through the crowd until I see Maalik’s bright red hair and beard.
Tension unfurls in my stomach, and I breathe out a sigh of relief as his cerulean eyes meet mine. I didn’t realize how much I missed him until this moment. Our bond tingles beneath my skin. It’s like everything’s right now that we’re all together again.
Well, mostly right. Once I figure out a way to reach Alistair and see that he’s okay, then I’ll be fully at ease.
I smile and move to run to him, the same way I ran to Reule. But Maalik’s shoulders tense, his eyes sweeping over me dismissively. He turns away like I don’t matter to him at all, and he continues speaking to Audun.
Dumbfounded, I go still and stare at him in shock. He’s not happy to see me? After everything that happened between us last night and going hours without seeing each other? Tears form in the corners of my eyes at his obvious rejection.
Reule squeezes my shoulders, and Caelan growls. Maalik frowns at him, and Caelan says something angrily as he points at me.
Maalik looks at me again, furrowing his eyebrows. I look away. I don’t need to see his disdain. He was so sweet last night after he finally gave in to the moons. I never thought for a second that he would still hold onto his dislike for me after the bond was formed.
I take a deep breath and lean back against Reule, reaching out to grab Caelan’s hand at the same time. Today’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve done my best to embrace this new world and everything in it. But it’s still fucking scary. At least three out of four of my mates are sweet, loving, and supportive. I know they’re doing their best to make me feel happy and comfortable. Even if Maalik never changes his attitude toward me, I’m still lucky.
The guys are talking, but I don’t try to keep up since I can’t understand them, anyway. I squeeze Caelan’s hand until he looks at me. I point at the peak of the closest mountain, hoping he’ll understand what I’m asking. “Can we go home, please?”
He snaps at Maalik, baring his teeth, even as he steps closer to kiss the top of my head. Poor Audun is still holding all of my shopping bags with no help from the other guys, and he’s biting his lip as he glances back and forth between everyone while the other three guys argue.
I hold my hand up and narrow my eyes, commanding their attention. When four sets of eyes land on me and they go silent, I gesture to our surroundings. “People are still watching us. If you’re going to argue, do it at home.”
Reule and Caelan glance around us, seeming to realize what I’m trying to say. I don’t let myself look at Maalik. I focus on Audun, and he gives me a tiny, crooked smile.
Without warning, Reule scoops me up and cradles me to his chest as he takes large strides down the street toward the mountain I pointed at. He’s walking fast enough I’d have to run to catch up, so I’m happy to be carried. I wrap my arms around his neck and settle in for the long trek up the mountain.
People wave and bow at us as we pass. Reule ignores them and stares straight ahead, but I smile and wave at every person I see. If these guys are royalty or something, I don’t want the regular old townspeople to think they’re mean or we’re not getting along.
When we reach the edge of the town, the snow is thick on the ground. I’m even more glad to be carried because it’s super difficult to walk in. I don’t know how my guys do it so easily. I peek over Reule’s shoulder to find the others following behind us. Maalik has taken some of the bags from Audun, but Caelan walks empty-handed with a glum expression on his face.
Instead of staying on the path that leads up to their cabin, Reule darts into the woods to our left. The snow is even thicker here, and there are so many trees that I lose sight of the village and my sense of direction almost immediately. Reule quickens his pace, using his supernatural speed to run until he stops in a small clearing.
He sets me down carefully, calling Caelan’s name over his shoulder. Caelan appears in front of me. He gives me a nervous