The guards had officially circled the house, which both stressed and comforted me. As long as Julius didn’t do anything stupid, we should be safe. But he seemed to be a hothead, and the moon was still full, despite it descending in the night sky.
The two of us climbed out of our vehicle just as Killian entered the garage. As the door lowered, I exhaled and relaxed, feeling so damn glad Rosemary was near. We might not have made it out of that place if not for her. She was a powerful ally, and I wanted to know why she was helping us. Why would her mom be so insistent that they should help protect the silver wolves? We were missing a chunk of the story.
“I said get out of their room now!” Rosemary commanded so loudly we could hear her in the garage. “You might be a silver wolf, but Iwillkick your ass.”
Just when I thought I might be able to crawl into bed, there was already another fight brewing. I ran toward the interior door, needing to know exactly what Julius was snooping for. Maybe he was one of the less than point one percent of our population that could lie, but I couldn’t fathom it. My gut said differently.
There was only one way to find out, so I marched into the house.
CHAPTER SIX
The commotion was comingfrom mine and Griffin’s bedroom, so I stalked through the kitchen, down the hallway past Sierra, who was flipping the station on the TV, and into the room. Griffin and Killian were only a few steps behind me, ready to fight.
Usually, this room, with its warm blue walls that reminded me of the ocean and the dark walnut furniture that reminded me of the forest, was my sanctuary.
But not today.
Julius had dug through Griffin’s room and found the family album, journal, and notes that I’d hidden under the bed. Angst, confusion, and hurt swirled inside him, spilling into me.
The album lay on the floor, open to the picture of Mom holding my brother and me on a bed. Blood spotted our bodies, proving that we’d just been born. Dad had his arms wrapped around Mom’s shoulders, and they both looked so damn happy.
Each time I looked at this photo, it stole my breath.
My brother having been stripped from us was horrible, whether it was due to death or kidnapping. The man who sat on the floor was rocking himself as he read Dad’s journal, his face crumpled in agony.
For him to be looking so desperately for answers, he had to be Cyrus.
Rosemary stood over him, her body coursing with anger. The angel wasn’t the most empathetic person, and being ignored didn’t sit well with her.
“You heard her,” Griffin growled as he appeared to the right of me, with Killian flanking me on the left. “Get the hell out of here. What do you think you’re doing?”
All they could see was a threat inside our house, but I saw a lost, broken man. “He’s looking for answers.” It was that simple.
He wanted to find himself.
“Well, this is the wrong fucking way to do it.” Griffin waved his hands around the room. “He’s in our bedroom and digging through my drawers.”
Sierra entered the room with a smile—or grimace—I wasn’t sure. She arched an eyebrow at me as she inhaled sharply.
“I’m so sorry,” she said in her usual talking-shit voice. “But when you say drawers, do you mean the shelf or your actual underwear?” She waved a hand to the still-open drawer with his boxers shoved to the side and spilling out. “You can see where I’d be confused.”
Killian closed his eyes and shook his head. “Now isn’t the time.”
“Get out,” Griffin rasped with rage, directing it toward her and away from Julius. “Now.”
I couldn’t help but grin, appreciating Sierra diverting some of his anger toward her. But Griffin would have to come to grips with Julius. He wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, and there was too much other shit to focus on for us to waste energy on something that wouldn’t change.Hey, give me a moment alone with Julius.I already knew how he’d react to that comment, but I needed a chance to talk to Julius alone.
Hell, no.Griffin turned his icy glare on me.Not happening.
His outright refusal pissed me off.That wasn’t a request,I snapped.But if you’d rather I leave with him, that can be arranged.I wasn’t some meek mate who would bend to his will—I was my own person. Whether he liked it or not, I made my own decisions.
He organized a kidnapping to hand you off to some limp-dick prick who hoped he could get a hard-on long enough to impregnate you.Griffin’s body was so tense, he could pass as a statue.So excuse me if I’m not thrilled to leave you alone with him.
Forcing myself to take a deep breath, I thought through my next words. He was my mate and deserved some sort of consideration for how he was feeling. I had forced him to watch me walk into a dangerous situation earlier today, and he saw Julius as a continuation of that threat.I understand, but I can feel him spiraling out of control. Stay right next to the door, and if anything feels wrong, you can barge right in. Just give us the illusion of privacy.I knew in my heart that he loved me and that he was reacting from fear.
“Why aren’t you listening to me? I told you to get the hell out of here.” Rosemary faced us with her brows furrowed. She pursed her lips as she tilted her head. “Do you think he’s deaf? Can wolves suddenly go deaf?”
“It’s called selective hearing,” Sierra hollered from down the hall. “All men suffer from it. I’m surprised it took you so long to learn this.”