He should be furious, demanding they take him to the nearest police station.Instead, he found himself studying Hedrek’s weathered face, the worn features stirring painful recollections of his own father’s death, and how his mother and brothers had turned against him.
These people had wrapped him in warmth and acceptance.Even built on lies, it was more family than he’d ever known.
Not that it made things right.
Hedrek brushed his hand over his face, the rasp of stubble rough in the silence.“I suspected something was afoot, but you were helping us, and selfishly, I wanted to hold on to the positive changes you brought.I’m not blind.Neither are the boys.Tamsin and Sienna bear the taunts and shunning from the locals.We’re failing them, but I’m struggling to find a solution.Now, Sienna… I’m sorry.Is there any way we can make this right?”
Sincerity shimmered through his words, and Liam’s anger softened.
“What will you do?”Jago asked.“Sienna shouldn’t have done what she did.She’s our sister, and we love her.”The unspoken message was clear—they stood by her, no matter what.
Loyalty.Liam understood it well, having found it in Middlemarch with Saber and London.They’d given him opportunities, and Saber had helped him find a job and a place to live.He’d made friends there, and through them, he grasped the meaning of trust and allegiance.Something his own family had never shown him.
“My friends will be concerned about me,” Liam said.“There’s so much I don’t remember.”The thought struck straight to the gut.Were these even all his memories?What if there were still gaps?
“Lad, I’m sorry, but that’s the least of our problems,” Hedrek said.“Jamie told us what happened tonight.This will make things a mite difficult for everyone.We’re in danger—every single village resident with feline blood.”
“As long as people don’t start pointing the finger at others,” Kitto said.
“Already happening.”Jamie scowled.“They knew the hunters were coming and still didn’t tell you.That’s messed up, especially when you shift lots and are more likely to get caught.”
Despite trying, Liam couldn’t think of a solution.“How long can you stay here without needing supplies?”
Hedrek paced the cramped hut.“Three weeks.We’ll fish, trap rabbits—whatever we can catch.The meals won’t be fancy, but we’ll make do.I’d rather not leave Tamsin and Sienna on their own for too long.”
Liam nodded and instantly regretted it.He froze, waiting for the knife-like stab to ease at the base of his skull.“Sienna told me a little about what happened.But not everything.”
“She told you?”Hedrek blinked.“But you stayed.”
“I wanted to help.You lot grow on a person.”
“Aw, he likes us,” Jago said.
Liam brushed this aside.“We need to leave the area.”
“How?”Hedrek didn’t bother to hide his frustration.“We’re barely managing now.”
True.Tamsin and Sienna struggled to stay within budget and keep everyone fed and clothed.“I wonder what Sienna did with my wallet and phone.I could call for help.”
Calan tilted his head.“Call someone in Australia?”
“New Zealand.I live in a country town in the South Island,” Liam said.“I work as a farmhand.”He wasn’t sure how long help would take, or if the Feline Council would even assist outsiders.
“What about Sienna?”Hedrek asked.
Sienna had put his job in jeopardy.The farm where he worked was a busy one, and Ted, his boss, was pragmatic.He’d hold Liam’s job temporarily.“I don’t know,” Liam said, wanting honesty.
Hedrek released a harsh sigh.“I understand.Sienna committed a crime.”
But that was the thing—was he angry?Hell, yes.But after living with the Teagues and seeing how hard they worked to survive, he got it.And that understanding made his feelings as tangled as the village’s problems.
Instead of dwelling on Sienna—infuriating, complicated, and far too attractive—Liam forced his focus back to the real issue: finding a solution.
“I’ll ask Sienna what happened to my stuff once we get home.”His thoughts stuttered because he’d called the Teague house home.They were genuine, and he liked them.Admired them.And Sienna, while she’d kidnapped him, hadn’t used her body to trap him into closer ties.Yes, they’d slept in the same bed and shared a kiss, but she hadn’t let him take things further.He could walk away, and no one could call him out.No consequences.
Just what every single man wanted.
Jago tapped his arm.“Liam?You keep zoning out on us.”
