“Noro,” I began before Neil interrupted me.
“Why bother taking him as a prisoner when you can kill him and solve the problem?”
“Shut up before I decide to finish what I started,” Eric snapped. “You’re in no position to talk after what you did to Matheson.”
“What he said,” Ramsay added with a deep growl. “I’ll rip your face off if you even look at him the wrong way.”
Colton didn’t add to their threats, but the furious glare in his icy eyes said enough.
Rolling his eyes, Neil asked, “So what are you going to do with me? Keep me hostage here with that beast?”
“I think you should leave, and not come back here,” Eric said in a low tone that made it clear he wasn’t joking.
“You can’t kick me out of the packs just because you’re a pack leader,” Neil retorted.
“No,” I interrupted, glaring at him. “But my parents, the leaders ofyourpack, certainly can. And when they find out you threatened me and attempted to assault me? They definitely will do worse than just kicking you out of the pack.”
Real fear flashed behind Neil’s eyes. “Matheson, I didn’t mean what I said--”
“I don’t care,” I snapped. “You betrayed my trust. You were supposed to protect me. Instead you hurt me, and now you hurt my friend, too. I want you out of my life. I don’t ever want to see you again.”
Neil blinked at my outburst, and as my words sank in, his expression grew cold and bitter. He slowly got to his feet. All the alphas flanking me never took their eyes off him.
“Fine,” Neil muttered. “Just let me go to my boat.”
Colton and Ramsay’s wolves padded forward, their hackles raised and their eyes trained on Neil like lasers.
“We’ll make sure you get to far shore,” Colton said.
“And just so you remember, all four packs are represented here,” Ramsay growled. “So if you try to hide amongst us, we’ll know.”
Neil didn’t say anything to them. Instead he shot me a dirty look before Colton and Ramsay took him to the edge of the island.
“Have a nice life, Matheson,” he said.
I didn’t waste my breath replying. I turned my attention to Noro, whose eyes were shut in pain again.
To my surprise, Eric touched Noro’s other shoulder. “I’m sorry. I was distracted by Matheson’s injury, and the scent of smoke must have covered up his stink. If I’d known he was lurking here, I would’ve ripped his throat out.”
Noro let out a small chuckle. “It’s all right. You wolves have a stronger sense of smell than gryphons do, anyway.” He looked at me, his yellow eyes pained but strong. “I meant what I said earlier. I’ll remain here. I need time to heal, and now you can easily keep watch on me.”
I frowned. “Fine. But you’re not a prisoner. Get that through your head.”
I looked to Eric for confirmation, and to my relief, he nodded.
“I appreciate all you’ve done for Matheson’s sake,” Eric said. “Even though I’ll admit that I was wary of your true intentions. If I’m being honest, I still am.”
Noro nodded. “Your feelings are valid. I understand your wariness even if I tell you I don’t mean Matheson any harm.”
“Good.” Eric smiled slightly. “Then we can agree on that.”
Noro turned his attention to me. “There is still something I was going to tell you before that wolf attacked.”
My excitement ramped up again. “Right. What was it?”
Noro glanced in the direction Ramsay and Colton had gone. “I’ll wait for your other mates to return.”
My heart fluttered at hearing Noro call them my mates. It felt good to hear someone else acknowledge that, rather than try to convince me I couldn’t have more than one like Neil did.
