Chapter 15 Rory
Rory
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound came again, and I groaned, moving towards the door.
I’d already caught their scent. Tariq stood on the other side of our cottage door. And with him, that unmistakable stench of undiluted arrogance that could only be Callum Reid.
“Stay there,” I muttered, my stomach clenching as I opened the door just a crack to prevent them from seeing our unexpected guests.
“Hello?” I kept my voice casual, like I wasn’t panicking about the evidence of our investigation spread across the cottage.
Tariq stood ramrod straight in his usual formal posture, Callum slightly behind him, glowering.
The scar through his left eyebrow was tugged downwards as he scowled at me.
He had no signs of injury from our scuffle—either they’d healed or were hidden under the thick hoodie he wore.
Had he even told anyone we’d fought? I wondered what my mother would think of her precious protégé ambushing me in the woods.
“We’ve got a message for you from Edina,” Tariq announced, his tone clipped and efficient as always.
“Did she not fancy the walk herself?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Tariq ignored my jab. “There’s a taxi waiting for your guests at the gate.”
“What guests?” I asked with mock innocence.
Before I could stop him, Tariq shoved the door wide open, pushing past me with Callum hot on his heels.
For a long, uncomfortable second, Tariq raked his eyes over the cottage—the blood still on the floorboards, Maxwell’s hostile stance, arms folded, Priya and Felix sitting very still at the table.
“I’m not entirely sure what you were thinking, but the pair of them need to leave, now.
We graciously decided to allow one outsider”—he slid his eyes to Maxwell, voice laden with disgust—“as a peace offering. But this? This is too far.” He glared at Priya and Felix, and Felix visibly flinched, looking terrified as he slammed his laptop shut.
The sudden movement drew Tariq’s attention to the computer. Panicking that he might declare he was seizing it, I jumped in with, “They were just here for a flying visit. I forgot my toothbrush, and they offered to bring it to me.”
Tariq did not find that amusing. “The taxi’s waiting.”
“It’s okay, Rory,” Priya said, standing to gather her bags. “We’ll go stay in the town.”
Callum growled, low and threatening, and I wanted to punch him in the face. Or tear his throat out.
“You’re not welcome here,” Tariq stated coldly. “Not on pack lands, or in our town.”
Our town. As if they actually owned every piece of it. The hatred bubbled up inside me—my family always thinking they could possess and control everything around them.
“It’s okay, Priya. You’re needed back in London anyway. I’ll be home soon,” I said, trying to sound reassuring.
Tariq moved towards the front door, holding it open expectantly.
“Jesus, give them a moment,” I snapped. “Look, I’ll walk them to the gate, okay? You can go back to the manor and watch from the cameras.”
“We’ve strict instructions to personally ensure they get in that taxi,” Tariq replied, “and then escort you to Edina.”
The mention of my mother set off a riot in my chest, each heartbeat a panicked tap dance. A wave of nausea crashed over me, and suddenly I was twelve again, standing outside my father’s door, waiting for punishment, his disappointment in me already seeping into my soul.
Maxwell materialised at my side, his hand finding my arm, and squeezing tight. “We’ll all walk to the gate together to make sure our friends get in the taxi safe and sound,” he told Tariq with a horribly fake smile.
A sudden squeak had me swivelling towards Felix. His eyes were wide with terror—Callum’s hand was on his shoulder, his fingers coiled with unmistakable threat.
“Get off him,” I snarled.
Before I could move, Priya swung around and drove her elbow straight into Callum’s stomach. He doubled over with a grunt of surprise, then straightened up, face contorted with rage as he hissed at her.
My vision clouded red. I lunged forward, ready to tear Callum’s throat out, when Maxwell’s arms locked around me from behind.
“Let’s go,” Maxwell said firmly in my ear, his grip tightening as I struggled against him. “Let’s. Go.”
I could feel my wolf raging inside me, clawing to get out and defend. Defend my family. Defend the pack I’d built for myself. But Maxwell’s arms around me grounded me, even as I trembled with fury.
“It’ll only make things worse,” he murmured into my ear.
Tariq’s face remained impassive. “After you,” he said coldly, gesturing towards the open door.
Within moments, Priya and Felix were packed and out of the door. We marched in silence towards the gate, Tariq and Callum bringing up our rear like vicious guard dogs.
When we reached the gate, it was already open, the taxi waiting a short distance outside. Tariq and Callum hung back within the perimeter of the wall, while Maxwell said brief goodbyes at the entrance, leaving me to walk them to the car.
