“Ugh,” I sighed.

There was no way out of the small cell they had locked me up in. The door was made of steel and it was locked. The only other possible exit out of the room was a window but it had bars to stop me from trying to crawl through.

I paced the length of the room trying to figure out what to do next but there weren’t a lot of options.

I had no idea how long I had been missing for but it was late. It was dark outside and Maverick could already be here.

My emotions were all over the place. Still trying to digest the revelations about my family, and I was annoyed with myself for allowing myself to be captured in a neighboring territory. Trouble seemed to follow me where ever I went.

I hadn’t seen Kane since I had been thrown in here earlier. I had to wonder what punishment he had in store for me.

The sound of footsteps made me halt my pacing and I turned to face the door.

It unlocked and then it swung open.

“Come,” the blonde guy that had been with Kane commanded me.

Usually I would have been snarky but I just wanted out of here so I followed him. He led me down a path past a community area where people stopped to stare at me but I kept my eyes forward. I didn’t want to cause anymore trouble.

I just wanted Maverick. My world had been turned upside down and I needed him to make me feel like I had some control in the world. Especially when my past felt like it had been dragged into my present. No amount of distance to the orphanage had helped.

He led me into a large house and then down a hallway to a room. He entered and then I stepped into other room.

“Victoria.” Maverick’s voice washed over me before my eyes locked with his across the room.

Sebastian and Lark stood either side of him.

“A lovers reunion,” Kane said sarcastically.

I shot him a glare, unable to control my temper but his attention was elsewhere. His eyes were fixed on Lark but she refused to meet his gaze. It was unusual and unexpected.

“If you harm her I will rip you limb from limb,” Maverick said, with barely controlled anger through his tightly clenched teeth.

Kane walked slowly to stand between us. “There are rules Maverick.”

“She is not from our world. She does not understand the severity of her actions.”

Kane studied me for several seconds before he faced Maverick. “I cannot simply allow her to leave without punishment. It would be a sign of weakness.”

“I will kill you if you touch her,” Maverick growled. The restraint he had exercised before was gone.

It was Lark who put a hand to her brother’s chest. I could see they spoke between themselves through the mind link.

Kane seemed to be almost amused by the interruption. Sebastian did not move his attention from Kane.

“You expect me to leave you alone…with him.” Maverick argued openly. The look of disgust was directed at Kane who seemed to be enjoying his reaction.

Kane folded his arms, as he continued to watch with a smirk that seemed to agitate Maverick.

Lark gave her brother a glare and he relented. “Fine.”

“What makes you think I want to talk to you…alone,” Kane argued with a more amused expression.

“Shut up,” Lark snapped before shooting him a glare.

Kane’s smile widened as Maverick moved past him to take my hand into his. All the anxiousness, anger, regret fell away. For the first time since before the meeting with Tristan I felt a sense of calm.

Maverick led me out of the room and Sebastian followed us out, leaving Lark alone with the Alpha.

I wasn’t even sure it was a good idea. There was no doubt Kane was dangerous and I understood Maverick’s reluctance to leave his sister alone with him. Without protection.

Lark could not shift, which left her weak and unable to defend herself against the powerful Alpha.

You okay? Maverick asked through our mind link.

I’m sorry. I should never have gone so far…it’s just…

It’s fine. The main thing is getting you out of here. He replied, squeezing my hand reassuringly.

The blonde guy that had brought me to the study watched us a few feet away.

We shouldn’t have left her alone in there. Sebastian said.

I didn’t want her to risk her own well being to try and save me. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if she got hurt.

Maverick’s shoulders remained rigid as his gaze stayed on the door. He was ready to spring into action at the slightest cause.

I held my breath as we waited. There was no arguing from the other side of the door. I had expected loud voices and I strained to hear anything but I could only make out soft spoke conversation. I was unable to decipher what was being said.

The door opened. Lark appeared in the doorway.

“Let’s go,” she announced, looking annoyed.

I frowned, finding it hard to process what she was saying.

“But-” I wanted to argue.

Kane appeared behind Lark.

The blonde guy who had been guarding us shot Kane a questioning look, to which Kane nodded. Honestly, the guy mirrored our confusion. He didn’t get it either.

It was the strangest thing. There was something else going on but I couldn’t figure it out. I put it down to me being too worked up. The revelations about my family and then the trespassing onto a neighboring pack’s territory follow by being threatened was too much excitement for one day.

I didn’t miss the look Lark shared with her brother before he led me down the hallway and out the front where a car was waiting for us.

We stopped.

“Take the car,” Kane said to Lark.

“How will-“

He cut her off with a disinterested wave of his hand.

“I’ll collect it later.”

There eyes held for just a moment longer than I expected but I brushed it off. Maybe I was too tired and I was seeing things or reading too much into things.

Lark looked to her Maverick and he gave a nod. He would allow Kane to collect the car on his territory.

I was wiped. Emotionally and physically. I just wanted to switch off my mind, unable to process another thought.

Maverick sensed my tiredness because he lifted me into his arms. Someone opened the back door and he placed me inside and shut the door.

Lark got in the opposite side while Maverick got into the driver’s side. Sebastian got into the front passenger side.

Maverick wasted no time in starting the car and getting out of there.

I stared out of the window. Lark was quiet beside me. I gave her side look. She was engrossed in her thoughts and I had to wonder if she was thinking of Kane.

My hand crept to cover hers. She drew her gaze to mine.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

She had gotten us out of a very dangerous situation and I had no idea how.

She nodded and squeezed my hand before allowing her gaze to go back to the stare out of the window.

There was a sadness in her that hadn’t been there before. When I was feeling stronger I was determined to figure out what she had said to Kane for him to set me free so easily.

Kane was ruthless. It only took a short time in his company to know how unforgiving he was to anyone who he considered an enemy.

He had been determined not to appear weak so why had he let me leave without punishment?

The car was silent as Maverick drove back.

Even with all the added drama of Kane there was more pressing issues. Like that of my family.

I didn’t want to think about it. It brought back too many memories of my childhood and everything I had been trying to outrun.

But no matter how much I didn’t want to think about it, I couldn’t shake the disappointment that the loving family I had always hoped. Instead I was stuck with a family how as more concerned about power than my happiness.

I sighed. Maverick’s eyes caught mine in the rearview mirror.

But everything had led me to where I was now. With Maverick. My mate. And that was one thing I couldn’t regret.