Page 47 of Wolf Unseen

I couldn’t reply even if I wanted to. Dad’s grip tightened around my throat, making my lungs burn from the lack of oxygen.

My wolf chafed against the chains binding him. He growled and snarled, but I hung on. Losing control with Dad would only escalate matters.

A soft knock at the door caused Dad to relax his grip and step away. I coughed and rubbed my neck while my wolf raged inside me. He hated my father. We both did these days.

“I have cake for you both,” Mom said as she pushed open the door, her eyes glued to the floor in submission, like always. The plate in her hand wobbled, but she stood firm.

“Cake?” Dad growled, unhappy about the interruption. “Did I ask for fucking cake?” He snarled and lunged for Mom, but I jumped in front of her.

He could do what he liked to me, but I was not about to let him hurt Mom while I stood and watched.

“The honey badger tried to rape a feline shifter,” I explained to draw attention from Mom. “I couldn’t let that go unpunished.” I swallowed a snarl as Dad’s fist clenched. Mom’s eyes welled up when she saw the bruises forming around my neck, but I shook my head and nodded at the door.

“Thanks for the cake, Mom. It looks delicious.” I hoped she’d go, but no, she stood waiting for permission.

Dad huffed as he processed my words and then sat down, snatching a slice of chocolate cake from the plate Mom had placed on the side table. The leather chair creaked under his bulk. The old bastard spent too much time drinking and eating these days. He’d lost his edge, and one day soon, that would come back and bite him in the ass.

“Coffee, Ginny,” Dad ordered after wiping crumbs from his hairy chin.

To my relief, my mother finally scurried away. I turned back to Dad.

“Perhaps the Frosthaven alpha can offer his support for the new venture,” I suggested, hoping Dad would elaborate on whatever this venture was.

“He’s already invested.” Dad muttered obscenities under his breath and shoved a glass paperweight to the floor in a fit of temper. “Fucking honey badgers.”

“I had to act,” I said, being careful to keep my tone respectful. “Our pack’s reputation was at stake.”

Dad ground his teeth but didn’t disagree—even he knew we couldn’t turn a blind eye to a rapist at a public event. “It’s lucky I have some leverage with the Devereaux pack. The Devereaux alpha can cough up some additional funds to cover the shortfall.”

That explained nothing. “What is this venture, anyway?” I inquired, being careful not to sound too interested.

“Nothing I can discuss.” He glanced down at his wrist. The faint rune mark peeking out from his cuff was new. I’d seen them a few times on shifters that dealt with the mages. This one was a magical NDA—if the bearer revealed information protected by the rune to the wrong person, they’d suffer a painful penalty.

“As your son and heir, surely I should be a part of pack business ventures?” I said, not commenting on the rune.

“I’m waiting for the final go-ahead, but once things get moving, don’t worry, you’ll be playing your part.” The sly grin he threw me sent an icy shiver down my spine.

Whatever bullshit Dad had the pack involved in—and if the mages were running the show, I doubted it was anything legit—something told me I wouldn’t like it.

27

Riley

The minute I cracked an eye open, I realized I was in the shit. I’d been here a month already, which meant Auntie Flow had come calling. It didn’t matter that the glamour I wore made me look like a male. I still had half-human female biology, and that included periods.

I regretted not paying Tamara for a potion to stop them. It was a stupid mistake, one I’d be paying for over the next few days. Ugh.

Worse still, I was supposed to be meeting the lion shifter in thirty minutes when all I wanted to do was lie in bed, eat chocolate, and feel sorry for myself.

Several minutes ticked by before I reluctantly crawled into the shower cubicle while trying my best to ignore the awful cramps squeezing my uterus. My periods were not usually this bad. Had the glamour fucked me up in some hideous way?

Another agonizing cramp clenched my insides, making me groan, but I gritted my teeth and pulled on some loose sweats and a hoodie.

I just hoped the lion didn’t piss me off. With the mood I was in, I might just murder him.

“But it’s raining,” I whined when Leone informed me we’d be training outside this morning. He fixed me with a look that spoke volumes. It was clear the lion shifter thought I was a pathetic idiot.

“You’re a shifter, Scott. Shifters don’t feel the cold.”