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I really wish she could call her sister. A courier is better than nothing, and probably less likely to raise suspicions than a call, but I know Quinn’s sister is probably wishing she could hear her voice.
People don’t understand what it’s like to be separated from a sibling until it happens to them. It’s not like being an adult who chooses to walk away, knowing they can reconnect anytime. Or someone ditching an abusive family member they’re better off without. I’m not kidding myself thinking that my situation is anything like those things.
But there’s pain in losing a sibling who’s your best friend. One day, your whole, small world revolves around each other, and the next, they’re gone indefinitely.
When my parents made the choice to separate us, I’m not sure what the hell they were thinking. They didn’t let us keep in touch, not in a way that was helpful or meaningful, and that bred resentment.
I learned to curb my resentment with the help of Tia, the mate my father took years after my mother left. She helped me channel all my anger into other things—football, for a while, and eventually woodworking. I was making furniture from scratch by the time I was fifteen.
And that kept me from lashing out in anger, but it didn’t make me stop missing my brother. By the time I was seventeen, I was looking for Mason myself. I was too scared to hear my father’s opinion on it to ask him for help, so I sought out my twin alone.
I was nineteen by the time I finally managed to make contact. Twenty before we started making our plan to abandon the packs our parents chose for us, choosing to bond again as brothers instead.
Now here we are, stuck making an impossible choice for ourselves. What do we do about Quinn Cassidy?
“He said it will probably take two days to relay my message since I asked that he be discreet.” Quinn pouts as she rejoins our small circle on the cusp of the path that will take us deeper into the Appalachian Mountains.
We’re leaving the car nearby at one of my townie friends’ places; the rest of the trip has to be made on four paws. The pack land is too remote, too far removed, to safely traverse the path any other way. Sometimes I wonder ifthat’swhat drove my mother away. I shake the thought away and turn my attention to the others.
Mason strokes the back of Quinn’s hair before his hand settles on her shoulder. He tips his head down to stare into her vibrant eyes, brows furrowing with his sincerity. “Two days isn’t so bad. As soon as it’s safe, the two of you will be together again.” He vows it as if he has any right. My heart pangs in my chest as confusion clouds my mind.
For all we know, Quinn might not keep us around long enough to find out.
“Yeah…” Quinn nibbles at her bottom lip again, still not fully convinced. I watch her chew her lip, mind swinging toward far less proper thoughts. Like the way her skin flushes when she comes.
My wolf stirs, and I suck in a deep breath. Now isnotthe time. So I force myself to look away from her, and I notice Willem scanning her legs. My first thought is that he’s checking her out until I follow the gaze and realize she’s still keeping part of her weight off the knee she hurt.
“Are you sure you’re going to be able to make it? We can wait another day or two,” I suggest, worry eating at my stomach at the thought of her in pain and pushing herself.
Quinn shakes her head fiercely. “I don’t want to risk Jakob catching up that quickly. You said it’s only half a day’s travel. It’ll be fine. Plus, I’ll heal faster in wolf form anyway.”
She’s right. It’s a phenomenon I’ve never heard explained, but we heal much better in our wolf forms than human ones. A necessity of nature, I guess.
I rub my hands together and try to remind myself to stay upbeat. Usually, upbeat and cheerful is my default setting, but doubt is trying to weigh me down. My father warned me when I left that I could be throwing away my future as Alpha of the pack, yet I left anyway.
Being an Alpha isn’t more important to me than family.
I have no way of knowing how he’ll react to my return, especially when I come bearing the son he practically abandoned all those years ago and two strangers. I can only hope that Tia will show me mercy and intercept the way she always has. My father is soft for no one but his mate.
How far does she have to make it on that leg?I’m so startled by the new voice inside my head that I blink stupidly for a minute before the words get through to me. It’s Willem.
I tilt my head curiously at him as he looks at me expectantly. I had no idea he would be able to speak to me because of a shared bond.
It takes me a second still to get my bearings before I respond.It really isn’t that far, but the path gets tricky. If she hesitates on the rocks crossing the big creek, we’ll have to help her.
Willem nods, the only sign that he’s heard me.
We can mind link with Willem, I tell Mason as everyone sets their bags up, ready to hook them over their heads after shifting. My brother squints over at me and pushes his hair away from his eyes.
Are you sure?he asks, curiosity warming his eyes as he glances around our small group.
Yes.
“What are you doing?” Quinn puts her hands on her hips and frowns slightly as she glances back and forth between Mason and I. “What are you talking about?”
For some reason, I’m reluctant to tell her how easily Willem spoke to me. Instead, I wrap an arm around her shoulder and smile good-naturedly at her. “Just talking to Mason about how great your ass looks in these shorts.”
“Hey!” she squeaks out, dodging me when I drop my hand down to squeeze her ass for a second.
