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TWENTY-THREE
TIMBER
Marigold was screaming as he stood in the hallway outside the council room. The sound bounced off the walls and felt like a jackhammer in his head. He tried soothing her, but she only screamed louder.
He wondered if she missed Lyra. If her screaming was her way of telling him, she needed the woman around.
Timber paced, bouncing her as she moved. His head was pounding, and he felt that his eyes were going to pop out of his head. He was sure Marigold had shit on his shirt, and he stunk, but he needed to be here.
The door opened, and the gal from before poked her head out. She winced at Marigold's screaming but held the door for him. He dug in his bag for a pacifier.
The doors shut behind him, and all eyes dropped to him once more. He dropped her bag onto the ground and looked at each of them with pure frustration.
Marigold whined over her pacifier, and Elias frowned at him. "You brought your baby with you? Are you sure that was a smart idea?"
He growled at her, baring his teeth. "I had no choice!"
They fell silent, and he bounced Marigold gently, inhaling sharply through his nose. He closed his eyes for a moment before he looked back at them.
"I am here because I am asking you once more to reconsider your decision to say no to us having the ability to mate with humans."
Elias rolled his eyes, clicking his tongue. "We have already discussed this."
"Yes," he growled, his elongated bear teeth flashing. "And I am asking you to reconsider."
Devlen leaned forward, placing his hands on the table. "Where is your nanny, Timber? You spoke so highly of her last time. I'm surprised she isn't here watching after Marigold."
Marigold clung to him, her eyes bouncing around the room. He hoped he never had to bring her back into it after the meeting.
"She quit. She found herself another job."
Jameson snorted, shaking his head at him. "Did she leave because you guys couldn't be together? Was she the one that you were bedding? Was she the reason you came barging in here, demanding something so stupid?"
He knew they were digging for him to admit it. He wasn’t going to. He refused to.
He sighed, frustrated. "We already went over this last time I was here. I wasn't fucking the nanny. I haven't fucked anyone."
"You're getting rather angry for such a simple question," Elias said, a bite behind his words. "Is that because you're lying?"
"I'm angry because you all refuse to even think about it. There is a woman that I want to be with, and you all refuse to allow me. My child deserves a mother."
"We aren't saying she doesn't," Devlen said. "We are simply saying you can't mate with a human. There are plenty of other people you can go to."
He didn't want anyone else. He wanted Lyra. He wanted her more than breathing or living life itself.
He wanted them to understand and allow him to be with her. He wanted them to bend the rules. He was sick of having to follow everything they said.
"Who have you been sleeping with, Timber?" Devlen asked, narrowing his eyes at him. "You need to tell us."
"The only person I slept with is Serenity. She is the only woman that joined me in bed."
"And what about this human woman you refuse to give a name to? You expect us to believe you haven't fucked another?"
"I have someone I'm interested in. She is fantastic. I could see a future with her. I want to be with her."
He watched all of their faces shift into disgust. Devlen leaned forward, a growl ripped from his lips. "You will do no such thing. We forbid it."
He growled. "What is your reason? For some bullshit excuse to keep the DNA clean? You and I both know that is the largest lie you could come up with. You all have your heads so far up your asses you can't even see that society has changed."
