Ian’s POV:
I looked at the pack house in the rearview mirror as I drove away. Sherry, Damon, and the twins were looking at our cars happily.
“They sure look happy to see us leave,” I said softly.
“That’s because they are,” Amelia answered simply.
“What a weird pack,” I muttered under my breath.
“It wasn’t as hard as we thought it would be, so let’s give them some credit,” Whitney said.
I looked at Lee through the mirror, then nodded as he nodded back.
He had the map in his hand, and we weren’t going to waste any time using it. We needed to find Roxanne as soon as possible, even if she was okay.
I focused on the way while stealing a few glances at Amelia, who appeared to be deep in thought.
“Are you okay?” I asked in concern through our mind link.
“Yes,” she responded, then kept quiet.
I could tell that something was bothering her through our shared bond.
“Babe,” I called softly.
“Yes,” she answered without looking at me.
“I can tell that you aren’t okay,” I said through our mind-link.
She looked at me, then sighed heavily.
“Now that we have the map, what will be our next move?” she asked in a worried tone.
“Neo,” I called through our mind-link.
“Yes, Ian,” he answered, then hooted his car behind us to let us know he wasn’t the only one attentive in his car.
“I was thinking perhaps you, Toni, Felix, and Chase should go back home,” I said seriously.
“What?” he asked at the top of his voice.
“Tell Felix and Chase what I have said because I strongly feel that way. Now that we have the map, we can’t waste any more time. Amelia, Whitney, Lee, and I will continue our journey while you guys should go back and inform the rest of what had happened,” I said, then quickly stepped on my brakes when his car overtook mine and parked a few meters away.
“What the fuck, Neo!” I yelled at the top of my voice immediately after I had stepped out of my car with Amelia.
Was he fucking blind not to see that we would have had an accident if not for me stopping on time?
Their back door opened, and Felix came out looking very furious.
“What did you say to him, asshole?” she asked at the top of her voice.
By her tone, I could sense how ready she was to fight me.
I looked at Chase seriously when he stepped out of the car, hoping he would talk her out of her decision to follow us.
“I’m sorry, Ian. Once her mind is made up, I can’t talk her out of it,” he said calmly.
“Felix, look, you have a little girl waiting for you at home, and we don’t know what to expect on that side. If you follow us and it turns out to be a trap, I wouldn’t forgive myself if something were to happen to you. You are my best friend and…”
“Shut your damn mouth!” she screamed, cutting me off as I widened my eyes in disbelief.
“What the fuck did you say to me?” I asked angrily.
“If I’m your so-called best friend, then act like it! When I asked you to help me out with my parents, did you think of it being a trap or you losing your life? No, you went with me, knowing how you would give it all up because we are family! Why then wouldn’t I do the same?” she asked as I looked at her speechlessly.
“There is no fucking way I’m leaving you alone to go to that damn place. Moreover, no one knows the coven as well as I do. If we are going to a place where the elders might attack you, then you need me, a pure-blood vampire, because I’m stronger. An alpha Queen may hold her ground, but for how long? Think about it, Ian. You need me and Chase to have your back,” she said seriously.
Her reasoning was weak because on that side, we would still have Lee and Whitney having our back, but at the same time, I understood her concerns clearly.
She wanted to stand by my side as I have always done in the past.
“Ian, I think it’s time you stop deciding on our behalf like we are kids and start thinking about everyone’s decision,” Neo said when he stepped out with Toni.
“That girl is not only your daughter but our niece. She’s our family, and we can never turn a blind eye to this situation, no matter what,” Toni said with a glare.
“I am coming with you, Ian, with or without your approval. If something were to happen to you too, I wouldn’t forgive myself, knowing that I could have tried my best to cover for you and Amelia. I hate corny words, but I just have to say them right now. I love you, Amelia, and your kids as I would my biological family,” Felix said softly.
I looked at everyone seriously, then looked at Amelia, who was smiling warmly at me.
I could see that she had already decided to stand with them.
“Fine, we will all go together,” I said in a low tone.
“But if any of you die on me, I’ll curse your soul for life,” I warned playfully.
“You got it, Ian. No one is going to die on that side without your permission,” Felix answered, then turned and went back to the car.
“We need to start off now,” Chase said, then went back as well.
I looked at Neo, who smiled, then wrapped his arm around Toni’s shoulder.
“We should start off,” he whispered to her.
“Okay,” she answered and then went back to the car with him.
“I’m scared,” I whispered honestly to Amelia through our mind link.
“I know,” she answered, then moved and linked her hand with mine.
As tingles spread throughout my body, I could feel myself slowly relaxing. I wasn’t scared of death, but I was scared of seeing everyone I love die right in front of me.
“They won’t die,” Axel said in an assuring tone.
I wanted to trust his words, but I couldn’t. Facing the elders without an actual plan was suicide. And the fact that they had a powerful witch by their side and a Lycan gave them a great advantage.
My only hope was that Garren was going to believe me after hearing the whole truth of his parents’ death. If he would side with us, we would gain an upper hand and stand against the elders without involving the whole pack.
“My love,” Amelia called, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“We should start off now,” she said softly.
“Of course,” I answered, then walked to the car with her.
Whitney and Lee looked at us in silence as we got in.
“Are you okay?” Lee asked, concerned.
“Yes,” I answered, and then started the car.
There was nothing left to discuss. All we needed to do was to get to our destination.