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For the longest time, I’d had the same contempt for her that I’d felt for Thomas and Mark Bennett. She had known, just as they had, what was coming. She had tried to warn me, even if it’d only been moments before. In my twisted thoughts, that made her just as guilty as her husband. As her brother-in-law.
It hadn’t helped when she’d returned with the pack and proceeded to manipulate Ox. Oh sure, they’d say of course they hadn’t. Of course they’d given him a choice. They kept the truth of it all from him for as long as they could, even if Joe had given Ox his little stone wolf without Ox understanding what it meant.
I wasn’t absolved of sin. There was snowman wrapping paper and a shirt with his name stitched on the front that showed I was just as guilty as they were.
But I’d fought against it. I’d tried to keep him from all of this for as long as I could. But when she’d looked up at me, eyes wet, begging me to help her son, to help Joe, I remembered the woman who had smiled at me from her bed, asking me if I wanted to hold Carter for the first time.
There were days I couldn’t stand the sight of her.
There were days I wanted to sit at her feet, my head on her knee.
There were days I thought she was just like her husband. Because wolves lied. They used. My mother had taught me that.
And then there were days like today, when I couldn’t help but feel irritatingly fond toward her, even if she was doing her best to piss me off.
“I don’t care if you don’t believe me,” I told her.
She rolled her eyes. “Well, that certainly wasn’t convincing.”
“Bite me.”
“I’m not the one who wants to bite—”
“Don’t,” I warned her.
“You’re quite adamant.”
“Maybe because you’re not getting it.”
“Oh, I think I get it just fine.” Her smile faded slightly. “Pappas, though.”
“What about him?”
“He has a pack.”
“Yeah.” Michelle Hughes was his Alpha.
“Then why is he acting like an Omega? He looked as if he didn’t recognize me when they brought him here.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. He’s… where is he?”
“Basement. Jessie put a line of powdered silver at the doorway. Since the walls are reinforced, he can’t get out.” She paused, tilting her head. “He’s not talking yet. I don’t know if he’s capable.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I’ll head down. When the others get here, keep them upstairs. I don’t want to take any chances until we know what we’re dealing with.”
“Of course. Think about what I said.”
“Fuck you
very much.”
She laughed quietly, reaching out and squeezing my hand before letting me walk away.
CARTER WAS sitting in the living room, Kelly fretting above him. Robbie looked amused as Kelly tried to wipe the remnants of blood away from Carter’s face. “I’m fine,” Carter growled, shoving Kelly’s hands away. “Would you stop fussing? I didn’t even get hurt.” He grimaced. “Just Mark’s blood in my mouth. I don’t know why I always think it’s a good idea to lick open wounds when I’m shifted. I’m disgusting.”
“I’ll get your toothbrush!” Kelly announced frantically before turning on his heel and running out of the room.
“Is he always like that?” Robbie asked, staring in wonder after Kelly.
