Page 35 of The SnowFang Secret


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“Ohshit,” I said as all the little scraps and pieces fell into place.

Fuck,that’swhat Spring had thought I’d come to Alaska to talk about. That’s why she’d been sad.Thatwas why she had kept my mother’s secrets for me.

Spring had known.

Demetrius said, quietly, “The BlizzardFall war wasn’t about that river. It was fought over Autumn of SilverPaw.”

History, Rewritten

Cracks shot through my existence. I put a hand to my head like that might stop the tossing and flopping of my brain, which had been reduced to the same consistency as a fresh fish hit by a tractor.

MaryAnne looked like she regretted all her career choices and wanted to bolt before she heard another word.

Demetrius started to pace. He cursed under his breath. “History says the war was brutal because the BlizzardFall used guns and silver, so that’s why the pack was hunted into the ground. But fighting over a Luna would be equal reason. Did the BlizzardFall take Autumn and Jerron prisoner, or did she run away? It’s clear one way or the other she returned to Rodero with Winter in her belly.”

“And very shortly after that, Rodero began the process of moving SilverPaw to Montana,” Marcella said. “Even if the process took a number of years to complete.”

And Sterling’s existence became entangled with my father’s at almost the exact moment of my birth.

Mom’s notes gave facts, but had no context or explanation. Had this Birk abducted her? Had sherun away? It wasn’t clear if she’d meant us to understand it as she’dwantedto go back to my father, or if she’d been forced to return.

The fact she’d included that I was not a product of rape clarified nothing. Given how forthcoming therestof her statementshadn’tbeen, even the small detail seemed odd. Had she begged him to let her go to end the war? Had she had an affair and I was a byproduct? Had she been with him willingly and abandoned my father?

I’d had a lot of doubtful looks and skepticism tossed my way, butwho’s actually your daddyhad never been a topic. Not evenDad(did I still call him that?) had ever hinted or suggested that Iwasn’this.

The Elder Luna said, “I can’t imagine Autumn running away, especially since she had Jerron. Did she take Jerron with her? He would have been too little to remember, and I can’t imagine Autumn abandoning her son. But it must have been very traumatic for the little pup all the same.”

Jerron had been a dick to Mom in the end, but he’d also been a jerk toeveryone. He’d never hated Mom or resented her. And no one would have told him. Jerron had never been good at not running his mouth, and this was the sort of secret you kept, or you died trying. A pack had allowed an Elder Luna to get kidnapped (bad) or she’d run away (worse), and then they’d butchered an entire pack for it (understandable) then lied about it to hide their humiliation (bad).

So everyone had rolled up that little bit of history like a bed-bug ridden rug and tossed it in the firepit to never speak of it again.

I tucked my heels up on my chair so I was in an uncomfortable little ball. The softball pain in my side throbbed. I chewed on a fingernail while my brain tried to work itself around this information like a snake determined to eat a still-squirming gazelle.

Demetrius gathered up the three rolls, put them back in their shoebox, and handed all of it to the moon-faced MaryAnne. “Preserve these.”

Better than him sayingtoss them into the mulch pile. Although he looked tempted, and Henridefinitelylooked tempted. In fact, Henri was so tempted, he said, “We could justlosethem.”

“We aren’t losing anything,” Demetrius said flatly.

I got up and left the room before I said something I would regret.

Mom: 1, Winter: 0

It wasn’t like I could sit anywhere else in the common areas of the house and contemplate the view without the pack being like,what’s wrong, Summer? I also could not take my rage out on the gym dummies. Not when the entire pack would look at me like,what’s got you angry, Summer?

So instead, I went back upstairs to the third floor and sat on the edge of the bed, and tried to decide if I was devastated or furious.

Upon reflection:furious.

What thehellgood was that little bit of truth supposed to do? What was I supposed todowith the information? Why even bother telling me? Why not tell the goddamnElder Council? But why put it onmyshoulders,oh, gee Winter, the father you’d always thought was your father wasn’t really your father, it was your brother who was the bastard. Just thought you should know!

Searle intruded into my quiet.

“Relieved I’m not a bastard born under unlucky stars?” I asked, trying not to sound bitter.

“I’m not sure the truth is better.”

Damn right it wasn’t.

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