or the other.”
This was exactly what I was afraid of. “What happened to them?”
“I don’t know.” Mom’s face paled. “They were little kids, the last I saw them. One day, the family was gone. No trace of them. There were a lot of rumors, and warnings for the pack men to stay away from human women, because they’d give birth to monsters. And it works both ways. When I was growing up, we obviously could still choose our own mates. One of my girlfriends fell in love with a Granger boy. They weren’t careful, and she got pregnant.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “As the baby grew inside her, it didn’t recognize its environment. My friend miscarried. Badly. She almost didn’t survive.”
My insides churned at the thought of what could’ve happened to that woman. “But you’re encouraging us to take the girls from Forever Home as mates. Why?”
Mom’s eyes glassed over. “Because this is the end of our pack line. I want someone there with you, holding your hand when your time comes. Just because it’s the end doesn’t mean you boys have to be alone. You deserve better than that.”
By the time my brothers got back, I was in an absolute rage. Pissed at circumstances I couldn’t control. It was the end of our pack, and we had no recourse. I was in love with a woman I shouldn’t be with, but I couldn’t tear myself away from. No matter what we chose, no one got what they wanted. We’d all done what was asked of us, and for nothing. Our reward was to be forgotten. Our packs deserved better. We deserved better.
“Let’s see what you’ve come up with,” Shadow said, putting on a show in front of Mom, but icicles hung off of every word. He picked up my sketch pad, examining it. “We’re going to burn down Ryker’s house, so we’ll be able to start construction soon. The barns are in good shape, and we want to keep those standing.”
I put on my own performance. “I think you’re going to like it. We’ll have a showcase property so clients can see what we’re capable of, and we’re not claiming any more pack land.” We weren’t doing that anymore. Our new focus was restoring. Granger Falls had taken enough from Sawtooth. “Major came by today,” I added once Mom left the kitchen.
Shadow sat beside me, groaning. “What the fuck did he want?” He ran his hands over his face then leaned back in his chair. “He’s been a son of bitch to rein in.”
“Shadow!” Mom called from the living room.
“Not sure if he was here to intimidate me or recruit me.” Shadow raised an eyebrow. “Neither worked. As usual, he did it in such a way to make me think about what he said. He was all too willing to remind me that wolves and humans can’t mate.”
Shadow rolled his eyes. “He dropped out of high school in the ninth grade.” He snickered. “I’d be surprised if he knew how to get anyone pregnant.”
“Talk to Mom. She’ll give you nightmares, wondering if that will happen to Trina, or Keira, or Lyssie. I’m not saying this to piss you off, Shadow. Everything I’m doing is for my love of the pack. But if there are no purebred, working class wolves, all that will be left is the wealthy class. We don’t have the resources to properly care for a baby that’s not fully wolf. It would hurt us, not help us. Our traditions, everything, will be gone in our lifetime.”
“It’s all going to be gone in our lifetime if we don’t do something. You’re not part of the pack anymore.” Shadow reminded me. “I’m only listening to you because you’re my brother, and my best friend. So what’s your point?”
“Let him have his she-wolf.” I glanced at our plans for the farm, sprawling and beautiful, with no one to enjoy it. “Insure our future.”
Shadow gasped. “Baron, that’s going to start a war you’re not willing to fight.”
“I’ll fight for what I believe in.”
Chapter Twelve
K iera
“I’m so glad to meet you.” Baron’s mom squeezed me in a hug
This was exactly what I was afraid of. “What happened to them?”
“I don’t know.” Mom’s face paled. “They were little kids, the last I saw them. One day, the family was gone. No trace of them. There were a lot of rumors, and warnings for the pack men to stay away from human women, because they’d give birth to monsters. And it works both ways. When I was growing up, we obviously could still choose our own mates. One of my girlfriends fell in love with a Granger boy. They weren’t careful, and she got pregnant.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “As the baby grew inside her, it didn’t recognize its environment. My friend miscarried. Badly. She almost didn’t survive.”
My insides churned at the thought of what could’ve happened to that woman. “But you’re encouraging us to take the girls from Forever Home as mates. Why?”
Mom’s eyes glassed over. “Because this is the end of our pack line. I want someone there with you, holding your hand when your time comes. Just because it’s the end doesn’t mean you boys have to be alone. You deserve better than that.”
By the time my brothers got back, I was in an absolute rage. Pissed at circumstances I couldn’t control. It was the end of our pack, and we had no recourse. I was in love with a woman I shouldn’t be with, but I couldn’t tear myself away from. No matter what we chose, no one got what they wanted. We’d all done what was asked of us, and for nothing. Our reward was to be forgotten. Our packs deserved better. We deserved better.
“Let’s see what you’ve come up with,” Shadow said, putting on a show in front of Mom, but icicles hung off of every word. He picked up my sketch pad, examining it. “We’re going to burn down Ryker’s house, so we’ll be able to start construction soon. The barns are in good shape, and we want to keep those standing.”
I put on my own performance. “I think you’re going to like it. We’ll have a showcase property so clients can see what we’re capable of, and we’re not claiming any more pack land.” We weren’t doing that anymore. Our new focus was restoring. Granger Falls had taken enough from Sawtooth. “Major came by today,” I added once Mom left the kitchen.
Shadow sat beside me, groaning. “What the fuck did he want?” He ran his hands over his face then leaned back in his chair. “He’s been a son of bitch to rein in.”
“Shadow!” Mom called from the living room.
“Not sure if he was here to intimidate me or recruit me.” Shadow raised an eyebrow. “Neither worked. As usual, he did it in such a way to make me think about what he said. He was all too willing to remind me that wolves and humans can’t mate.”
Shadow rolled his eyes. “He dropped out of high school in the ninth grade.” He snickered. “I’d be surprised if he knew how to get anyone pregnant.”
“Talk to Mom. She’ll give you nightmares, wondering if that will happen to Trina, or Keira, or Lyssie. I’m not saying this to piss you off, Shadow. Everything I’m doing is for my love of the pack. But if there are no purebred, working class wolves, all that will be left is the wealthy class. We don’t have the resources to properly care for a baby that’s not fully wolf. It would hurt us, not help us. Our traditions, everything, will be gone in our lifetime.”
“It’s all going to be gone in our lifetime if we don’t do something. You’re not part of the pack anymore.” Shadow reminded me. “I’m only listening to you because you’re my brother, and my best friend. So what’s your point?”
“Let him have his she-wolf.” I glanced at our plans for the farm, sprawling and beautiful, with no one to enjoy it. “Insure our future.”
Shadow gasped. “Baron, that’s going to start a war you’re not willing to fight.”
“I’ll fight for what I believe in.”
Chapter Twelve
K iera
“I’m so glad to meet you.” Baron’s mom squeezed me in a hug
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