Page 57 of Understanding Fate

“It may be pack first, but I’ll never turn my back on my blood or my favorite nephew,” she says, her tone lightening.

“I’m your only nephew,” I point out.

“I guess that makes you my least favorite nephew, too,” she says with a laugh before disconnecting with promises to call as soon as possible.

The weight on my shoulders lightens slightly, knowing she will come through, and I send a quick thank you to my dad for raising Presley and me to put family first.

He always knew what was best.

I wish he were here to help me through this.

At that thought I reach for my top desk drawer, retrieving the key to the hidden compartment built into the file cabinet on my left. Standing, I remove the false back and unlock the hinged door beyond, grabbing the journal from inside before closing it and covering it back up.

I’d found the keys two months after taking over the pack. It had taken weeks longer to find what they opened, but when I had, I’d spent hours pouring over its contents.

An old ledger with a list of names and dollar amounts.

A black book with contacts listed under odd aliases.

A journal with entries written in my dad’s handwriting.

My finger traces slowly over the engraved cover before opening the leather jacket. I flip absently through the pages before reaching the last entry.

It’s dated six weeks before the accident.

“9/2018 - Completed 827. Asset recovered—one injury. No fatalities. Need to resupply Hendrix. Sparks meet in October.”

The words still mean absolutely nothing to me. No one in our pack or alliances goes by that name. None of his council members knew anything about it. I’ve looked through every record I can find for the date listed, and it always comes up empty. Even I can’t seem to recall where I was that day to try to remember what he was doing.

Why didn’t you tell me about any of this, Dad? What does it all mean?

Looking at the journal leaves me with more questions than answers, which are the things I came here to find.

How do I win this war, Dad? How do I keep everyone safe?

I slam the book closed, frustration bubbling within me, threatening my control, before I let out a breath and focus on what I can control.

Dante: Council meeting, noon. I need everyone there.

Pack First.

That’s what he taught me, so that’s where we start.

Chapter 23

Bri

Waking up this morning, I feel the weight of Cain’s arm wrapped around me. His firm chest pressed flush against my back allows me to feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Home.

The thought may have terrified me weeks ago, but now, there is a comfort in knowing I belong somewhere, that I belong with him.

Every fiber of my being knows it to be true, and as I lay listening to the steady pounding, I find myself entirely at ease.

His scent is present in every breath I take, and I can’t recall ever sleeping more soundly. No nightmares. Nomemories. Just rest. Part of me wonders if most people sleep like this all the time.

I’d never had that luxury.

---