Page 60 of Anger

“Refuge moves at a slower rate than out here. It gave us time to rebuild our numbers and create the army we now have. It also lets us train our people properly so they could survive and protect those we swore to,” Mac replied.

Callidora sent Lanie a dry look. “Seems you missed some stuff out. Tell me about Refuge, Mac.”

Mac grinned.

???

“I like him a lot. Mac lights up when he speaks of Refuge and the shifters there. There’s a lot of love inside him for them,” Callidora said as Mac walked off.

“Yes. Mac thinks of them as family. Tisiphone called him a leader. And they need him there,” Lanie replied.

“What does that mean, Mum?” Callidora asked with some worry.

“It means that I can’t keep Mac away from Refuge, but I don’t want to leave here either,” Lanie admitted.

“You love him?”

“Yeah.”

“Then take your chance at happiness. Hell, Refuge sounds intriguing enough. I might pay it a visit if I’m allowed to,” Callidora said.

“You mean that?” Lanie asked hopefully.

“Yeah. Wherever you, Mac, and my siblings are, I want to be, too. Life just got a whole lot more interesting,” Callidora replied with a grin.

“Didn’t it just,” Lanie agreed as she pulled Callidora closer. Her baby girl was amazing, and how she’d taken all these surprises proved that. Despite Alainen being Callidora’s father, there was nothing of the man in her. And Lanie couldn’t be prouder.

Mac

He watched as Lanie and Callidora hugged one another. The sight softened his heart.

“You are going to take them from us, aren’t you?” a guy said, and Mac turned to face Jase.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re important. More than I gave you credit for. You’ve not told Lanie how important,” Jase started.

“She knows I am a leader,” Mac replied.

“Does she know you’re actually the leader?” Jase asked.

“I’m one of several,” Mac refuted.

“I spoke to Chimera. He warned me before leaving that not a hair on your head is to be harmed. My brother made that very clear,” Jase said.

“The truth is that after the Legends, I am in control. I’m a general, and I’ll march into battle. Lanie, as my mate, will be revered twice over. Lanie’s opinion will hold weight in Refuge, and people will seek her out for advice. That is who I am. I take Refuge’s security very seriously, and I rule beside the Legends.”

“Makes you a king,” Jase said, and Mac snorted.

“No. Makes me a man with a load of responsibility and several hundred thousand lives on my shoulders. It makes me tired and shitty at times, but fills me with pride when I see a kid conquer a move that has bothered him. Or a baby is born. I’m proud when a line that was nearly wiped out flourishes once again. That’s what being in charge means,” Mac replied.

“Chimera told me you were a good man. I needed to check. Lanie was fooled before, and it almost destroyed her,” Jase said, rubbing his brow.

“And Alainen will pay for that error. And for the bond he forced on her. That is beyond a violation,” Mac growled.

“No argument there,” Jase agreed.

“Alainen has a reckoning, and it’ll hurt. And I’ll ensure he stays down this time!”

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