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“Thomas?”
“You need to listen to me, Gordo. Can you do that?”
I nodded, unsure if I was awake.
“I need you to be strong. And brave. Can you be brave for me?”
I could, because he would one day be my Alpha. I would do anything he asked me. “Yes.”
He held out his hand.
I reached out and took what was offered.
He helped me dress before he led me down the hall of the Bennett house. The wood floors creaked underneath our feet. My father had left me here earlier. He’d told me he’d come back for me. I didn’t know when I’d fallen asleep.
There were men in the Bennett house. Men I’d never seen before. They wore black suits. They were wolves. Betas. Richard Collins was speaking to them quietly. Elizabeth stood near Mark. He saw me and started toward me, but she put a hand on his shoulder, holding him back.
Abel Bennett stood near the fireplace. His head was bowed.
The strange men grew quiet as Thomas took me to Abel. I could feel their eyes on me, and I did my best not to squirm. This felt important. Bigger than anything that had come before.
The fire popped and crackled.
“I have asked much of you,” Abel finally said, “for one so young. I had hoped we would have more time. That the need would never arise, not until Thomas was—” He shook his head before looking down at me. Thomas never left my side. “Do you know who I am, Gordo?”
“My Alpha.”
“Yes. Your Alpha. But I am also the Alpha of all the wolves. I have… responsibilities. To every pack there is. One day Thomas will have the same responsibilities. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“It’s his calling, much like it’s been mine.”
Thomas squeezed my shoulder.
“And you, too, have a calling, Gordo,” Abel said. “And I am afraid I must ask you to take your place at my side until the day Thomas assumes his rightful place as the Alpha of all.”
My skin grew cold. “But my father is—”
Abel looked far older than I’d ever seen. “I have a story to tell you, Gordo. One that you never should have heard in your young life. Will you listen?”
And because I couldn’t refuse him anything, I said, “Yes, Alpha.”
He told me then.
About a sickness in the mind.
How it could make people do things they didn’t want to.
It made them lose control.
It made them angry.
It made them want to hurt other people.
Mom had been kept away. Until she could get better. Until her mind could be cleared. But she’d escaped.
She’d gone to the next town over.
