Page 16 of Howling With Wolves

“Clayton Richards was a brutal bastard,” Cyan agreed, and I knew from the tightening of his jaw he cast some blame on himself for what had happened.

“He was…is…whatever.” My mate spoke before I could. “You don’t get to carry any of the blame for his choices and actions. Unless you think I should, as well.”

“Of course, you have no blame in this,” Cyan fired back. “But I—”

“Got away,” Emma interrupted. “I’ll admit I’m jealous of that. I’ll admit I was angry when Mom said she’d sent you away to protect you when she’d made me stay. No matter how many times I begged to leave. I wondered why she loved you more.”

Cyan snorted.

“You might not understand why she did what she did, but I think I’m starting to. I can only imagine the choice she was forced to make in the aftermath of your father’s death. Right or wrong, she felt it was the best option to keep you safe. From where I’m standing, it looks like you were the only one protectedout of all of us. Jonathan is dead. My father literally had him ripped apart.”

Emma paused to catch her breath, and Donovan and I both offered comfort through our touch.

“Sam ran, or at least, that’s what I was told. I was taken and tortured in order to find him. On my father’s orders. By his hands as well as those who serve him. She might not be the mother you wanted, but she had a hard choice to make. Hard choices are just that. Hard for everyone involved.”

Cyan blew out a breath. “Speaking of Sam. One of Nico’s contacts got in touch with him a little bit ago. He’s going to meet with them now. It’s about Sam. That’s all I know for now. He’ll reach out as soon as he knows more.”

“Oh, my gods,” Emma said, one hand covering her mouth.

“Let’s not get any hopes up until we have more information,” Bas ordered.

“Agreed.” Cyan glanced at Emma. “Let’s get answers. Once we have those, maybe we can talk more. Get to know one another.”

Emma nodded. “I’d like that.”

Cyan stood. “I need to go find Ivy and Jasmine and head home. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I nodded since he’d directed that toward me and Donovan.

“Don’t leave yet,” Raina said as Emma, Donovan, and I rose from the couch. “You barely had a chance to say hello to everyone.”

“Another time, please?” Emma linked her hands with me and Donovan. “I’m still…recovering.” She paused over the word as if it were distasteful to her.

Raina nodded. “Of course. Maybe, lunch later this week. Just the girls.”

“I’d like that. Thank you.”

I tugged Emma against my side when she turned to me.

“Let’s go home,” she said.

Donovan and I shared a look. We’d both known it from the first moment we saw her, but it was good to finally hear her say it. She was ours. She was home.

Chapter Eight

~Donovan~

I’d risen early, my body hard and hungry for my mate, but I chose to leave her tangled with Anthony. We’d both loved her last night, several times. Feeling her skin, her mouth, the grip of her hands on my body made it difficult to remember she was still healing. Quicker now that she’d shifted, but still recovering. What she needed most now was rest and answers. Anthony would see to the first, and I’d head out to work on the second.

I had my phone at my ear as I left the house.

“Are you there?” I asked as soon as West answered the call.

“Got here early this morning. It’s a full-on shit show,” he muttered. “Bunch of lowlife pricks trying to claim control of a pack that’s scattering to the wind as we speak. Whole place is a fucking mess.”

“Anything on Clayton or Claire Richards?”

West was quiet for a moment. “They pulled her body out of the rubble about an hour ago. Still nothing on the male. I’ve heard rumors he made it out. I’ve also heard rumors someone took his body, so it would be assumed he made it out and was giving orders through someone else’s mouth,” West offered.

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