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“Think for a second. You go down there and what? Crash her apartment. She won’t thank you for being jealous idiots, not when she doesn’t belong to you.”

A rusty growl escaped Walden, and I pressed my hand on his chest, worried for a moment that he was going to charge his own sister. Sybil joined Lorna, and they took a step back, clearly coming to the same conclusion.

“She is our omega. Maybe she doesn’t belong to us, but we belong to her. Don’t you ever say that to me again.”

“Ok,” Beatrice squeaked. “Very dramatic. But you still need to think about this. Tully’s not going to be happy to see you.”

Walden clenched his jaw. “I’d never forgive myself if I let anything happen to her. Maybe it was a joke, but she can tell me from her own lips. If you care about her, you’ll tell me where she’s living.”

“Now we’re talking.” I set my jaw and snatched up the keys. “I’m driving.”

32

Tully

“You think I won’t make you pay for that?” Thorn scowled as he pressed his fingers to the scratch I left on his cheek.

The threat was hollow, and I didn’t take it to heart. One thing about my prickly friend was that he was determined to make me run screaming from this place. Clay rolled on the ground, his arm banded around his stomach as he howled with laughter.

“I can’t believe you let a tiny omega draw blood. Your reputation will be ruined.”

“You’re delusional,” Thorn muttered under his breath, but the raucous laugh of Clay brought color to his cheeks.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you next time.” I held up my nails with a smirk.

“I’m not frightened, lamb,” Thorn scoffed, his scowl canceled out by the heat on his skin.

Clay clapped Thorn’s shoulder and pressed a wet kiss to his cheek. “Oh, my gods, you’re too adorable for words with your little frown.”

A knock on the door interrupted my glee. Thorn stomped over and opened it. Puck stood on the other side. He sent me a little wave and cleared his throat.

“Have you got a sec? There’s a guy looking for you. Said you’d want to see him.”

“Ah, tall guy? Reddish hair? That’ll be Darren.” I clapped my hands and gave Thorn a triumphant look. “He was eight when the attack happened and wrote it all down in his journal. I’ve been waiting for him to agree to speak to me.”

“He’s a big softie. Off you go then. I think Thorn needs to nurse his hurt feelings in silence.” Clay looked at Puck. “You want a piano lesson? It’s broken, but we can pretend the keys sound like they’re supposed to.”

Puck pumped his fist in the air. “I left him outside your door, Tully.”

“You want me to walk you there?” Thorn offered.

I shook my head. It was only a five-minute walk. I waved goodbye and pulled out my phone, opening my notes app in readiness. Darren had been tossing up whether he wanted to revisit the trauma of what HLA did to his childhood. But I was glad he decided to speak. I turned the corner and spotted Darren in the shadows swinging a bag. Full of his journals, I thought.

“Thanks for talking to me, Darren.” I turned the key in my lock. “Your journal entries will add so much to the series.”

Darren grunted and followed me into the apartment. It wasn’t much, but it was mine.

“Make yourself comfortable.” I flicked on a lamp.

“I-sorry—” I sucked in a sharp exhale as I turned around and bumped into a hard chest.

A scent overwhelmed me. Rain clogged my lungs, and thunder crashed in my ears. I stumbled over the lip of my threadbare rug and almost lost my balance.

“Chase,” I choked.

He ran his hand through his chestnut waves and painted on a smirk that made my insides tremble.

“Hello, pretty. Interesting place you’ve got here.”