Chapter 13
Macy showered quickly, hoping the hot water would wash away the heaviness clinging to her chest. It didn’t. By the time she toweled off and slipped into her work clothes, the knot inside her had only grown tighter.
Standing at the mirror, she dragged the brush through her damp hair, watching her reflection. The woman staring back wasn’t the sharp, smartass Crow she usually saw. Her eyes looked hollow, weighed down with something she didn’t want to name. Sadness? Longing?
Her throat tightened. She was truly happy for Kaelen, having heard what Zelda had told him. But under that happiness was a hollow ache she couldn’t ignore.
He had a future now. A new purpose to search for others like him. She couldn’t shake the fear that it meant he would be walking out of her life just as quickly as he’d walked into it.
“Get it together,” she muttered, wrinkling her nose at her reflection as if scolding herself could erase the truth.
She had fallen for him fast and hard. It was the ways of the Shifter.
When you found the one, there was absolutely no denying it.
But she had to deny it because if she didn’t, the heartbreak of his leaving would consume her.
She tossed the brush down and squared her shoulders. She’d survived worse—loss, betrayal, and certain banishment from her Murder. She’d survive this, too, if she had to.
But as she grabbed her bag and headed for the door, one thought stayed with her, heavy and unrelenting. She didn’t want to survive losing him. She wanted him to stay.
By the time Macy stepped out of the cabin, the air felt cooler than usual, or maybe it was just the emptiness inside her.
She hugged her bag tighter to her side, her boots crunching against the gravel path as she made her way toward Shift Faced.
She was close enough that she decided to walk tonight.
She did that sometimes. It helped clear her mind, and well, she enjoyed it.
Today, however, she realized it was just giving her mind more time to think.
She wasn’t due in for work for a couple of hours, but she had promised Billie Ann that she would come early to help decorate for the Halloween party tomorrow night.
The closer she got, the more she could hear the distant hum of laughter and music spilling from the bar. That sound had always been her comfort, her escape. Tonight, it felt like armor, something to take her mind off everything.
Inside, the familiar warmth and smell of beer, food, and Shifter musk wrapped around her like a blanket.
She forced a smile, flashing it at a table of regulars who raised their mugs at her in greeting.
The mask slipped easily into place, her loudmouth sass ready to keep everyone from guessing the truth about her mental state at the moment.
She was good at hiding her feelings, had been doing it for years.
“Bout time you showed up,” one of the guys called out. “We thought you quit on us.”
Macy planted a hand on her hip, her smirk sharp enough to cut glass. “Quit? Please. Without me, you’d all be drooling into your mugs, wondering why life feels so empty.”
Laughter erupted, and she grinned, sharp and confident.
On the outside, she was the same Macy everyone knew.
Mouthy, opinionated, and tough as nails.
But beneath the banter, her heart was still stuck back at the cabin with Kaelen, with the way his hand had lingered on her cheek, the touch of his lips against hers, the way she felt safe and whole when she was with him.
Turning away from the men, her easygoing smile instantly fell from her face.
Walking into the back, she went into Davey’s old office, which was now Billie Ann’s. It still felt strange not seeing Davey sitting in the chair, swearing about invoices or busted kegs. The emptiness of it hit her harder tonight, layering over the ache she was already carrying.
“Hey!” Billie Ann smiled up at her as she walked into the office. “What are you doing here so early?”
“Uh, to help set up for the Halloween party.” Macy frowned, suddenly thrown.
Billie Ann’s smile faded, her eyes sharpening with concern. “Macy, are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Macy said a little too quickly, waving a hand like it was nothing. Truth was, her head was a mess, and her heart felt like it was trying to beat its way out of her chest. “Why?”
“Because I texted you earlier.” Billie Ann leaned forward on the desk, brows drawing together. “I told you not to worry about it. I got bored and went ahead and set everything up myself.”
Macy blinked, her stomach dropping.
“Didn’t you notice when you walked in?” Billie Ann pressed, her gaze softening but unrelenting.
Macy glanced over her shoulder toward the bar, and sure enough, orange and black streamers hung from the rafters, carved pumpkins glowed from the counters, and fake cobwebs clung to the corners. Shit.
“Well, of course I noticed.” Macy lied smoothly, rolling her eyes for effect. “I just figured there was more.”
Billie Ann arched a brow. “Uh-huh.”
