An hour later, Titus carefully untangled himself from Macy's grasp. He wished he could stay with her, but duty called. If he didn't show up to his meeting with the other Warriors, they would guess something was up with him, and he didn't want anyone to be aware of his feelings about Macy. Roman knew, but hopefully, the male would just keep his mouth shut.
He'd tried to play it cool when they’d returned to the silo. Both females had fallen asleep on the way home, both traumatized, and Alaina badly beaten. He'd barely been able to hold it together—he had wanted to lash out at everything and everyone around him—but Nico took center stage with Alaina. He'd screamed and yelled, telling Cohen to heal her immediately. He'd demanded Beverly get up and check her out also. As they'd found her almost naked, Nico wanted to be certain no sexual assault had taken place.
As he’d bullied his way around the silo at four in the morning, Titus had told Beverly he'd see Macy to bed. Macy had assured her that she didn't need anything right then, and they'd simply walked away from the mayhem of an SR44 male with a hurt mate.
He’d longed to tell Macy his feelings for her, but her mental state had seemed too fragile to declare his love for her. He could sympathize with her on her thoughts that she'd never be able to heal anyone again. She had broken the code she lived by, and he'd done the same when with the Platoon. The things they'd done had gone against the vow they'd all taken as Warriors. He’d often wondered back then if he'd ever regain his pride, if he'd ever feel like he could live by the Warrior code again. After Simon died, he didn't care, but Macy had been the one to bring him around, to make him realize he had a life worth living.
He could only do the same for her. Self-doubt and confusion could really tear up one's mind. Hopefully, with rest and talking to him, she'd be able to see she had no other choice.
After slipping on his jeans and t-shirt, he went to his quarters to freshen up a bit. The room sat far too quiet and too lonely for him, yet still occupied. It almost seemed that Simon's ghost lived here, or maybe it was just his memories. This room represented his past, while Macy's represented his future.
He quickly changed his clothes and left, glad to vacate, and rode the elevator up to the main floor.
A short time later, he entered the War Room and nodded at Blake, Hudson, and Axel, then took a chair. Kade sat in the corner at the bank of computers, his fingers tapping away at the desktop while the laptop sat open on his thighs.
Blake and Axel talked quietly, which was a new one for Blake. Titus had never seen him quiet about much of anything.
The rest of the Warriors trickled in, and ten minutes later, all were seated. Nico looked as if he hadn't slept in months. Purple rings hung under his eyes, his hair looked as if he'd try to pull it out by the roots, and he still wore the clothes from last night that had Alaina's blood on them. Anger didn't describe his facial features, and he frankly looked as if he needed to kill someone so he wouldn't explode from the inside out.
"Okay, boys, and Annis. Listen up."
Everyone looked at Noah, giving him their full attention.
"Last night was a rough one. I'd like a report on Alaina and Macy. Nico, is Alaina going to be okay?"
"She's going to be fine. She's very beat up and had some mild internal damage, but Cohen fixed most of that. She needs rest." He glanced over at Cohen. “I’m eternally grateful, my friend.”
Cohen bowed his head. “Of course, Nico. It’s what I’m here for.”
Noah nodded. "Good. I'm happy to hear Alaina’s doing well. Now, Beverly hasn't seen Macy. Titus, you were the last one with her. Is she okay?"
He nodded. "Yes. I ... uh ... I checked in on her again today, and she's fine physically."
"And what about mentally?"
He shrugged, not feeling comfortable airing her private thoughts to everyone. "I think time will heal all wounds."
"Okay. Well, we lucked out last night. Titus, you did excellent work. I think your fast thinking on the GPS probably saved both their lives."
Murmurs of agreement came from everyone around the table and he kept his gaze on the wall just above Noah's head, uncomfortable with the praise.
"Did either of you get a good idea of what happened there?"
Titus gazed over at Nico, who jumped into the story without hesitation. The longer he talked, the angrier he became, and Titus understood it. The way the females had been treated had just about made him physically sick.
"Alaina was barely conscious, but she heard the scuffle and the conversation they had as Macy killed him."
Hudson let out a low whistle. "I never would have expected that from her. I didn't think she had it in her."
Mumbles of agreement ensued.
"Especially because she's a Healer," Cohen said. "I'm able to come to terms with the killing of another being because of my Warrior training. Psychologically, I can make the two mesh together. Macy hasn't had that training. I imagine she's very upset and confused right now."
"You're probably right," Hudson said. "I'll have Bev go have a talk with her."
Titus fidgeted in his seat. He would be the one to help Macy get through this and find herself again. No one else.
He needed to tell her his feelings, and if she reciprocated, they would let the others in the silo know. Then, everyone would back the hell off and let him handle his female. It was that simple.
A thought occurred to him—what if she didn't share his feelings and she was fine with their current arrangement?
No, he needed to move beyond the friendship. After realizing he may lose her, his train of thought moved to a mating ceremony.
If he considered their long relationship, he could swear he’d felt love from Macy in everything she did. No, she had never said the words, but actions spoke the loudest. Or, maybe it was simply her nature, and she didn’t love him like he thought.
Nico continued. "One thing Alaina did say, and it should probably be corroborated by Macy, was that Daniel said something about him being a small part in a larger picture, and that killing him would only make things worse."
Noah sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Well, he could have been bullshitting. Who knows? I guess we'll find out in time."
"I don't like the sound of that," Roman mumbled.
"No one does," Noah replied. "But she had to do it. If she didn't, he would have killed them both."
"That's what I think," Nico said. "He realized he was on his way out, and he was grasping at straws."
"Let's hope you're right."
A bad feeling settled into Titus' stomach, making him squirm a bit. If Daniel hadn't been lying, he wondered what lay ahead for them. Whatever it would be, it wouldn't be anything good.
"Okay, let's break. Everyone stays in tonight—no patrols. We all just need a quiet night to recoup and make sure Alaina and Macy are healing and to let them know they've got all our support."
Conversations broke out among the Warriors. Hudson talked with Cohen and Annis about dinner while Axel and Rayner discussed setting up a shooting range in back and getting some target practice in.
All he could think about was getting back to Macy.
Standing, he slipped out of the room and headed for the elevator.