Page 162 of Moonlit Nights & Northern Lights
“We’re similar, you and me,” she said. “Both hate the pack. Both rejected their precious traditions.” A sad smile tugged at her lips. “I’ve always admired your choice to leave. Thought of you fondly over the years, actually. You had the balls to do what I never could. Never could officially, anyway.”
“Listen,” I said, stepping towards her. “I know people who can help you. Protect you. You don’t have to keep doing this. You can come back to London with me.”
“I can’t!”
“Why not?!
“Because I’m in way too fucking deep now!” The words burst out of her, crazed and desperate, eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You think I wanted this? You think I chose any ofthis?”
The wind shifted, carrying scents with it. Callum’s familiar musk, sharp with barely controlled aggression. And underneath it, three distinct human signatures—metallic fear, stale cigarettes, and sweat.
“Just give me Dev and I’ll go,” I said, taking a step towards the buggy. “That’s the deal.”
She shook her head frantically. “I can’t. Rory, you don’t understand what they’re all like.” Her voice faltered, and she paused to inhale a gulp of air. “Mum’s made it very clear what happens to people who disappoint her.”
As I stared at her, I finally understood. “She’s got a hold on you.”
“Yes. Yes, she’s got a hold on me. On everything,” Isla whispered. “My life, my future, my choices. All of it. If I leave, she might hurt Dad. He’s innocent in all this. He doesn’t even know she’s still alive.”
“Listen, Isla, I promise Icanhelp you,” I said urgently. “I can’t tell you anything more here,but you need to trust—”
“No.” She shook her head again, more violently this time. “You don’t understand. She’s not just some criminal. She’s military.Government. She has resources you can’t imagine.”
The walkie-talkie crackled again. Then I could hear them crystal clear—the deliberate snap of branches, boots on ground. Not trying to be quiet anymore. They wanted us to know they were coming.
“We’re out of time,” Isla said, panic creeping into her voice. “Just go, Rory. This is your last chance! They’ll have tranq guns.”
My body betrayed me with tremors I couldn’t control. I so desperately wanted to make a run for it. But I couldn’t leave Dev.Wouldn’t.
Then I felt it—warmth flooding through me, followed by a scent that made my heart race. Maxwell, approaching through the trees behind me. I could smell him, smell myself on him—my scent still clinging to his skin from last night.
No, no, no. How did he find me so quickly?
“MAXWELL, STAY BACK!” I shouted over my shoulder.
The sound of crashing footsteps erupted from another direction. Callum burst into the clearing with three other men, each wearing utility belts. Each armed.
“Callum!” I snarled, because I couldn’t just stand there and say nothing to the bastard who’d helped torture Dev.
He only smirked, that familiar sneer making me itch to punch him. “I was hoping for a reason to end you. Looks like you’ve just given me one.”
“Hold on, Callum,” Isla said, her voice wobbling.
Her eyes widened, looking behind me with something that might have been horror or relief—I couldn’t tell which.
I didn’t need to turn around to know that Maxwell had ignored my instruction. The bond sparked with fierce pleasure at being reunited even as terror flooded my system like ice water.
He slid into place beside me, raising an arm protectively in front of my chest. His body radiated tension, coiled and ready to spring.
“Oh, look, it’s Detective Inspector Maxwell,” Callum acknowledged with mock politeness, his brown eyes glittering with malice. “How convenient. Two birds, one stone.”
The three men with him shifted their stances, hands moving to their utility belts.
“Callum, please,” Isla tried again, taking a step towards him. “We can work this out without—”
“Without what?” Callum cut her off, never taking his eyes off me. “Without giving this little traitor exactly what he deserves? He turned his back on the pack. He doesn’t deserve our help.”
Maxwell’s arm pressed more firmly against my chest, his heart pounding rabbit-fast.
