Page 104 of Moonlit Nights & Northern Lights
Tariq ignored my jab. “There’s a taxi waiting for yourguestsat the gate.”
“What guests?” I asked with mock innocence.
Before I could stop him, Tariq shoved the door wide open, pushing past me with Callum hot on his heels.
For a long, uncomfortable second, Tariq raked his eyes over the cottage—the blood still on the floorboards, Maxwell’s hostile stance, arms folded, Priya and Felix sitting very still at the table.
“I’m not entirely sure what you were thinking, but the pair of them need to leave,now. We graciously decided to allow one outsider”—he slid his eyes to Maxwell, voice laden with disgust—“as a peace offering. But this? This is too far.” He glared at Priya and Felix, and Felix visibly flinched, looking terrified as he slammed his laptop shut.
The sudden movement drew Tariq’s attention to the computer. Panicking that he might declare he was seizing it, I jumped in with, “They were just here for a flying visit. I forgot my toothbrush, and they offered to bring it to me.”
Tariq didnotfind that amusing. “The taxi’s waiting.”
“It’s okay, Rory,” Priya said, standing to gather her bags. “We’ll go stay in the town.”
Callum growled, low and threatening, and I wanted to punch him in the face. Or tear his throat out.
“You’re not welcome here,” Tariq stated coldly. “Not on pack lands, or in our town.”
Our town.As if they actually owned every piece of it. The hatred bubbled up inside me—my family always thinking they could possess and control everything around them.
“It’s okay, Priya. You’re needed back in London anyway. I’ll be home soon,” I said, trying to sound reassuring.
Tariq moved towards the front door, holding it open expectantly.
“Jesus, give them a moment,” I snapped. “Look, I’ll walk them to the gate, okay? You can go back to the manor and watch from the cameras.”
“We’ve strict instructions to personally ensure they get in that taxi,” Tariq replied, “and then escort you to Edina.”
The mention of my mother set off a riot in my chest, each heartbeat a panicked tap dance. A wave of nausea crashed over me, and suddenlyI was twelve again, standing outside my father’s door, waiting for punishment, his disappointment in me already seeping into my soul.
Maxwell materialised at my side, his hand finding my arm, and squeezing tight. “We’ll all walk to the gate together to make sure our friends get in the taxi safe and sound,” he told Tariq with a horribly fake smile.
A sudden squeak had me swivelling towards Felix. His eyes were wide with terror—Callum’s hand was on his shoulder, his fingers coiled with unmistakable threat.
“Get off him,” I snarled.
Before I could move, Priya swung around and drove her elbow straight into Callum’s stomach. He doubled over with a grunt of surprise, then straightened up, face contorted with rage as he hissed at her.
My vision clouded red. I lunged forward, ready to tear Callum’s throat out, when Maxwell’s arms locked around me from behind.
“Let’s go,” Maxwell said firmly in my ear, his grip tightening as I struggled against him. “Let’s. Go.”
I could feel my wolf raging inside me, clawing to get out and defend. Defend my family. Defend the pack I’d built for myself. But Maxwell’s arms around me grounded me, even as I trembled with fury.
“It’ll only make things worse,” he murmured into my ear.
Tariq’s face remained impassive. “After you,” he said coldly, gesturing towards the open door.
Within moments, Priya and Felix were packed and out of the door. We marched in silence towards the gate, Tariq and Callum bringing up our rear like vicious guard dogs.
When we reached the gate, it was already open, the taxi waiting a short distance outside. Tariq and Callum hung back within the perimeter of the wall, while Maxwell said brief goodbyes at the entrance, leaving me to walk them to the car.
Felix looked relieved at the sight of it, quickly jumping into the back seat, hugging his bag to himself like a blanket. His first Killigrew Street experience outside of his lair had certainly been an action-packed one.
Priya lingered with her hand on the taxi door, glancing back at the manor house with obvious concern. “Well, that was… intense. Sorry we have to go.”
“Believe me, you don’t want to spend any more time here than you have to.”
