming breaths. It did no good. Her heart felt ready to explode from her chest.

The gun in Gideon’s hand wavered and she knew he was going to do what Cyril said and toss down the gun.

“No,” she cried out, trying to step around Cyril, but he moved and blocked her.

Claire watched Gideon lower the gun and acted fast. Her foot lashed out at the back of Cyril’s knees. He stumbled and she grabbed Nina’s wrist, yanking her free from Cyril’s hold. She flung Nina with more force than intended, forgetting her strength. Nina hit the wall with a cry, her injured arm taking the brunt of the impact. Cringing, Claire watched as Nina crumpled to the floor in an unconscious heap.