Chapter 13

After tossing the food Enzo burned to a crisp, I remade it. Elliot didn’t return to the kitchen, but I tried not to focus on his absence. Dwelling on it would get me nowhere. I used to torture myself by mulling over things, but it literally changed nothing.

Beckett’s wolf claws clicked on the tile, and I pointed a finger at him. “Keep your fur out of here,” I ordered. He grumbled and plopped on his hindquarters. It wasn’t lost on me how he preferred staying in his wolf form recently.

What was that about?

Bear snorted and stifled a childish giggle. I tried not to turn to look at him. It was the first time he’d sounded like a kid instead of trembling all over the place.

Enzo smirked from his place on the seat at the island. His elbows rested on the surface, and he laced his fingers together.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” Tanner asked, disgruntled as he stepped into the kitchen looking like a million bucks. He ran his finger on the inside of his shirt, untucking the fold to his collar.

“You were out like Sleeping Beauty,” Enzo said.

“As much as I appreciate you thinking I’m a princess, I asked Maya.”

I half snorted, half laughed. My eyes immediately fixed on Enzo, and he seemed . . . flabbergasted. “Now you guys flirt with each other? Damn, Enzo.” I clamped my lips together to keep the smirk from overtaking my mouth.

“What?” he sputtered, a scowl forcing his eyebrows down.

“I’m curious about how you know which princess is the sleeping one. Are you hiding some type of obsession, Enzo?” Tanner smirked.

Enzo gripped the pile of plates I set on the counter. I zipped over to him and plucked them from his fingers before he tossed them. “Food is ready,” I said with a smack. Shit, I forgot the condiments. “Feed them,” I pointed at the food, focusing my attention on Enzo.

“We know how well this went last time,” he sniped as I hurried to the small hallway opposite the kitchen entrance that led to the pantry. One of my favorite parts of this house was the massive amount of storage. Hinges creaked, and I inched inside. Lucian loved food, so he had a stockpile of all the basics; it looked like a little store with the packed shelves.

An earth-trembling roar vibrated through the walls, and I jumped, causing the ketchup to tip into the mustard, which set off an avalanche of condiments flipping onto one another. I dashed toward the noise and careened into the kitchen just as Enzo slammed his fist into Lucian’s face. The three kids huddled around Tanner who watched with arms crossed.

I gawked; feet rooted in place.

Moving quickly enough that it made their movements difficult to follow, Lucian and Enzo grappled. Each took turns smashing one another into the wall until they ended up in the hall heading toward Lucian’s office. Enzo rammed his heel into Lucian’s stomach, catapulting him into his office door and causing it to split right down the middle.

“Stop, Enzo!” I shouted and dashed in their direction. I ducked to avoid the splintered wood whirling at my head.

Lucian snarled and pounded his fist into Enzo’s face, but it didn’t stop my crazed mate. Blood coated his toothy smile. If I didn’t stop this, they would end up destroying the house or Enzo would end up killing him.

Enzo slammed his boot into Lucian’s chest again, this time sending him into the bookshelf lining the back wall of his office. I winced at the snap of splintering wood. Bolting forward, I stood in front of Lucian, holding my palm up. Enzo’s gaze turned glassy like it did before he went into a full rage, so I blocked him again and forced my hand onto his pec.

Finally, he saw me through the fury.

“It’s Lucian,” I said, rushed.

“I know.”

Well, that wasn’t helpful. I bunched his shirt in my fingers and turned to Lucian who’d already gotten to his feet and was brushing dust from his person.

“Cyrus’s descendant,” Lucian said drolly, staring at Enzo. “You’re as much of a prick as he is.”

“Lucian.” I palmed my forehead.

“Maya, your company best fix my shelves.” Lucian spoke in a tone without compunction, like he commented on the weather—as if he hadn’t been slammed against the wall repeatedly.

Now that Lucian was back, I could get the ball rolling and start offing the motherfuckers who deserved it. Weight floated off my shoulders. I paused the rush of words prodding at my lips before I inundated Lucian with questions.

