“You… you don’t have to figure it all out now. Just let me stay by your side. That’s all I want.”
His fingers laced with mine, those electric blue eyes staring like they could consume me.
All I could do was nod. It wasn’t a promise, but it was something, and he was right. I needed to figure out what I was going to do about all of them sooner rather than later.
He gestured toward the dead werewolf and blood-slicked floor. “What about this?”
I sighed and pulled out my phone, walking toward the container door as I texted Riot:Need clean-up crew. ASAP.
Opening the door, I found Alic checking the surrounding area. “You know the coordinates for this place?”
Without missing a beat, he nodded, pulling out his phone. “Want me to send them to Boss Devil?”
“Yes, please. I’ll tell her to look out for your message.”
As we finished our texts, Alic’s eyes scanned me from the floor up. He winced, and for a second, my chest tightened. Was he pissed? Jealous that I’d screwed Maso while he stood guard outside?
My emotions surged—shame, fear, frustration. I wanted to test Maso, to prove something to myself, to take out my frustrations, and maybe I’d let things spiral too far.
I braced myself for Alic’s disappointment, but instead, he dragged a hand down his face and groaned.
“Did youhaveto get so messy? We’re gonna have to get the car detailed again. That’s the third time this month. We only drive it, like,fourtimes a month.”
I paused, just staring at his annoyed grimace, then laughed so hard tears stung my eyes. Gods, why were these men so perfect?Was it because they were my mates? And if so… why was I so terrified to let them in?
The laughter died in my throat as I looked back at the hanging corpse.
“One thing’s for sure, someone’s targeting us, and whoever it is? They’ve got ties to a high-level spirit mage. That wolf had a vow of silence on him.”
Alic tensed, his posture snapping into soldier-mode. Maso stepped up to my side, quiet and protective, the dark knight to Alic’s golden glow, and between them, I instantly felt invincible.
I bit down on a smile before it could rise to the surface. Time to get serious.
“I need to talk to the others. Any word on Glen?”
Alic shook his head, jaw tight. That silence was becoming damning. I hoped to bring him in, give him a chance to clear his name, but now it looked like he was a part of it.
“I’ll check on the club first, then we’ll figure out Glen.”
I turned toward the car, but before I could take a step, two massive tree trunk arms scooped me up like I weighed nothing.
“Alic, what the?—”
He held me tighter, whispering, “Just let me hold you ‘til we get to the car. That’s all I ask.”
Pinching my lips, I looked at myself and grimaced. “I’m covered in blood.” I showed him my hand then dragged a sticky red finger down his chest. “You’re gonna ruin your clothes.”
He scoffed and smirked, a rare, real one. The kind that made me want to snatch it off his face and put it somewhere safe, somewhere I could pull it out and look at it when I needed a pick-me-up.
“Blood washes off. Clothes are replaceable. Plus, the car’s already going in for detailing.”
I tried not to smile. I really did. I bit the inside of my cheek and everything, but happiness bubbled up uncontrollably. I buried my face in his neck to hide the stupid grin spreading across my face.
I didn't want him to get a big head about it or anything.
Once the car came into view, Alic tossed the keys to Maso with a grunt over his shoulder. “Your fucking turn.”
I glanced past him just in time to catch Maso’s eyes locking with mine, a small, confident smile pointed at me before he slid around us to the driver’s side.
