Kieran POV
I am driving as fast as I can in the direction that Tish told me to go. She wouldn't just give me the address, and there was no time for me to argue with her. Every moment that I spend arguing with Tish is another moment that Mae is away from me.
As I weave in and out of traffic, I spare a glance at Tish in the passenger seat. She doesn't seem at all concerned that her life is being put at risk by my driving. If I were to wreck, I would probably survive, but her fragile human body would not.
She is looking down at her hands, picking at the edges of her fingernails and flicking old nail polish onto the floor of my car.
"Can you not do that?" I finally snap at her.
She raises her head and smirks at me before picking off another large piece and dropping it onto the ground. "You are so particular," she informs me.
"I just like things a certain way," I tell her.
"Just like you liked me on your lap in the bar," Tish smiles.
I grind my teeth together and try to ignore her. I don't want to think about what I did with Tish in that bar. It was a mistake, but Tish doesn't seem so keen on letting it go.
She leans over the center console of the car and runs her finger up and down my neck. "You can't tell me you didn't enjoy it," Tish whispers next to my ear. Her tongue darts out and flicks my earlobe, and I swerve into oncoming traffic. I quickly swing the car back into my lane and growl in Tish's direction. "Don't pretend to be mad. It was dirty and exciting. We both know that is something that I can give you that Mae never would."
She tries to touch me again, but I grab her hand and shove her back to her side of the car. "Touch me again, and it will be the last thing that you do."
Tish pushes her lip out in a fake pout. "If you kill me, who will lead you to your precious mate?"
"What happened to you?" I grumble. "Mae used to be your whole world."
"Until she locked me in a fucking dungeon," Tish snaps. "There is no forgiving that."
"She was doing what she thought was best for the pack. She was trying to be a good Luna," I try to explain to Tish.
She scoffs loudly. "I am… I was her best friend. She should have put me first."
I look at Tish in disbelief. "There are more important things in life than your relationship with Mae. Just because she is starting to see that and you aren't doesn't make her the bad guy."
"I will never forgive her," Tish huffs as she crosses her arms over her chest.
"You are acting like a child," I mumble back at her.
"You are acting like a child," she mocks me in return.
"Why did you even want to come?" I snap at her. "You could have given me the address and stayed at the pack house."
"With that loony toon, Narah? No, thank you," Tish laughs. "I bet everyone is dead when we get back. She is obviously unstable."
I want to argue with her, but I also felt uncomfortable leaving the pack with Narah lose in the pack house. While my mother seems comfortable with her presesnce, I don't. When she is stuck in her muddled state, she seems volatile. But I have faith that my fathers can keep her under control.
"You need to take this next exit," Tish interrupts my thoughts.
I let my car drift into the exit lane and look into the rearview mirror to make sure that the small group of warriors that are following me do as well.
The exit ramp curves sharply to right and I have to hammer my breaks to make sure I stay on the road. As I do, I splitting pain shoots through my chest, like a hot, silver dagger into my heart. Though I have never felt this pain personally, I know immediately what it is. It is the pain one feels when their mate betrays the bond between them.
Swinging the wheel wide, I park my car on the tall grass next to the ramp. My warriors do the same, and there is a barrage of car horns blowing at our actions.
I step out of my car and lay my hands on the hood, waiting for the pain to pass. I refuse to believe that Mae would betray the mate bond. She loves me. I am sure of it.
My claws extend from my fingertips and dig into the metal of my car. Many of my warriors try to approach me, but I send them away with a simple growl. They back away slowly to give me my space.
After just a few moments, the pain subsides, but I am left with a burning sensation in my chest. I raise my eyes from the hood of my car and see Tish smiling at me.
"What's wrong," she pretends to be concerned. "You didn't think she would be loyal to you, did you? Mae is nothing more than a slut."
A growl rips through my chest, and Tish's eyes widen with fear. For the first time she seems to be scared of me. She quickly ducks back into the car and doesn't say another word.
I take a moment to compose myself. There is an agonizing sense of dread washing through my body. But the emotions aren't coming from me.
"Mae," I whimper. She is in danger.
Wading through the tall grass, I pull Tish out of the passenger side by her neck. She squirms uncomfortably in my grasp but knows better than to try to get away.
"How close are we to the beach house?" I demand to know.
"Just a little farther," she attempts to breathe out.
I pull her face close to mine and snarl. "Give me the address."
"I don't know the address," she lies.
I squeeze my hand tighter around her neck. "The address," I insist.
Tish seems to realize that these could easily be her last moments on this earth. I am done playing games with her.
"214 Beach Grove," she manages to whisper.
An evil smile spreads across my face as I drag her to the back of my car. Holding her with one hand, I pop the trunk with the other.
"Get in," I command Tish.
But she shakes her head back and forth. "Please," she begs. "I will keep my mouth shut."
"Too late for that," I snap before tossing her into the trunk of my car.
She attempts to scramble her way out, but I slam the trunk door shut. I am almost sure I hit her in the head, but I don't care. If she dies, it would be a blessing.
I get back into my car and tap the address into the GPS. We are just a few miles away.
As I pull back onto the road, I can hear the subtle thumps of Tish in the trunk of the car. She is sobbing, and something about that brings me joy.