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Trent bristled, stepping forward to defend his absent wife, but Dom moved in front of him. “No. We have no reason to fear you,” he commented and we all felt the snap in the air as she recognized his insult. “It seems you have an issue with wolf shifters.”
“Putting it mildly,” I muttered, but with all of the sensitive ears surrounding me, no one missed it. Except….
What’s going on? Paige demanded, frustration lacing her voice as her gaze bounced around the gathering. I can’t keep up.
Apparently, our elder knew your Gran back in the day, I reported. He called her Millie.
Millie!?! Paige screeched disbelievingly, causing me and Dru to wince, but I also noticed Monster’s head jerk, almost like he’d heard her too.
Gran’s been holding out on us, Dru added, her voice dangerous.
“Your kind isn’t welcome here,” Gran snapped, flipping her hand toward me. “Take your foolish pup and go.” Her eyes glittered with warning. “And consider yourselves lucky I let you live.”
“What happened, Mildred?” Gregory said heavily, the deep folds on his face one of the only signs of his 130 years on this earth. “We used to be friends.”
“Ages ago. Things change,” Mildred replied crisply, but it was the first time I’d seen even a hint of softness on her face. “I don’t blame you,” she added cryptically and I exchanged a glance with Dru. “But I also won’t allow your kind to harm another of my children.”
A frown marred Gregory’s face. “Our kind? Have you forgotten where we came from?”
Gran’s expression iced over and I could swear the air temperature dropped. “I have not. But perhaps you should teach your children their origins.” Her gaze pinned me in place. “Then they’ll know to respect their betters.”
“Betters?” I echoed, taking a stride in her direction before Dru’s hand settled on my arm, halting me. “You’re no better than a Hanley,” I sneered, unable to think of a worse insult. Power slammed into me, shoving me back which caused Dru’s hand to fall, and my fist clenched in anger as I felt Gran’s intention.
No, I gritted, pushing back and this time she staggered in shock. Dom hovered, his gaze bouncing as he sensed something happening, but couldn’t figure out what.
Did….did you just defy her? Paige asked with a mixture of awe and terror.
My chest rose and fell as I kept my gaze locked on Mildred, daring her to try again. A glint entered her eyes and I prepared myself as the ground trembled beneath us.
“Enough,” Dru shouted, stepping between us. “Enough. You’ve done enough, Gran. Let him go.” She panted and I realized Mildred had switched her focus to Dru. Paige stepped forward then, her hand slipping into Dru’s to create a united front.
Who is she? Dom and Monster’s voices echoed in unison, catching sight of Paige for the first time.
“Your defiance wears thin,” Gran warned, pointing at Dru, then glanced at Paige, her nose scrunching. “You think you are helping your sister?” The words echoed eerily in my head and I realized she spoke them verbally and mentally.
Paige’s breath hitched but she didn’t back down. She’s my sister. I won’t let you hurt her. Not anymore.
Gran looked taken aback and I took advantage, placing my hand on Dru’s shoulder. “I’ll leave, but she comes with me.”
“No.” There was no hesitation in the denial, but it didn’t come from Mildred. My hand slipped from Dru as she turned to me, her expression apologetic. “I already told you I won’t leave.”
“She’ll kill you,” I objected hoarsely and Dru shook her head.
“She hasn’t yet.”
Tell me what’s going on, Paige demanded, watching us.
“You hear that?” Monster questioned, glancing around in puzzlement, and confirming to me that he actually could hear Paige. “Who is that?” Dom shot him a concerned glance, clearly not hearing her, but I didn’t have time to reassure him that Monster wasn’t crazy.
Your sister won’t come with me. I couldn’t keep the hurt out of my voice and Dru flinched. She’s determined to stay.
Because of me, Paige determined.
Not just you, Dru argued, but it fell flat.
Paige pushed her sister, who stumbled back, looking surprised as Paige shoved her again. What are you doing? Dru demanded, digging her feet in as Paige continued to try and move her closer to the border of our lands. Paige, she said sharply.
“GO.” The single word was loud and garbled, but recognizable.
“I heard that,” Dom said to no one in particular as Dru and I stared at Paige in shock.
“Go,” she repeated, stretching out the word as her lips formed the unfamiliar shape. “Go.”
“No,” Dru said, shaking her head, then repeating over their link, No.
“Yessss,” Paige responded and I blinked at the sharpness of the single word. Her tone was off, but there was no mistaking what she was saying. Paige’s face was full of frustration though as she blasted us with her thoughts. You don’t get to stay for me. Go and run. Be free, sister.
