Page 104 of Wolf's Mark

“And the council’s position? Are they prepared for a fight?”

“Yes. I may not agree with everything they said, but we can’t back down. Sadly, our packs were allowed to go astray because of your deadbeat father. When he left us, he broke the trust across the lands. Yes, maybe it seems melodramatic to you, but that’s the truth. I should have better prepared you for leadership. That one is on me. However, it’s not too late.”

“Everything about you is all encased in drama, Mother. One reason I adore you.”

“If I could hunt your father down, I would. He wouldn’t like me very much when I did. I’d string him up by his balls.”

I couldn’t say I blamed her. Chuckling, I kissed her on the forehead. “I don’t know if I buy that I’m the great new leader, but someone needs to drive the packs.”

“Trust in your gut and your heart. Neither will ever steer you wrong. It’s past time we get back to our old ways.”

“The curse.” I’d called it such a thing once in my life as a young boy. My father had shown me his unhappiness at my words.

“Our true curse is ignoring who and what we are for far too long. Take the signs, son. Sedona Willis is your mate and together you can provide the answers we need.”

“A heavy crown to wear.”

“But one you’re capable of wearing. Time for me to go. I have salsa lessons tonight. Just remember to treat her right. I will bust your ass if you cheat on her.”

She kissed my cheek and headed for the stairs. The woman was a formidable beast herself.

I waited as she left before grabbing the bottle of vodka from the freezer.

Silence wasn’t always golden.

Even though I was a man who preferred privacy and solace, Sedona’s silence had become unnerving. She’d walked away from the group after several of the pack members had left, leaving only those considered leaders to continue talking. I’d watched her the entire time, noticing she was shutting down all over again.

Now she was as close to being catatonic as I’d seen. I refilled our drinks before heading toward the fireplace. As I placed a glass in front of her on the coffee table, her eyes didn’t reflect any movement and she continued to say nothing.

“My mother thinks highly of you,” I told her. “She’s even impressed with your work as well.”

Sedona exhaled, but that’s all I got.

I allowed a full minute to tick by.

“My work is important to me.”

“I know that. I have no plans on taking that away from you.”

“Until I get pregnant with… what did you call them. Pups?”

This was the flipside of accepting at least a portion of the truth.

“I would never demand you leave your job. We need to continue talking,” I finally told her. I’d suddenly become the one to begin conversations, which I’d never enjoyed before, but with her, everything was new and more enjoyable.

Even if the reasons were not acceptable at this point.

She said nothing, but at least I was rewarded with her trembling hand reaching for her drink. She almost knocked over the glass, spilling a small amount onto the table. Something so ordinary seemed to trouble her more than anything else I’d seen.

Her frantic actions in wiping up the drops were disturbing.

“Leave it, Sedona. The furniture doesn’t matter. The spilled drink I couldn’t give a shit about. However, your silence has become disconcerting.”

“As if I care.”

“Why are you angry? I realize some of the pack members are assholes. We are no different than humans. We have disagreements even amongst friends and family members.”

“Bullshit,” she finally snapped. “I know for certain just how different you are. I’ve seen it for myself and as all your experts have said, yourself included, those creatures weren’t transformed fully yet. I was contacted because I can recognize different animal and human DNA. Maybe you didn’t know this, but wolves and humans share eighty-four percent of their DNA. What I witnessed in the samples was a strange mixture ofshit I couldn’t identify. Maybe your great scientist can. Those creatures I autopsied were not human any longer. But they were not wolves. The alteration could have occurred from noxious gas, or a chemical imbalance based on a combination of drugs. Until I’m able to do further and very extensive tests, I can’t provide you with any definitive answers, no matter if you order me to work with more of your… kind.”

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