Page 21 of V for Vengeance

I hated to admit how much I missed Tiff. How I couldn’t mourn her like Nigel could. How I was forced to fight for my life by ending hers. But even though she and Topher betrayed me, I still wanted to believe they didn’t know the truth; that they’d been brainwashed to believe I was a threat. I wanted to think they did it because they had no other choice. But we’d never know. They were dead, and nothing we said or did would ever change that.

“I’m sorry you lost people you cared about,” I whispered, hoping to express my support with a squeeze.

Pulling away, I caught sight of the anguish bleeding from my friend’s eyes—the pain, the hurt, the agony. Tears broke away and trailed down his face before Nigel wiped them away, sniffing angrily. It killed me to see him like that, but the alpha just shook his head, cleared his throat, and schooled his expression.

“Theo did this, not you. If he’s involved with the Organization like you say, then this is worse than I first thought. If he’s working with them after everything they’ve done to us, it goesagainst every credo we wolves believe in.” Nigel’s beaming amber eyes flicked up to meet mine, no longer drowning in grief. The rage was finally there, bent on settling the score.

“If we can get enough evidence to prove he’s the Organization’s lap dog, then we won’t have to be the ones to take him down. The wolf society will do that for us. So, I’ll help you. I know for a fact that Claude and Mia were just as blindsided as I was, and they’ll want this as much as you Hunters do. Let’s take down a fucking society alpha.”

“Never thought there’d ever be a day where I was glad to have you on our side…” Phillip huffed a laugh, surprising us all.

Which was the closest Nigel would ever get to a compliment from Phillip. The wolf understood as much because his eyes went wide and he scoffed, but it lacked the usual annoyance. The upwards twitch of the werewolf’s mouth told me despite thinking Phillip was the scum of the Earth, he was tickled by the compliment.

The rest of the group came out of their hiding places in the forest, and Nigel rolled his eyes when Grams made her way over to him. The elderly woman had recently dyed her hair a hilarious shade of pink, and you’d never guess she fought like a demon. If anything, she came across as one of those hip grandmas from TikTok, especially with the dominatrix outfit she’d worn today.

Grams dragged the enormous man into a hug, then pinched his arm. “You better stop pretending I don’t exist. You’re never allowed to act like we’re strangers again. I missed this handsome face.” Cradling Nigel’s head between her hands, my grandma’s hazel eyes crinkled. “And you owe me a few spars for being a big ol’ brat and hurting my granddaughter.”

The Shifter’s hiss of pain was quickly followed by an all-kid grin when she chastised him. “Okay, you’ve got me there. But I always end up hurting for days after a spar with you, woman. You use gold-plated weapons to slow down the healing process.”My lethal grandmother’s warning eyes landed on the Shifter, and he laughed loudly.

It was the first time in a long time since I’d seen Nigel laugh like this. The usual boyish charm beamed in his expression like no time had been lost. I’d nearly forgotten what his amusement did to my heart. My first boyfriend was still the most beautiful when he smiled, and I’d missed it.

Maybe I wasn’t the only one who needed Grams back. As I stared at the two of them, their genuine love for each other in every word and look, I realized that maybe Nigel was waiting for her to return the same way I had been.

“I can’t believe you brought gold bullets to take me down,” he admonished Grams, staring at the gun clipped to her belt.

Her lips twitched, and she offered the wolf a sneaky glance. “You’re fast. I had to bring the gun, or you’d be out of range before I could get’cha.”

Phillip and I both laughed, and Nigel sighed loud enough to make Kris and Grams also break down into a fit of giggles.

You’d never know when you looked at us that this was a group of terrifying superbeings out for revenge—because for the first time in a while, we all seemed to be having fun.

Chapter 12

Leaving Her

Sloan

Ispirited the little minx away as soon as I could after we returned to her nan’s place. I wanted the saucy Hunter all to myself. Because I wouldn’t get to claim her time for a little while after this.

Pinning V to a large tree, hidden away from the world, in a space of our own, I stared down into her devastating hazel eyes, trying to burn every detail into my memory.

It never occurred to me how afraid I’d be to leave her even though she’d be with Phillip—someone who’d quite literally destroy the world to keep her safe. Even when I knew her power was stronger than our group combined. Even when she didn’t need anyone to protect her.

If anything,weneededher.

My little darling’s gaze floated around my face, confused. “You said we were going to train…”

V’s body was rigid and her breath came faster. Her pulse was racing in my ears, and every look she sent at me was charged with an intense, seductive heat. It was oddly relieving that shecouldn’t hide what she felt no matter how often we trained, but those sultry looks of hers made it impossible to think or act like the gentleman I pretended to be.

I never stopped craving her. It was a bit mad how addicted to the woman I was. Any chance I got, I chased her down. I couldn’t help myself. I’d even shared her without argument when everything inside of me wanted sole claim of her heart. But if I could have a piece, I vowed I would be satisfied with it. I vowed it would be enough.

For this I was certain, Phillip made her smile in a way I never could. He gave her things I never would. He was a source of support I couldn’t hope to offer. And for that reason, I’d do whatever it took to give her the things—the people—she needed. I wouldn’t let my greed master sense because V deserved every happiness I could afford her.

Falling so hard and so fast for someone was new for me. But everything was new to V. So, I vowed to learn with her. Her life was ever-shifting, and each day came with a new threat or challenge. No one deserved to tie her down, and I’d be the last person to make her feel like she had to surrender any part of herself to make me happy.

So, whatever she needed that was within my power to give, I’d give it to her because V was more important than my jealousy or desire to monopolize her time. Still, I took my pieces where I could and surrendered them to no one.

“Grams is going to kick my ass if I don’t act like I was raked over the coals training with you today, Sloan,” V added, jerking me out of my head.

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