City of Magic: The Complete Series by Helen Harper (book club recommendations TXT) 📕

‘Enough.’

There was a collective groan from the crowd. Julian’s eyes narrowed, his bristling anger forcing them all to slink away into the shadows from where they’d come. Monroe’s glare matched Julian’s, spark for furious spark.

‘What did you do that for?’ Nero burst out, barely able to contain himself. ‘I had him! I was beating him! It was a fair fight and I was better! You—’

‘Don’t be a fucking idiot,’ Julian growled.

The censure in his alpha’s voice finally made Nero drop his shoulders in submission. ‘I didn’t start it.’

‘I don’t care.’ Julian’s eyes hardened. ‘Get out of here.’

At first Nero remained, a flicker of tell-tale indecision rippling through him. Then, with a final huff, he did as he was told and bent down to pick up his jacket before following the others out of the room.

Once the kid was out of earshot, Monroe spoke. He still had enough decorum – just – that he wouldn’t get into an argument with another alpha while there was an audience. ‘You should not have interfered. This has nothing to do with you.’

Julian folded his arms in irritation. ‘It has everything to do with me. That boy is in my pack. He’s my charge and he’s my responsibility.’

Monroe spat out blood. ‘There’s not a single mark or bruise on him.’

‘That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it. I have enough problems with his ego as it is. Now he’s going to think he’s stronger than you, that he’s more powerful than Monroe himself. I don’t need that kind of angst in my life. And Nero certainly doesn’t need that kind of belief. He’ll go around picking fights with everyone and he’ll end up getting himself killed.’

‘I’m not responsible for the actions of others,’ Monroe said. ‘Not any more. And if your pup is picking fights then he doesn’t belong here.’

Julian looked at him without speaking for several seconds. There was a time when there hadn’t been a single soul on this planet who would have dared to eyeball Monroe in such a fashion. Truth be told even now Julian, as alpha of the Yorkshire werewolves, was probably the only person who would dare. Still, it was a mark of how times had changed.

When Julian did speak, his voice was low and without emotion. ‘You are throwing your toys out of the pram.’

Genuine anger lit Monroe’s face. ‘You dare to equate the loss of my entire pack to having a tantrum?’

Julian’s expression didn’t alter. ‘I’m not talking about your pack. What happened to them was a tragedy. I’m talking about you. You told us to settle here, away from the others. You promised safety and a new society.’

‘No one’s died,’ Monroe snapped. ‘Not recently anyway. And we have a society.’

‘Such as it is.’

‘Not everything is on my shoulders.’

Julian raised his hands, palms facing outwards. ‘Exactly. You’re hurt. I get that. You think everything that brought us here is your fault. Whether that’s true or not isn’t for me to say. But you have a responsibility to pull yourself together. We came here because of you, Monroe. We need you.’

‘You came here because the magic in the atmosphere suits our kind. I had nothing to do with it.’

‘Now you’re being facetious. We came to Manchester for the magic. We settled here in the north because you persuaded us to. You promised lots and you’ve delivered very little. Not in the last few weeks, anyway. If you want to cry at night that is up to you, but you cannot pull others into your grief. This won’t wash.’

‘This is my city,’ Monroe said. ‘This is my community.’

‘Start acting like it is, then.’

Monroe stared him down. ‘What exactly,’ he asked icily, ‘are you saying?’

‘Sort yourself out,’ the other werewolf replied. ‘Or there’s no place for you here.’ And with that, he turned on his heel and walked out.

An hour later, Monroe was on his fourth whisky. It was perhaps indicative of the British that, even with the aftermath of a three-month-old apocalypse to deal with and a lack of normalised infrastructure, several bars and clubs had already opened up in this part of Manchester. Whether there were any in the southern part of the city, Monroe couldn’t say for sure. He was fairly certain that there would be, though, even if they weren’t frequented by the werewolves and vampires that hung around this one.

‘Hello darling,’ drawled a familiar voice.

Monroe didn’t bother turning round. ‘What do you want?’

‘G and T, of course. I’d give my right fang if it included ice and a slice. Unfortunately,’ Julie said with a light laugh, ‘I fear those days are gone.’

‘There’s still a single exit point out of the city,’ Monroe grunted. ‘You are more than welcome to depart that way whenever you choose. Leave, and you’ll be able to get all the ice and lemon that your heart desires.’

‘Except then I wouldn’t be able to get back into Manchester, would I? Although I’m sure that would delight you.’

‘You can do whatever you want. I don’t care.’

She hissed through her teeth. ‘Except you should care, darling. A couple of months ago you’d have happily chopped off my head.’

‘You’d have deserved it.’

Julie shrugged, although there was a darkness to her expression. ‘I’m not denying that.’

He swung his head towards her and gave her a long, measured look. ‘So you’re finally owning up to your part in all this? In the magical collapse of an entire city?’

Julie looked away. ‘I always did,’ she answered softly. ‘And I am trying to make amends.’

‘Then do so away from here.’

Her mouth curved into a sad smile. ‘Except that here appears to be where I am most needed.’

‘I don’t need you.’

‘No,’ she said mildly, ‘but you do need something. Or rather someone.’ She paused. ‘Charley has been struggling lately.’

‘What Charlotte does is nothing to do with me.’ Monroe took another sip of his drink, rolling the heavy glass in his hands. ‘Is she alright?’ His voice remained casual but his body was unnaturally