The knocking started to grow more and more violent. A few minutes later, it was no different than a chimpanzee trying to break into the lodge. The door was practically crying while trying to hold onto the hinges. Inez glanced at the woman, and yet Tracy didn’t seem to be the least bothered by the incessant knocking.
But then again, why would she? As far as she was concerned, Tracy took herself as her guest and didn’t see anything wrong with her staying over in her lodge. She was invited for a stay, which meant that she had every right to stay in the lodge, and Killian, knocking on the door, didn’t change anything.
Inez had to admit that she was simply in awe of the control and courage that Tracy had. Not to mention her confidence. Why wasn’t she like that? Maybe if she shared half of that confidence, then maybe she, too, could have looked Dominic in the eyes and told him to fuck off. That she too was a member of the Venus pack, having been born there and had every right to stay and live with respect.
And Inez knew that she did.
Dominic might be her alpha, but he had no right to torment her especially not when he was not giving her the protection that she deserved. As a member of the Venus pack, she had the right to live a peaceful life, and yet she had lowered herself until she was turned into a pathetic rug under the feet of the members.
If she had Tracy’s confidence, then she would have looked Dominic right in the eye the very day he pushed her in front of everyone and declared that she was on his hit list. Maybe a punch to his face would have sufficed, or maybe a kick to where his sun shone. He was too much of an arsehole to begin with, and the world could make do without his arrogance. Maybe she would have done the world a favour if she had turned that jerk impotent.
Only if she were more like her.
The knocking started to grow even intense, and Inez was half certain that Killian was going to break the door open any second now. She winced, surprised and honestly quite confused by Killian’s impatience. The man had never come off as impatient to her; he was polite, kind, and gentle. If not for the scent that was wafting over to her and filling up her lungs, Inez would have doubted that the man outside was Killian.
"He really is quite impatient," Tracy snapped. Her fingers were drumming on her forearm as she finally made a move. Her movements were slow and elegant, like she was walking past time itself. Even when she raised her hand to turn the doorknob, Inez was sure that she caught her full attention.
Oh, what she would give to become a woman like Tracy.
Tracy yanked the door open and peered up at the man standing outside. "Are you trying to break the door open?" Her voice was filled with a chill that could have frozen a desert if she wanted. With her eyes staring frigidly at the man in front of her, she ignored the snarl that erupted through Killian’s chest.
Even though Killian looked like he was about to lose his very shit, Tracy didn’t look like she was scared of him. It was a mark of her courage or foolishness that, despite a really angry lycan standing in front of her, the woman didn’t even flinch. She was still standing upright, with her arms crossed in front of her.
"You had no right to lock my woman in your magical spells, witch," Killian snarled. It was a mark of how much he detested and didn’t trust Tracy because Inez had never seen him talk with a woman in such an uncalm and unflattering tone before. He had always been such a gentleman outside bed that it was quite a change.
Tracy curled her lips on one side in a derisive smirk. "Maybe I wouldn’t have done that if you were cut for the position that you are standing in at the moment. You might have forgotten the tiniest bit of detail, but you have a traitor, and I can’t have them eavesdropping on our conversation. Now that they know I am here, they will try to understand why and what I am doing and why I am even trying to protect Inez."
Inez winced for the twentieth time. That was quite a blow, and it was going to hurt. She peeked at Killian’s face. Yup. It did hurt.
Killian parted his lips, but before he could let out a snappy retort, his gaze met Inez’s, and he sidestepped Tracy, ignoring her protest. He came to stop in front of her and questioned, "Are you alright? Didn’t I tell you that you cannot trust witches? How can you let her inside the lodge?"
He spoke to her as if she were a child who needed some serious lessons on how to deal with strangers.
"I am fine," Inez didn’t know how to feel about the current situation. Though she was amused by his frantic anxiousness, she didn’t laugh at him. She understood why he was so panicky and jittery, and that warmed her heart. She said to him, "Really, look, all of my limbs are intact."
"Thats not funny." He scowled at her, but his glare was soft because he was looking at her. However, when he turned his head and looked at Tracy, it was a completely different story. He said to her, "You should leave now."
"No, I won’t be leaving anytime soon."
Killian stared at her as if he wished to skin her alive; all pretence of gentleness that he had with her was gone, evaporated in a puff of smoke. A low growl rumbled from his chest, like a reminder of how he was a big, bad and threatening lycan and not some kitty cat that could be dismissed at will.