Chapter 4 #2
“Yeah,” I mused softly, the list ever expanding as I got to know her more and more—there were so many places in this world that Effie would love. “I have more than a few ideas.”
Ones that would take us across the country, if not international. I loved the idea of starting fresh somewhere—maybe my sister and her mates would move as well. My grandfather had hit the nail on the head, threatening my sister.
Of course, nothing would ever come before my mate, but Aanya was the only part of my family that I maintained a genuine connection to. I would never leave her here—it wasn’t safe enough. It wasn’t safe for anyone with that bastard in charge.
Effie walked to the door and offered all of us a small smile, her bag slung over her shoulder. “I’m good to go.”
“No, you need a coat,” Tore rumbled. She nodded in agreement, her smile growing at his words. I had a feeling that Effie more than enjoyed how protective we were over her, which was good because it would absolutely never stop.
After she was bundled up in a coat, Dakota, Caedmon, and Tore having gone downstairs to pack up the SUV and warm it up, Julian and I took her towards the elevator.
The normally outgoing man was quiet, and I had a feeling it was because of his wolf.
I still didn’t fully understand the details of his relationship with Coffin, but I could tell it wasn’t something he wasn’t completely in control of.
Just the concept of that was enough to drive me mad, so I had sympathy for him.
“Julian,” Effie said softly. “Are you okay with leaving? I feel like I didn’t get to ask what you guys wanted.” Her brow dipped. “In fact, I don’t know how any of you feel about leaving.”
“We want what you want,” I said, even though my chest felt tight at the thought of returning to the place where I’d grown up.
“I don’t mind leaving,” Julian drew out, “but what I do mind is that Hastain’s body is unconscious on the floor and not fucking obliterated.”
Effie flinched at his tone, and I let out a low rumble, causing his gaze to dart to her and soften in apology. “Sorry, preciosa.”
“It’s fine…I don’t mind that idea,” she whispered, then clarified, “About not having him around.”
I arched my brow in curiosity. I had known Effie was getting more in touch with her wolf, I just hadn’t seen it expressed in quite this way yet, her not having much of a problem with the idea of violence.
It made me feel like less of a bastard for wanting to destroy every fucker who thought they could take her from us.
“That can be arranged,” Julian said easily. I smirked, loving that idea.
I blinked in realization that maybe Julian wasn’t wrong—maybe Effie truly was unraveling me. In fact, I knew she was.
When the elevator opened, Tore opened the main door of the building and the cold breeze blasted in.
I narrowed my eyes at the snow coming down and realized we really needed to get out of here before a storm came to play and grounded our flight.
Effie’s wolf made a pleased noise in her throat at the change in weather, even as my mate’s nose twitched uncomfortably.
The contrast of what her wolf wanted and what she wanted was so damn adorable.
“Up you go,” I instructed, lifting her into the front seat of the car and pulling the seatbelt over her chest. She flushed at the action, and I kissed her hard on the lips before rounding the car.
It was my SUV, so I would drive, something that made me feel like I had a modicum of control over the world even though I actually had very little right now.
The car was silent as I pulled away from campus, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it would be a good idea to ever come back here, or if somewhere else would be better.
As I drove towards the private airport, one hand on the wheel and my other wrapped around her small leg, my thoughts moved to the last time I was home, before I left for university.
It had been a long time since my grandfather or uncle had physically hurt me, especially once I grew larger than them, but that hadn’t stopped the emotional and mental abuse, the pressure and toll they had placed on me. It had been fucking exhausting.
I hated the idea of Effie being tainted by any of it.
“This is the airport?” Effie asked, leaning forward as we drove through the metal gates. “Why…why did I think they were larger?”
“Have you never been to an airport?” I asked, my brow dipping. I knew she’d been sheltered, but it surprised me that she’d never even seen one.
“Never,” she admitted. “Never even drove past one. There is an airport closer to the city, so I would see planes overhead, but yeah, never been.”
“They are usually larger,” I explained easily, the others quiet as they listened. “This is a private airport, mainly for jets like my grandfather’s.”
“I can’t believe your family owns a plane,” she murmured before looking back at the others. “I’ve never flown before…it’s not that scary, right? So many people do it.”
I hoped she wouldn’t be scared, and I could hear the hope in her own voice. If she was…well, I would just have to do my best to distract her in any way that I could manage.
“Not bad at all,” Caedmon assured her. She nodded, seeming content with that answer.
The dark jet was stark against the white and gray snowy airport landscape.
Lights dotted the area and the sky around us, small planes parked in the hangars nearby.
Describing it as ‘a small rural airport’ was generous.
I pulled to a stop in front of the jet as the captain walked down the steps to greet us, one of the attendants coming to take our bags.
“Your grandfather is aware of the plans?” he asked, confused. He hadn’t seen me in years, so it wasn’t surprising.
“He’s the one who suggested it,” I lied. I didn’t care if he knew—either way he got paid—but I figured it would ease his conscience if he didn’t think he was leaving someone behind.
“Alright.” He nodded and motioned for us to go up the stairs. “Please make yourself comfortable—we have a long flight ahead of us.”
We sure fucking did.
Effie took everything in as we stepped into the gray and black interior, the low lighting creating a relaxed setting.
Motioning for her to sit in one of the oversized leather chairs, I brought her a cashmere blanket and sat next to her, leaving the seat near the aisle open for one of her other mates.
I wasn’t naturally a ‘team player,’ and I was extremely possessive over Effie…but I also wanted her happy. Really fucking happy, and if that meant dealing with the others, then I would do it the best I could.
I just hoped that my best was enough—that it would make her happy.
As the jet began to prepare for departure, Effie tensed and slid up the shared armrest between us, snuggling into my side. I secured my arm around her and grazed my lips against her temple.
“I’m nervous,” she whispered.
“Never need to be nervous with us around,” I promised.
We would protect her with our lives.