Page 49 of Anger

“Hey, sweet girl,” Lanie said, answering the phone.

“I’m at the castle. Are you okay?” Callidora demanded.

“Perfectly fine, I’ll pop along as soon as I get home,” Lanie assured her.

“Please do, I need to see you,” Callidora begged.

“Give me an hour, honey.”

“Okay, Mum, bye,” Callidora replied.

Lanie began to say something to Mac, but he shook his head. “Not here.”

Lanie begrudgingly nodded and slid into the back of the car. Ranson jumped in the driver’s side and Fisher took the front passenger seat. Mac, as was becoming his place, got in next to her.

“Let’s go,” Mac ordered as soon as he’d shut the door.

Ranson started the engine, and they pulled away.

She was still being filmed by the media, and that drove her insane. Lanie liked her privacy. Not just because of being a Legendary Shifter but because she was private. She did not see the need, like many, to post herself all over social media. Lanie couldn’t understand that thinking.

Putting yourself out there meant you were at high risk. Was it really worth it? Lanie didn’t think so, but clearly, some did. She thought they were all insane.

Still, those desperate for attention would get it one way or another. But with attention came negative connotations, and that was something Lanie already dealt with. No, let people wonder about her, and she’d fade into obscurity.

McIntyre

He was on edge. The attempt by Alainen today had been a fool’s game. What the hell had the man been thinking? Actually, Mac doubted Alainen was thinking. More like Alainen was attempting everything to get Lanie to break her cover. Instead, it was backfiring on him. Doubts had to be rising whether she was a Legendary Shifter or not. Anything to deflect Alainen from her would be helpful, but Mac had realised something Lanie hadn’t.

Alainen had a sole focus. And it had always been Lamia. Every shifter the Hunters captured, Alainen tortured them for information on Lamia. Alainen’s single-mindedness was what controlled his actions. He was determined to find and kill Lamia. And in the past, he had killed innocent women. Lanie wasn’t privy to that knowledge. Now Alainen was fixated on Lanie; he would not stop till she was dead, or he was.

Many Saviours had fallen to Alainen. As had several of the shifters. Alainen was one of the top Hunters. Alainen wouldn’t back off. And Mac truly believed the man was uncontrollable.

He was a rabid dog that needed putting down, but he wouldn’t die despite multiple attempts over the years.

Mac shook his head.

Whatever Lanie’s plans had been to disappear, they just got moved up.

Lanie/Lamia

Mac was uncharacteristically quiet. Oh, he said and did the right things, but there was something weighing on his mind. Several times, she had seen him with an unfocused look in his eyes, and she’d guessed he was mind-speaking someone at Refuge.

In the last few days, Mac had become more serious, more alert, and certainly more focused. Between him and Ranson, she felt on edge. Something was bothering them both, but they refused to say what.

It was made worse because Lanie had been feeling closer to Mac. His sudden withdrawal confused her and caused her self-doubts to rise. Had he been playing games? Was this a ploy to get her to join Refuge? No, that did not make sense. What could Lanie bring to Refuge that they didn’t already have?

Lanie paced through her large house and discovered Mac outside talking to Ranson. Both men looked heated, and Ranson was making sharp movements with his hands.

Mac shook his head violently, and Lanie opened the doors.

“…you have to tell her!” Ranson declared.

“Tell me what?” Lanie asked as at the same time Mac shouted no.

Mac faced her, looking guilty, and Lanie wondered what the hell was going on.

“Tell her, Mac, or I will,” Ranson ordered and, with a nod at Lanie, entered the house.

---