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"I'm asking why you did those things. Since you've been here, you haven't hurt anyone. You even left my chickens alone when you were starving. So why did you hurt Landon and Donovan?"

He hesitated and got that look on his face that I'd come to associate with him talking to whatever else was in his head. I heard the kitchen clock ticking in the sudden silence surrounding us, counting out the seconds as he wrestled with my question.

"We were made to hunt," he finally said, but he sounded uncertain.

"To hunt what? Humans?"

Typhon shook his head. It took him a moment to respond, though. "Not humans. Skin-changers. We were created to hunt them."

"Created? By who?"

That came from somewhere over my shoulder, and I belatedly realized the others had stopped arguing and apparently were listening to my conversation. It sounded like Ori who asked the question that had been on the tip of my tongue.

"Obviously there's more going on here than we thought," Lain said, ever the peacemaker. "Can we please just sit down and figure out what's going on before we make any decisions?"

I looked up at Typhon, relieved to see a hint of life in his eyes. I knew I shouldn't get my hopes up. Maybe he hadn't hurt people on purpose, but he'd still hurt them. He'd let his anger control him when he went after Donovan in my hallway. I'd be an idiot to let myself think he might be different, but there I went, hoping that he'd find a way to explain away all the red flags. Clearly, I hadn't learned my lesson the first time.

"Typhon?" I whispered, leaving it up to him.

He didn't look up at the others. He just kept his eyes on me, and in those golden depths, I saw the same desperate, foolish hope that was keeping me from crumbling.

"Yes. Let's talk."

Chapter 20

Typhon

We don't need them. They hurt us. They will hurt our Quinn. Make them go away.

The beast's thoughts echoed my own too closely to ignore, but I did the best I could to keep a rein on his anger. It was easier than it should have been, given how upset he was, but all it took was remembering the fear in Quinn's eyes when he looked at us. The way he'd flinched away and crumpled to the ground, his heart racing, overcome by terror.

Because of me. I'd lost control and let the beast attack the human who'd hurt us, his instincts urging him to eliminate the threat before he could attack again. Now, Quinn's questions made me hesitate, and as we stood there, his hands on my chest, his slender body protecting me, I realized the truth.

The human hadn't attacked me. He'd defended himself and his family against the dangerous creature who'd attacked them.

The days after we'd gained our freedom were hazy, a jagged puzzle made of fear, adrenaline, pain, and a desperate, agonizing hope that hurt almost as much as the bullets that'd torn through our flesh.

"Let's sit," Lain suggested, the only one to break the fragile silence in the kitchen. The human beside him was the first to move, taking a seat at one of the tall stools at the island. There were only two, but no one seemed willing to go back to the living room.

Because they would have to turn their backs to me to get there. The realization would have filled me with pride a few days ago, leaving both me and the beast preening to be recognized as the dangerous predator we were. Now, I understood the truth. They saw us as nothing more than a rabid animal, one that needed to be put down for the safety of everyone.

"Typhon?" Quinn's soft voice didn't bring me peace like it usually did. How could it, when I could still see fear in his eyes? He stood in front of me, only a few feet from the spot he'd been when I kissed him, when he'd looked at me with nothing but trust and affection.

"Not here." I had to grit the words out through clenched teeth, my rein on the beast fraying. I couldn't have this discussion here and taint the few good memories I had. If they refused to put their backs to me, I'd have to make the first move.

It pained both sides of me to step away from Quinn's touch, but I needed the space. I didn't spare the others a second glance, just turned and walked into the living room. There weren't many seating options here, either, given the size of Quinn's small cabin, but I refused to sit on the floor while injured just to make it more comfortable for the humans. The kittens occupied the armchair, but even with only one arm it was a simple task to scoop them up, depositing them back in my lap once I sat down.

I heard the others following, with Quinn in the lead. The smile he gave me when he saw the kittens climbing on me was a gentle balm, dulling the sharp edges of the slivers of memories rattling in my mind.

The detective and his mate, Alex, sat on the far side of the couch, as far from me as they could. Lain settled on the floor by the fireplace. He made a point to sit within arm's reach of me, something the last human noted. At least, I think they were human. Even with the beast's senses, I couldn't detect a scent from them. They took the last spot on the couch, watching me with fathomless eyes. They'd been scared in the kitchen, moving away from me, but now they seemed more confused than anything.

How can they know we're a still dangerous with these all over us? The beast's grumble might have made me laugh in any other situation. He had a point. We hardly looked dangerous with four kittens climbing our shirt like a tree.

"So…" Lain cleared his throat, looking around at the rest of us. Quinn stood beside the armchair with Rom at his side, the only one not sitting. He didn't seem to know where to start, either, but I knew he had to have questions.

"I'm still waiting for an answer to my question," the strange human said. "You said you were created to hunt shifters. Skin-changers," they amended before I could ask what they meant. "Who created you? And why?"

None of them were going to like my answer. I didn't like it, either. "I don't know."