Bloodlust

Departure

— VENICE —

My feet felt like cinderblocks as I trudged down hallway after hallway in the mansion. The exquisite art and ornate decor of the walls around me no longer held any interest.

We were leaving this place. Not the we that I expected, though.

Each time I thought about how Liam was locked up somewhere in this building, the fissure in my heart split wider.

The King Alpha's home was, in fact, a place I never wanted to return. The memories made under this roof and even beyond it would haunt me for the rest of my life. This place forever altered my life path moving forward.

I didn't know where that path would end, but for now, it was taking me back to America. As Macay and Alasdair had both told me, I would temporarily live with him and his pack until I was safe from the Princeps.

No matter how many times I tried to imagine how this would all play out, I couldn't. I also couldn't fathom being so close to my family without returning to see them. The only thing I could was hold on for dear life.

Macay's hand drifted down to my lower spine. He held a door open, waiting patiently for me to cross through. Sunlight streamed into the foyer and warmed my feet. This was the door that would take us outside, that would take me away from this place.

Away from Liam.

I crossed my fingers together in front of me and sighed before reluctantly crossing the threshold.

Macay guided me out to a polished, alabaster SUV. He removed his hand from me to open the back door. I paused, feeling a weight settle around me.

"It's okay," Macay whispered. "I've got you. I'm going to take care of you, I promise."

I didn't want him to take care of me. I didn't want to leave with him. He knew that, too.

Gritting my teeth, I tried to force myself into the car but my legs wouldn't budge.

I didn't even get to say goodbye.

"I understand you're worried about him," Macay said, "but his decisions have brought him here. It is not your responsibility to pay for his mistakes. Now, we must go before we miss the plane. Please, get in the car."

My face tilted up to glimpse his face. I wanted to be angry. I wanted to curse him. But I didn't.

None of this was his fault. He'd probably talked Alasdair into taking me home with him, but I couldn't blame him for Alasdair's ruthlessness. Macay wasn't the one forcing my hand here.

Although I didn't like considering it, Macay was almost doing me a favor by taking me away from the drama and danger of the Princeps. He didn't have to help, but he was.

Before my thoughts could get away from me, I climbed into the backseat. Macay followed directly after. My chest constricted as the door slammed shut behind him.

The bellman finished loading Macay's luggage and the SUV jetted off down the white brick driveway.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"The airport," Macay murmured, sounded distracted. His focus was glued to his phone.

"I mean . . . where is the plane taking us?"

"Oh." He set the phone aside. "I wasn't sure when you would be ready for the details. My pack lives in Utah."

Interesting. Never been there before.

"Have you ever been?"

It was eerie how he could almost read my mind. I shook my head.

"Well, it's beautiful," he said. "We live in a national park with a stunning lake, mountains, and meadows full of flowers. It's a magical place to live."