Macy plastered on another grin, but the truth bothered her. She hadn’t seen a damn thing. Not the pumpkins, cobwebs, or the party setup. The only image burned into her mind had been Kaelen with his golden eyes, the hardness of his body, and the dangerous pull she couldn’t seem to fight.
“Well, since I’m here and obviously don’t check my messages, what do you need me to do?” Macy asked, wanting nothing more than to steer the conversation in a totally different direction.
Billie Ann didn’t answer right away, just studied her with that steady gaze of hers.
Finally, she sighed. “Well, actually, I’m glad you came in.
Rafe was supposed to bartend until you got here, but Mac needed him.
I’ve been trying to handle both. You want to bartend for me, and I’ll take care of the tables? ”
“Sure.” Macy forced a smile and nodded, turning toward the bar.
“Macy,” Billie Ann called softly. When Macy turned back, Billie Ann’s voice was gentler. “Rafe told me what’s going on. If you need to talk, I’m here.”
Something in Macy loosened at that. “Thanks,” she said honestly, giving Billie Ann a small but genuine smile. “I’m glad you came back.”
“So am I,” Billie Ann admitted, glancing around the office. Her voice softened. “I miss him.”
“Yeah, so do I.” Macy’s gaze swept the worn space before drifting back to Billie Ann. She chuckled. “You want to start sitting at the desk, cussing and bitching like Davey used to do every single time I walked in here? That would make me miss him less.”
“You should have been here earlier,” Billie Ann laughed, shaking her head. “That’s exactly what I was doing about two hours ago. I understand Davey better now than I ever did.”
“I bet.” Macy let out a snort of laughter before stepping forward and wrapping Billie Ann in a tight hug. “You’re a good friend.”
“You’re not alone,” Billie Ann whispered back, hugging her just as fiercely. “Whatever happens with the Crows, you have us.”
Macy nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat before pulling away. She tried to lighten the mood with a grin. “I’d better get out there before the Raccoons start serving themselves.”
“That would bankrupt us.” Billie Ann smirked, shaking her head as Macy slipped out of the office.
Macy had barely reached the bar when the air shifted. The door banged open, rattling the glass, and in came Griffin with half a dozen Crows trailing behind him like shadows. The easy laughter of the room died instantly, tension sparking sharp and dangerous.
Griffin’s eyes locked on her, cold and calculating, his smile nothing but teeth. “We need to talk,” he said, his voice carrying across the bar like a threat wrapped in silk. “Your half’s due, Macy. Remember? The very day you dragged that Werewolf out of our trap.”
Billie Ann stepped forward before Macy could answer, her shoulders squared. “Back off, Griffin. This isn’t the place for your bullshit.”
Griffin ignored her, pushing through the tables until he stood in front of Macy. “Don’t hide behind your friends, Crow. You know what you owe.”
Macy’s heart pounded, but she lifted her chin, her voice steady even though her palms itched with heat. “I’m done paying.”
The Crows shifted restlessly, murmurs rippling like dark wings. Griffin leaned closer, his breath hot with malice. “That’s not your decision. That’s Jack’s.”
“Then I’ll tell Jack, since he is Alpha and you are just his lackey,” Macy shot back, though her stomach turned. “You’ll get nothing from me, Griffin. Not now, not ever.”
Griffin’s eyes narrowed, and in a blink, he had her by the arm in a bruising grip, dragging her toward the door. Billie Ann cursed, moving to follow, but one of the Crows stepped in her path, blocking her.
Outside, the night air was thick and heavy, or maybe that was just her fear.
Griffin shoved Macy against the wall, his shadow blotting out the moonlight as he leaned in, menace dripping from every word.
“You think you can defy us? You’ll regret this, little Crow.
You’ll regret it until your last breath.
” Griffin hissed in her face, hatred for her in his eyes.
The hatred was nothing new; Griffin hated everyone, and anyone who followed him did it out of fear.
Her pulse thundered in her ears, fear clawing at her throat, but she refused to flinch. “Is that a threat?” she spat, breathless but defiant.
Griffin’s sneer deepened, his face inches from hers. “It’s a promise!” The weight of his power pressed in, suffocating her, until the roar of an engine shattered the moment.
A motorcycle tore up the gravel, its headlight blazing like fire cutting through the dark. Every Crow turned at the sound as the machine skidded to a halt.
Kaelen swung off the bike, leather jacket catching the glow of the headlamp, his golden eyes burning like twin suns. He looked wild, dangerous, utterly untamed—and he was looking right at Griffin.