Enzo couldn’t know. But fuck, patience wasn’t my strongest suit.

Crushed woodchips littered the ground, and a trail led to Enzo’s feet.

“Go get the broom in the kitchen.” I shoved his arm, using my strength to budge him toward the door. Resistance slowed his pace. Dammit, he wasn’t going to listen if I didn’t get dramatic about it. I focused on the helplessness gnawing at my insides, letting my eyes well with tears. I sniffled exaggeratedly. “Please—” His aggression lessened and red crested on his cheekbones.

I rolled my lips inside my mouth to stifle my grin as I shoved him past the office threshold. I waited a beat until his footsteps thudded down the hall.

Facing Lucian, my question tumbled out, rushed. “Did you find Weber?”

“I did, but I’m assuming you didn’t want anyone to know what you were up to.”

What?

I followed the tipping of his head toward Beckett at the same time a low growl had me whirling toward the corner of the room. Beckett lowered his head, an accusatory gaze settling on me.

When had Beckett come in? Shit.

His body shuddered, fur receded into his skin, and his bones popped. Oh, fuck, fuck . I put my hands up toward him in the universal ‘stop’ motion.

“Wait, Beckett?—”

“Tanner, Enzo,” Beckett’s voice boomed off the walls, pulling a wince from me. Fucking great. Rubbing my palm on my forehead, I took a deep breath. Damn my rashness. They’d found me out, but it wouldn’t change a thing. They couldn’t stop me. Still, knowing that didn’t stop all my panicked thoughts from crowding together.

Lucian crossed his arms.

“A little warning would have been nice,” I mumbled, storming up to Lucian.

Beckett’s fingers curled around my shoulder, but I shrugged him off. Lucian wasn’t going to hurt me. Beckett should know that better than any of the others. I glared at him, and he matched it.

Tanner entered with clipped steps, and Enzo raced in on his heels with a broom in hand. I clamped my lips shut, cutting off my choked laugh.

“I was gone for one fucking second,” Enzo snarled, smoke pluming from his nose. Lucian sighed and shook his head at me.

“Maya is looking for Weber.” Beckett put it all out there without hesitation.

“Snitch,” I muttered under my breath.

“ Cynthia Weber?” Tanner asked from his position against the wall.

“The crazy bitch?” Enzo echoed.

Well, couldn’t get out of it now. “Lucian, we can talk about it later,” I interjected before he said anything else and rubbed my temples.

“She’s not far from here. At most, a few hours’ drive.”

I glared at Lucian. He wasn’t supposed to talk; now my guys were going to act like assholes about it.

Tanner strode toward me. “What are you up to by finding her, Maya?” His low, deadly tone would have sent any sane person running, but I just sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Take a wild guess,” I muttered. Acting coy would get me nowhere. They could guess one reason why I wanted to find that bitch. “I’m getting rid of her.”

“Out of the question, Maya,” Tanner snapped. “You should know better than to seek her out.”

I sighed and tipped my head back. I expected the argument.

“If you want it done. I will go in your stead, but you should take a break from the bullshit you’ve had to experience,” he continued, his brown gaze bleeding determination.

My ire deflated, chased away by his devotion. Tanner looked out for me, so I wouldn’t have expected a different reaction from him. As much as I loved him looking out for me, a smidge of relief spawned that they wouldn’t be able to guess my entire plan for the bitch—a plan that required me to speak to her face to face.

“I want to go,” I said, vehement. Fisting my hand, I pressed my nails into my palm. Not just that, but I would go.

“We will end her tonight if that’s what you want, Runt, but you?—”

“My girl wants revenge, who are you to deny her?”

I widened my eyes at Enzo. The broom thudded on the ground.

“If you three are too fucking weak to protect her, just say so,” Enzo continued, his words drawled and lazy.

Beckett grunted and glared at Enzo, but I could see the fight leak out of him. He knew it was a lost cause. All of them did.

The corner of my lips twitched.

“Well, then,” Lucian rumbled. “Now that you’re done with your lover’s spat, I’ll tell you what I discovered.”