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She frowned but remained silent.
“Virginia, I promised when I took over my father’s position that I would protect you and your children. And I have failed to do such a simple task.”
She tearfully glanced toward the window.
He reached for her hand and rubbed it with all the comfort he could provide. “I damaged your trust in me. I gave you an order that could have been adjusted. I didn’t trust my co-pilot.” He motioned toward Troy. “I made a mistake. I’m sorry and I’d like to make up for it.”
Virginia looked at Blake for a moment. When a tear rolled down her cheek, I dutifully wiped it away.
“How can I make up for it?” Blake asked.
She licked her lips nervously and played with a lock of hair. “Well, I have a request to add to the proposal.”
I stared at her. Was this that favor she’d mentioned?
Blake gestured for her to continue.
“One of my friends, Fred, he’s been wanting to join the Beaufort Creek pack,” she explained. “I don’t know his reasons. But I know he’s been by himself for a very long time. He’s the one that helped me and the kids get away. I think it’s only fair he gets to be protected by a pack instead of sheer luck.”
Blake studied her for a long time. “And would you vouch for his behavior in the pack? Would you sponsor him?”
She nodded eagerly. “Yes, Alpha. Absolutely. He can stay in my spare room.” Then she perked up like she’d been struck with a better idea. “Actually, if you approve our mating, then I can live with Slater and Fred can just take my house.”
Blake exchanged a look with Troy. Silence encompassed the room for a brief time. A clock ticked near a window, and the breeze outside picked up. Otherwise, it was just the four of us breathing.
Troy elbowed Blake on the arm. Blake shook himself as if just waking from a nap. He sighed and said, “We would like to consider this bond, and the terms of a new pack member.”
“But?” I snapped. “There’s always one of those.”
“But,” Blake emphasized with annoyance, “we have to consider the pack at large. Your actions have caused great damage.”
Troy gestured toward us. “While also having exposed unknown damage.”
Blake’s mouth flattened into a tight line. “That doesn’t excuse them going against a direct order.”
I raised my hand to have a turn at speaking, “You said yourself you know personally what it’s like to get mated to someone who seems your opposite—yourenemy.”
Guilt passed over Blake’s features. Something seemed to surface in his mind that caused him to squint at Troy for a while.
After the memory passed, he sighed and turned his serious expression to me. “I did say that to you, Slater. I’m not being a hypocrite. It’s just—”
“Isn’t your current mate the woman who nearly assassinated you?”
Blake looked out the window. “Yes, that’s true.”
“She also stopped your assassination.”
“She did.”
I nodded. “Your families could have torn each other apart.”
“They almost did,” Blake growled. “It killed my mother.”
I bowed my head apologetically. “I don’t mean to bring more harm to you, Alpha. I’m simply pointing out that if we all have to fall in line under your rule, then it’s only fair that you extend the same grace to us that you did to your mate and your family when they made mistakes.”
Troy smiled without showing his teeth, approval oozing from the way he sat in his chair. He was giving that proud smile to Blake who puffed up and waved his hands. “This isn’t about me!”
“No, but it’s about the principle of the matter,” Virginia piped up. “If you rejected what clearly is a very strong bond that could actually heal a whole generation of hurt, after you did the same thing, then wouldn’t that send a horrible message to your pack?”
