Samuel averted his gaze to the wooden floor, not meeting anyone’s eyes.
Coral had her own food in her hand as she entered the room with her mother next to her.
Coral motioned to Finn. “Are you really surprised? Look at how you’re acting.”
“Me?” Finn shook his head, staring at them in confusion. “You guys are acting like life is normal.”
No one wanted to set him right, and he was getting worse. I hated to do this since he was my cousin, but enough was enough. “You’re irrational and full of hate.”
“Excuse me?” He focused on me, and he pouted. “You don’t even know me.”
“I don’t have to know you to feel it.” I stared my cousin down. “You want to point fingers at Aidan, Beth—hell, even me—but we aren’t the problem.”
Emma, are you sure this is the time? Aidan squeezed my hand, and concern flowed through our bond.
If not now, when? I had to stick to my guns, and my gut was telling me this was long overdue. “You’re an orphan, and it sucks.”
“What the fuck does that have to do with anything?” His breathing increased, and if he could have, he’d have been spewing flames right now; that’s how furious he was.
“Everything.” I let go of Aidan’s hand and stepped toward him. “I understand what you’re feeling, but I handled it differently. I was afraid to upset people because it might make them not want me. My method wasn’t healthy, and neither is yours.”
“Oh, so you’re psychoanalyzing me now?” Finn asked, his voice raspy.
“Maybe. You’re doing the same thing but with anger. Instead of pleasing, you push your hate on everyone else.” Now that my words were flowing, there was no stopping them. “You’re a liability, and you need to learn to accept yourself. Until then, you’ll hate and alienate yourself even more from the people you do care about.”
“I’m not the one who killed my parents,” he said so loud it hurt my ears.
“And neither did they.” I pointed to Beth and Aidan. “What happened was tragic, but at least you knew your parents. I only found out who mine were weeks ago.”
“So your story is sadder than mine?” Finn laughed, without humor. “I just need to shut up and be happy since I have a picture of them and you never did of yours?”
That hurt. I had no clue why, but it did.
Aidan growled, sensing my feelings, and moved to step in front of me, but I countered.
No one was fighting my battles for me.
“It’s not a fucking competition.” My wolf rose inside me, not giving a damn if it pissed him off more. “And that’s your problem. Aidan was raised by the Society. You can’t blame him for that. He’s on our side now, and Beth has been nothing but kind to you. You need to do some soul-searching and get your act together.”
“I should be part of this,” he murmured. “My parents died protecting your mom.”
“Maybe, but you’re too hot-headed, and I don’t want you with us.” I hated to hurt him. This was important to him, but I couldn’t risk him messing everything up. If we ran into The Hallowed Guild, I didn’t need a loose cannon on my side. “I can’t trust you to keep a level head.”
He inhaled sharply and glanced at Beatrice, then Rowan, then Sage. “And you agree with her?”
“Yes, we do.” Beatrice nodded, but her light purple eyes darkened with sadness. “You’re getting worse each year.”
“Fine.” He turned on his heel and headed out the door, slamming it loudly behind him.
Tears sprang in Amethyst’s eyes. “He’s crushed.”
“Maybe this is the wake-up call he needs.” Coral wrapped her arms around Amethyst and smiled.
“I’m sorry if I spoke out of place.” I’d followed my gut, but maybe I should’ve let Beatrice handle that encounter.
“No, you did so much better than me.” Beatrice’s shoulders slumped. “I wouldn’t have been so honest, and maybe that’s what he needed all these years.”
“So … changing the subject, but if we’re getting four girls, and there are six of us, how many vehicles are we taking?” Beth held out her hands as she counted.
“We’ve got two Suburbans out there.” Samuel nodded to the front door. “That way, none of us will be squashed.”
“I’m riding with Aidan and Emma,” Beth called out.
“Of course, the wolves would stick together.” Coral winked at us.
“Here you go.” Samuel tossed the keys at me.
“Uh … I don’t drive huge-ass vehicles.” In fact, I had a hard time driving my dad’s Nissan Altima back home.
“I’ve got this.” Aidan grabbed the keys from me. “Let’s roll.”
It was around eight p.m. when we rolled into Clarksburg, West Virginia. We’d barely made any stops and got there within twelve hours.
We followed Samuel’s SUV as he led us toward the local coven. Beatrice had made the call personally, and the local coven had invited us to stay. However, Coral had informed us that they might be wary. Whatever the hell that meant.
We were about twenty miles from the city, and I was afraid we might be on a wild goose chase. Maybe they’d given Beatrice incorrect information or something.
“Do you think we’ll ever get out of here?” Beth yawned in the back middle row and raised her arms over her head.
“Not at this rate,” I muttered. My legs were cramped, and my back hurt from sitting in this car all day. The fact that I sounded like an old woman pissed me off even more.
“Beatrice’s coven is this far away from the city too.” Aidan rubbed his thumb along my wrist. “It’s just that you’ve been in the car all day and are eager to get out.”
Yeah, my wolf didn’t enjoy it at all.
Samuel slowed down and turned onto a small side road.
I was getting excited. This had to be a sign that we were getting close to our destination.
“Are we sure these witches will let us in there?” Beth leaned forward in the seat.
Anxiety threatened to take over, but I was keeping it at bay. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” I tried sounding confident.
Nothing will happen to you. Aidan squeezed my hand again. I won’t allow it.
I doubt they’ll ask for your permission. I loved that he was trying to comfort me. I would be a complete mess without him by my side.
Doesn’t matter. He looked at me with love in his eyes.
We turned down a gravel road, and the SUV bounced from side to side.
“I thought we wouldn’t be jarred around in this huge-ass car,” Beth grumbled in the back. “I’m so ready to get out of it.”
“Gravel isn’t even, and the Suburban isn’t magical. It won’t be smooth the entire time.” Aidan rolled his eyes and grinned.
“What the hell is that up there?” I squinted through the dust the lead vehicle was kicking up. A group of twenty people was blocking the road ahead.
The brake lights of the Suburban in front of us lit up, and as Samuel slowed, my cell phone went off.
I grabbed it from the center console and read the message. Stay in until we motion for you to get out.