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“We should check on her. I don’t like her being on her own,” I tell him, walking to the door.

Her scent hits me strongly the moment I walk out; I follow her scent and can smell the saltiness of her tears and know she has been crying. Looking over the back of the lounge, she is asleep.

“She’s been crying?” Cyrus whispers, stepping behind me and looking down at her.

I nod, feeling guilty that I am the reason for her tears, but she also needs to learn she is ours, and she can’t have Sam. We won’t allow that, so the best thing is to leave, and even if she doesn’t understand her feelings for him, I can feel them through the bond. She loves him. Just thinking of him makes my blood boil. Leaning over the couch, I scoop her up. Her eyes flutter open from the movement, but she doesn’t try to escape, just accepts it and leans into me, going back to sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Adeline

I awake early before they even get up, tangled among their arms and legs and feeling claustrophobic. Wriggling out to a sitting position, I get up and walk across the bed toward the kitchen.

We are leaving today, and I want to see my family before they leave for the day. Seeing Eli’s car keys on the bench, I grab them before walking to the front door and opening it. The sun is only just rising, and being out here for a day, I can appreciate how secluded this place is. No sounds of traffic, no noises, just silence and empty paddocks surrounding the property and trees. It makes me wonder if the silence will become too much when we get to Soya; they live even further out than this place is.

Walking over to Eli’s silver BMW, I hit the button unlocking the doors before opening the driver’s door and leaning over to the footwell of the passenger seat where Cyrus placed my bag. Just as I am reaching for it, I hear movement behind me, the crunch of rocks on the gravel driveway.

“Where are you going, Addie?”

Eli’s angry voice startles me, and I grab my bag before sitting and turning. He lets out a breath of relief when he realizes that I am not trying to escape but just getting my bag.

“Nowhere, but I can’t wear your shirt home now, can I?” I tell him, hopping out of the car and shutting the door.

I lock it before tossing his keys back and completely ignore him as I walk back into the house.

Walking inside, Cyrus walks out of the bedroom, pulling a shirt over his head. Eli walks in behind me, shutting the door a little too loudly, making Cyrus raise an eyebrow at him. I walk into the bathroom, closing the door in Eli’s face as he stalks after me. Eli bangs on the door.

“You know, Addie, you’re making things worse for yourself,” he says through the door, but I ignore him, instead rummaging through my bag and pulling out my jeans and shirt.

I get dressed quickly, just as the door suddenly unlocks, and Eli walks in. The frustration on his face pisses me off. What the fuck has he got to be mad about? He isn’t throwing his life away to be with me. I am doing that. He has no right to be angry, especially when I did nothing wrong but get my clothes from the car.

“Why are you pissed off?” I ask him, shoving past him and walking back into the living room.

“Your attitude.”

“I don’t have an attitude,” I tell him before grabbing my shoes and slipping them on.

Eli folds his arms across his chest, making him look more brooding than he already is. I roll my eyes, and he growls.

“Woah, kids settle down,” Cyrus says as Eli and I continue to glare at each other.

“She started it.”

“No, you did by assuming I was trying to run. Just get fucking dressed, so we can leave,” I tell him, and he steps forward, a growl tearing from his chest at my use of language.

“You keep going, I won’t let you say goodbye, Addie. So, knock it off.”

“Yeah? I won’t fucking go. Now, hurry up. Maya leaves for school in an hour,” I tell him.

He goes to say something when Cyrus grips his arm, making him look at him. He sighs before walking off.

Cyrus walks over, looking down at me. He raises an eyebrow at me, and I look away, annoyed, sitting back on the lounge and folding my arms.

“Why do you always need to push each other’s buttons?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I say something you didn’t like?” I ask him, and his eyes flicker red.

“You really do have an attitude, don’t you? Deal with it, Adeline. I won’t put up with tantrums. You’re an adult, act like one,” he says before walking off toward the bedroom.