Page 19 of Christmas Embrace

“I don’t know,” Logan replied. “P-CAP will be on it. I confirmed again that none of my wolves are missing nor were they involved. But when they told me about the child…”

“This is all the more reason to allow us to keep Zachery,” Kade interrupted. My son. “Look what happened to him.”

“His mother has connections in Polson, Montana. An aunt. Now I don’t know whether she’s blood or not, but I’ve got a contact name.”

“I don’t care,” Kade replied without emotion.

“Come again?” Logan raised a questioning eyebrow.

“I don’t care. I don’t care about the aunt. I don’t care about the dead father. May Trinity rest in peace but she was a poor excuse for a mother. She lost her pup. Twice. No, Alpha. The only person I care about is Zachery. Six months ago when Sydney first found the babe, Trinity was nowhere to be found. Then after a month, she shows up here in New Orleans with some sob story. It’s all bullshit. Now look what happened. I’ll bet you any amount of money the wolves aren’t who they say they are on those passports. They’re all into some deep shit. Rogues. All here in New Orleans and don’t bother to check in with Acadian wolves. We don’t even know why whatever it was…” Demon. Kade refused to say the word. Hell had stolen way too many things from his life. “Why did it leave Zachery alone? Didn’t harm a hair on his head. What if it comes back? I’m not waiting to test fate by giving him back to some aunt.”

“She was his blood,” Logan countered.

“I don’t give a shit about blood. I only care about what’s best for Zach. And Trinity wasn’t it. And neither is some aunt from Montana. No one around her stopped her from hurting Zach, from putting him in danger. If this aunt actually exists, I’d argue she doesn’t care about Trinity or the pup.” Kade curled his fingers into his palm, his jaw tightening as his patience grew thin. “I am not wolf. But I am Tristan’s brother. I’ve laid my life on the line for him as he has done for me. You knew this as beta of Lyceum wolves. You know it as Alpha of Acadian wolves. And what about loyalty to Sydney? She gave her life to protect your mate and your daughter. You remember the day the demon came to your house? You remember the day she lay bleeding out onto the streets of New Orleans right in front of your door?”

Logan nodded. “Yes, of course I do.”

Kade turned to Tristan. “We are brothers, aren’t we? There is more to blood and breed. We have each other’s backs. We share memories. We fight for each other. I fought for Katrina.”

“Logan, you know it’s true,” Tristan agreed. “We’ve been together for over a century. I know it’s always best to raise a pup with pack. But in this case, Kade…you know he speaks the truth. He’s been there for me. For you. The child needs parents. Kade and Sydney…they are my family. Wolf or not.”

“The child shall run with Acadian wolves, but we will raise him,” Kade insisted.

“It’s not as simple as that,” Logan began.

Tristan leaned forward, interrupting. “Alpha. Have I ever in all these years steered you wrong? Have you questioned my leadership?”

“Of course not,” he answered without pause.

“Kade Issacson and Sydney Willows are good people. They’ve bridged our worlds. Humans to vampires to wolves.” Tristan glanced to Kade. “He’s my brother. I’ve fought alongside him and he’s been there for me and my family. This makes us blood, it makes us family, no matter what our breed.”

Logan sighed, and placed his palms on his desk, his lips tight. “I want you to know I hear you. Both of you. I’m taking your words to heart.”

“Then you will end this. Agree to let us keep our son?” Kade asked.

“You have to understand. I’m doing due diligence. Just give me a few days to suss out the situation with the aunt and I’ll render a final decision soon.”

“No matter what other relatives creep out of the woodwork?” Kade pressed. “You must make the adoption unbreakable.”

“I will do what is necessary to ensure what is best for the pup. But I cannot make any promises right now. You know I have great respect for both of you, but this is my call. It’s a pack matter.”

“Thank you.” Tristan leaned back into his chair.

“But,” the Alpha paused, his sight set on Kade, “if this woman is truly his aunt, I will negotiate to keep and raise the pup. If she is of pack and goes to her Alpha, I cannot go to war over this. Do you understand? It’s not fair to my pack to put us at risk over this child.”

Kade took a deep breath, reining in his anger. “I understand your situation, but you must understand mine. I need to be clear on this. Should you or another pack decide that this so-called relative is somehow better suited, I will not give up my son to this stranger.”

“What exactly do you mean?” Logan inquired, his tone somber.

“As we’ve established, I consider Tristan family. And you also, Logan. But you will not have my son. This town. Everything I’ve built. I don’t need this to exist. Perhaps it’s time I traveled more.”

“Are you saying you’ll skip town?” Logan asked.

“I’m saying I’m not handing my son over to a stranger,” Kade reiterated.

“Give me a few days,” Logan told him.

Kade stood and addressed the wolves. “I appreciate your help, Alpha. Sydney and I would very much appreciate it.” He looked to Tristan. “You coming or staying? I’d like to head over to P-CAP. I’d like to catch the tail end of whatever the ME has to say. As much as I’d like to ignore what happened, I need to know. There’re bound to be rumblings with the vampires about what did this. I don’t need any trouble the next couple of days.”