Or at least, I think I did. These marks are so much like the ones I had before, after the first fire. The one that happened here. If I had used this circle before, what did I see back then? What happened that almost killed me? Is that why? I didn't have someone to stop me, so I went overboard and... did this to myself without knowing? But the memories I saw were Clarissa's, and it doesn't explain who Mara is...
"Come on."
I feel Liam put an arm under my knees, and lift me before I can say a word. Either I'm thinner than I thought, or he's strong, because it looks like he's completely fine while taking me across the room.
"...Where are we going?" I ask, my voice a bit raspy.
"Let's go to Nina's," he says. "You can sit down and explain what the fuck was going on here..."
He sounds angry, and I don't even dare protest. He really looked panicked earlier. Is it okay if it makes me happy? Liam doesn't say a word as we leave the building. I'm so tired, actually, I'm happy to just be carried around. Why the hell am I so tired already? Is it because of the magic from earlier? Moreover, I'm so comfortable in his arms, I could shamelessly take a nap there if I wasn't fighting this.
Kelsi and Ben are following us, exchanging worried glances. I must really look like crap... I'm fine with it, though. I already got a lot of answers. Or did I? I may have gotten even more questions, actually. But I do know where to start next...
"Oh, fuck..."
What's going on? Liam starts growling, and I turn my head to check what's going on ahead of us.
Wolves. Two dark gray wolves appeared, and between them, a young man is standing there, his hands in his pockets with a smirk on. He has ash blonde hair and a little goatee, and a lot of piercings too. One is a little anchor. The fact that he's half-naked probably means he's a werewolf too...
"Hey, Black. You're coming into our territory and not even coming to say hi?"
"I'm busy, Seaver," growls Liam.
The other guy sounds arrogant, and I already knew who it was before Liam said it. To my surprise, he looks about our age, not older as I had imagined. He smiles, shaking his head.
"You should greet old friends even if you're busy, kid."
"You're only one month older than me, you idiot," growled Liam. "Fuck off."
Ignoring him, Liam starts walking again, still heading toward the diner. I think this is fine, until the two wolves start growling at him, warning us not to come closer. Ben is growling too behind us.
To my surprise, Liam doesn't stop or even slow down. He obviously doesn't care about those two, and still goes to enter the diner behind them. When the wolves start growling even louder, he suddenly turns around and growls at them. He's in his human form, yet his growling is much louder and impressive, and they both immediately back away, their ears and tails down. I guess this is probably how I'd react if I were a werewolf and could be impressed by his Alpha Aura... Behind the wolves, the Seaver guy seems to not like that either.
"Careful, Black. You forget this isn't your territory."
"Call your cousin if you have an issue with that. Technically, it isn't really yours either," growls Liam.
That Seaver guy grimaces, unhappy, but Liam walks inside the diner, Ben and Kelsi quickly squeezing themselves in behind us. Ben is growling at the other wolves the whole time and not turning his back to them, even as he enters the diner.
Nina walks over, immediately catching hold of the situation.
"Liam, boy! Did you fight with Johnny again?"
"Not yet... Sorry, Nina, we just need a bit of quiet to discuss for a while."
"Of course, honey. Grab any table you want, it's early, anyway..."
Indeed, the diner is empty, except for an old man snoring at one end of the bar and Nina. Liam carries me to the other end of the restaurant and helps me sit next to him, careful not to touch my injuries. I can barely put my ass on the end of the leather, thankfully my burns aren't spreading too high. I suddenly realize most of my pants are gone. I don't know why I didn't realize earlier that the denim had burned all the way up to my thighs. Now it looks like I'm wearing shorts, but it's not as eye-catching as the obvious burn marks.
Nina seems to only spot them now that Liam let me down too, and her eyes go wide.
"Oh, dearie, what happened?! Should I call someone?"
"I'm fine, thanks..." I mutter, a bit embarrassed.
"...Actually, can we get some ice?" asks Kelsi, a bit shy.
"Of course, darling, give me a minute!"
