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“We’re more alike than you can—”
“Ew, Rafe! Just ewww!” Ethan cried. “Don’t even finish that thought!”
“What?”
Winter groaned loudly and scrubbed a hand over his face. “This is why we can’t have a meeting without Marcus to rein this shit in.”
“Rafe is right,” Wyatt declared loudly, which earned him a somewhat horrified gaze from both Ethan and Bel. “We’re not getting closer to a solution to our problem.”
Bel nodded. As much as he wanted to give Wyatt time to catch up with his sister about the fate of his family, the important thing was learning what they could do to help themselves now. “What can you tell us about Albert’s pack?”
“That’s just it. This isn’t Albert’s pack,” Casey replied sharply, but Bel didn’t get the feeling she was upset with him in particular. “Albert has been the alpha for only six months. He staged a coup and killed Donald Parkland, the real alpha for the pack. He and a bunch of his flunkies slaughtered Parkland’s family in their sleep and then rounded up anyone who was strongly aligned with Parkland. Killed them as well.”
“How many people?”
“At least twenty. Nearly a third of the pack.”
“Oh, God. That’s horrific,” Philippe whispered.
“Forgive me, but I’m new to werewolves. Is this kind of behavior…normal?” Rafe asked. To his credit, it didn’t sound as if Rafe was trying to be insulting, and Bel had to admit he didn’t know if a bloody coup was a normal way of changing leadership. It was how vampires handled things, for the most part.
“No,” River said. “If a wolf thinks he can be a better alpha and offer more protection for the pack than the current alpha, he issues a challenge. They fight in fair combat before the entire pack. It doesn’t have to be to the death, but it often is.”
“Albert’s actions are…they’re absolutely heinous,” Wyatt snarled. “How can the rest of the pack accept him?”
“He claims Donald was robbing the pack. That he was putting us in danger. That he was allowing the vampires to encroach on our land.” Casey shoved one hand through her hair, pushing it back from her face. “I don’t think most pack members believe him, but after so many people were killed, they’re afraid to stand against him. The majority of the people left are either extremely old or parents of young children. They can’t risk confronting him.”
“And you’re happy to help us because…you preferred this Donald gent?” Rafe asked.
Casey shook her head. “I had no problems with Parkland. He was fair. He knew the story of our family and still allowed me into the pack. I even got married a few years ago to a good man. But Albert…” Casey’s voice broke off and she balled her hands into trembling fists. “He…he had me sterilized.”
“What?” Wyatt shouted. Bel could feel the rage flooding through his lover’s veins, so intense that he practically trembled with it.
“He wanted to make sure I could never breed. Was sure I’d infect the pack with a gay child.”
Bel hadn’t thought it possible, but his heart broke for the poor woman as tears streaked down her cheeks. To have that option stolen away for something so…so stupid.
“Now I’m worthless to the pack.”
Wyatt shoved to his feet and crossed over to where Casey sat shaking in her chair. “Casey, I’m so sorry. I never wanted you hurt. You’re not worthless.” He started to reach for her but stopped, his hand hovering just a few inches away from her shoulder.
She looked up at Wyatt and lunged at him, wrapping her arms tight around his waist. “He’s a bastard. They’re all fucking bastards,” she howled.
Bel tore his eyes away from Wyatt and his sister to look at Winter. His younger brother was leaning against the wall, his arms folded tightly over his chest. His face seemed paler than normal as he watched the two wolves.
As if sensing Bel’s gaze, he met his eyes and nodded. “She’s telling the truth. All of it.”
Bel didn’t want to know how his brother had confirmed that information. He’d felt sick just wondering if she was setting her brother up for betrayal.
“You think she’s lying?” Wyatt snarled.
“No, Wyatt! It’s okay,” Casey said. She pushed out of his arms and roughly wiped her face. “I’d think this was a trick too. We parted on horrible terms, and our family has been torn apart. Why would anyone believe that I was telling the truth?”
Wyatt’s face fell as he stumbled back a step from his sister. “But…”
“It’s the truth, Wyatt. I swear to you.”
“It is,” Winter confirmed.
Wyatt looked from Winter to Casey again, his expression torn. “So, you’re here because you’ve…forgiven me?”
Casey snorted. “Forgiven you? For being born gay? I thought it wasn’t a choice.”
“It’s not a choice,” Ethan growled.
Wyatt sighed. “Forgiven me for not keeping my mouth shut. For not pretending.”