Felix looked relieved at the sight of it, quickly jumping into the back seat, hugging his bag to himself like a blanket. His first Killigrew Street experience outside of his lair had certainly been an action-packed one.
Priya lingered with her hand on the taxi door, glancing back at the manor house with obvious concern. “Well, that was… intense. Sorry we have to go.”
“Believe me, you don’t want to spend any more time here than you have to.”
“I can see why.” She studied my face carefully. “Are you going to be okay? Because I saw how Callum was looking at you in there, and I don’t like leaving you here.”
“I’ll be fine. Maxwell’s here.”
“Speaking of Maxwell…” She lowered her voice. “So, tell me quickly. What’s going on?”
“The taxi driver looks pretty ready to leave.”
“So don’t keep him waiting.”
I sighed, glancing back at where Callum and Tariq were watching us like hawks. “It was just one time. Last night. Just a casual hookup. Burning off pent-up anger towards each other. Nothing more to it.”
Priya’s expression softened with concern. “Don’t give me that rubbish. I saw the way you were running over to him earlier. Your wolf was practically licking his face. What if this is more than just sex?”
I scoffed, though my pulse skyrocketed. “I’m not being his baby -bi experiment.
We’re colleagues. Professionals. And stuff.
” I swallowed hard. The truth was, I wasn’t sure my heart would take it—seeing him at meetings, working with him, if we actually dated and it went south.
Which it inevitably would. “I’d usually happily be any hot man’s guinea pig.
But not with him. Not after everything.”
There was a long pause as Priya studied my face. “Rory.”
“What?”
“You’re taking the safe option here. Closing yourself off to new possibilities. Don’t overthink this. Trust your instincts.”
I whacked her on the head. “Sorry that I’m trying to be a mature, sensible adult for once.”
“If you were a mature, sensible adult, you wouldn’t be planning on fucking his brains out the moment you get back to that cottage.”
“Get in the taxi,” I told her.
“This is great, though,” she continued cheerily. “Everyone now owes me twenty each. Even Flynn didn’t believe me. The fool.”
“Get in that taxi.”
She laughed and finally got in, waving at me sadly as the taxi pulled away.
I raced back towards Maxwell, who stood waiting for me. Callum and Tariq lingered nearby, staring over—clearly waiting for me to join them to see my dear mother.
My stomach twisted into knots. I’d rather face a pack of rabid wolves than have another conversation with her.
Maxwell stepped in front of me.
“I’ll see you back at the cottage, I guess,” I said, trying to sound casual despite the anxiety crawling up my throat.
“Not a chance. I’m coming with you.” He folded his arms across his chest, stance wide and immovable. “The last time you were out of my sight, you came back bleeding. You’re not leaving my side ever again.”
Oh. Why did that sentence cause my stomach to explode into a thousand fluttering butterflies?
“I mean, until we get back to London,” he added, spoiling the moment with his signature scowl. “Then you’re Seb’s problem.”
“Gee, you really know how to make a guy feel special,” I said. “But seriously, I’ll be fine.”
Maxwell shook his head. “I’m not budging on this.
Besides, it fits with our cover story.” He reached out to grab my arm, his fingers warm against my bare skin.
“Your fierce, overly protective boyfriend isn’t going to let you go alone,” he said, while squeezing my arm, his thumb gliding over my skin.
I almost told him he was giving me very mixed signals, but it probably wasn’t the time for that conversation.
Tariq and Callum marched us to the house. Maxwell surprised me by sliding his hand down my arm, his fingers intertwining with mine. The simple gesture sent a rush of pleasant tingles through me, and the knot of terror at facing my mum loosened slightly.
As we climbed the steps, Tariq said, “Theodore, you can wait in the lobby. Edina wishes to speak with her son alone.”
Maxwell’s grip on my hand tightened. “Rory isn’t going anywhere without me,” he stated, shooting a scathing look to Callum.
Before Tariq could respond, the manor’s heavy oak door swung open with a sharp creak. Isla emerged, ginger hair pulled up in a harsh ponytail, freckled face flushed. “Rory, are you okay? I’ve just heard what happened.”
“It’s all fine,” I said quickly, not wanting to cause more drama. “My friends shouldn’t have popped up uninvited. That’s on them.”
Isla turned to glare at Tariq and Callum. “They were hardly staging an invasion. Christ, you’d think they were carrying pitchforks the way you all reacted.”
I caught the way Callum’s entire posture shifted when Isla spoke. His shoulders straightened, his eyes raking over her like he wanted to devour her whole.
“Edina has requested to see Rory,” Tariq told her pointedly.