Page 18 of My Mate

“Distracted enough to end up near Lucinda’s property?”

“It’s not the way it sounds.”

Klaus held his hands up. “You can say and do whatever you want, Dex, but it doesn’t change the fact that she still ended up there. I get that it is completely innocent, but that is also the point. While she was distracted, she gravitated toward Lucinda, and I’ve given her strict instructions that she is not to help Casey.”

Dex sighed and he rubbed at his temples. “What would you do, Dad? If it was Mom?” he asked.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I know you think it doesn’t, and that is fine, but come on, you and I both know if it was Mom, full moon after full moon, then you wouldn’t just stand idly by and do nothing.”

Klaus sat back, flicking the pen between his fingers without losing control of it once.

“You’re right, I wouldn’t.”

Dex frowned. “Hold on, this is not what I asked you. I wanted to know if you had gotten any messed-up complaints about Casey, and you changed the subject about Lucinda. I’ve seen you do this enough times with Mom, which means you have a complaint. What is it?”

“Do I need to remind you, son, I am still the Alpha, and until I say otherwise, I’m the one in charge.”

Dex sighed.

“You’re eighteen years old, you’re not ready to take over this pack, and until you can learn to deal with things offering up a little diplomacy, you’ve got a long way to go.”

“Is this because I beat the shit out of Buddy Anderson?” he asked.

His father didn’t answer.

“Because if it is, then that is bullshit and you know it. He hurt Casey, and I know the bruises have already faded now, butthat is be—”

“What did you say?” Klaus asked, interrupting him.

“Which part, I was kind of saying a lot?”

“About Casey.”

“Buddy and his friends beat her up. I was just paying him back.”

“No, about her bruises.” Klaus put his pen down on the desk.

“They’re healed and nearly all gone.”

Klaus smiled and Dex frowned.

“What?” Dex asked. “I feel like I’m missing something.”

“Think about it, son. Casey was beaten up less than a week ago. If she didn’t have any wolf in her veins, she would still be dealing with the bruises for many weeks after. Humans take a long time to heal. Even from a simple bruise.”

“So, what are you saying?” Dex asked. “That even though Casey hasn’t been able to transition, it doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen?”

“Yes.”

Dex frowned. “You’re distracting me again. You don’t want me to know who has written a complaint about Casey. Who was it?”

Klaus clicked his tongue.

“Come on, Dad, I need to know who did this. I may not be ready to take over today, but one day I will. Do you want me to find out then?”

His father still didn’t move for several seconds, and Dex truly believed he wasn’t going to.

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