“Natasha didn’t answer her door straight away, so they bashed the lock and charged in there, guns drawn, after I specifically fucking told them she’s human and was no fucking threat.” Her eyes flashed, fists clenched at her sides. “She was in theshower, Isaac. That’s why she didn’t answer right away. They frightened her to death, and I heard her scream, so I ran down and found these fuckers coming out of her house.” She gestured angrily to the two HRU members who’d been stood in front of her moments ago.
“Where is she now?” Isaac asked, running a hand through his hair. Natasha was almost as fierce as Alice. He had serious doubts she’d been terrified. But that was beside the fucking point.
“Getting dressed,” Alice spat. “I tossed the rest of those wankers out after they’d got an eyeful.”
“Hey, that’s not what happened.” One of the HRU guys stepped forward, indignation clear on his face.
“Oh?” Isaac turned slightly and stepped back so he had both Alice and him in his line of sight. “And you are?”
“Fletcher.”
“So you didn’t break into Natasha’s house with your weapons drawn?” Isaac asked, keeping his voice calm, but he let his eyes show how much he’d like to hurt Fletcher right that second.
Fletcher swallowed, but his voice was surprisingly steady when he answered. “We knocked on the door twice, waited for one minute, then gained entry as is HRU protocol.”
“With your weapons drawn?”
“Yes.”
“Even though you knew the person inside was human?”
“It’s protocol,” Fletcher replied, glancing back at Paul.
Paul scoffed and moved to block Fletcher from Isaac. “Are you trying to tell me that humans aren’t fucking dangerous, Isaac?” His voice was cold and full of contempt. “Because we both know that’s not true.”
“I am when the human in question is a member of my pack. They’ve all been told to cooperate with you. What the fuck did you think she was going to do?”
Paul shrugged. “We don’t know. That’s the whole fucking point. If she knew we were coming, why was she in the fucking shower in the first place?”
“Because I slipped putting the rubbish out and was covered head to toe in mud, that’s why.” Natasha slammed her front door and marched over to them. “I’m so sorry,” she said to Isaac. “I thought I’d have enough time, but clearly I was wrong.”
“Are you okay?” His gaze tracked over her, checking for any injury, but she appeared fine.
“Yes. It was just a shock to come out of the bathroom and have guns thrust in my face.”
“Sorry about that,” Fletcher said. He seemed about to say more before Paul silenced him with a glare and a quick shake of his head.
“Are we done here?” Paul asked, shooting a glare at Alice. “My team have done nothing wrong, and I’d like to get this wrapped up so we can search the main house.”
As much as Isaac wanted to tell him to fuck off and take his team with him, he had no choice but to offer a terse nod. “But I want Alice and Callum to accompany your teams to the remaining houses. No one from the HRU is to approach any of my pack without one of them present. And no fucking guns. My pack are under orders not to give you any trouble.” He paused and met Paul’s gaze. “Unless they feel threatened.”
Paul stared at him, and Isaac wondered if he’d go for it or if he’d pull out the “we have full authorisation to do as we fucking please” card.
With a sigh, he turned to his team. “Keep your weapons holstered unless you encounter a definite thread. Understood?”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the team, and then he faced Isaac. “It’s the best I can do. As far as we’re concerned, you and your pack are under investigation until we’ve searched everywhere and find nothing incriminating and, as such, are subject to HRU search protocols.”
Isaac curled his lip, wanting to argue, but let it go. He had to choose his battles carefully. “Stick with them,” he said to Callum and Alice. “But don’t interfere unless absolutely necessary.” He ignored Paul’s narrow-eyed glare and watched as the HRU split into two teams, Alice and Callum with them, and set off to search the remaining cottages.
“You want to follow them?” he asked, not taking his eyes off their retreating forms.
“No,” Paul said, already turning away from them. “They know what they have to do.”
“So now what?”
Paul turned in a slow circle, scanning the surrounding land until he came to a stop, facing the sea. “Your land goes all the way down to the sea, right?”
Isaac’s skin prickled. “It does.”
