Page 84 of Cupcake

“I don’t trust them,” Josiah admitted.

“What?” Logan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Pride was family.

“They got us into this mess,” Josiah reminded him. “They made a deal with the coven. I don’t know what they got out of it. No one will admit to anything, but I do know that the mother of my children died because of them. And I’m not the only one thatfeels that way. Some of the older teenagers are angry. We must fight for every morsal of food.”

“Tell me about her,” Logan requested. “The girl’s mother.”

“Luna.” Josiah smiled. A real smile. Happiness shining in his eyes. “She was my best friend. You might remember her?”

“Vaguely,” Logan responded. He’d tried to avoid most of the females.

“After you were gone, Father came to me and said that I would start providing cubs. It didn’t matter what I wanted.” Josiah winced. “I love my girls. I’d do anything for them!”

“We understand,” Dean said kindly.

Josiah nodded. “Luna was my best friend. She was being pressured as well by her family. An elder had shown interest in mating with her. We decided if we were going to be forced into providing cubs, we’d do it together. It would keep her safe from others and allow me to fulfill our father’s wishes.”

“It was a good plan.” Dean smiled. “She sounds like an amazing woman.”

“She was. I loved her,” Josiah told them. “I wasn’t in love with her. It wasn’t like the love I can see between the two of you. We weren’t mates but I loved her.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Dean said sincerely.

“She was one of the first five killed and drained. Luna was a strong female. She fought. Killed two of the witches but it hadn’t been enough. They still got her and everyone else.”

“We’re going to stop them,” Dean vowed.

“I hope so,” Josiah replied. “It’s too late for us though.”

“It’s not!” Logan insisted. “You can start over. In a new pride. Or on your own, just you and your girls.”

“How?” Josiah demanded.

“You still have a kind and loving brother who has powerful connections,” Dean told him.

Josiah peered at Logan. Watched him with those golden eyes. “I won’t ever be able to pay you back for this.”

“You don’t have to,” Logan said. “My alpha, he helped me when I needed it. No payment needed. I can offer the same for my blood.”

“Blood.” Josiah snorted. “Blood never mattered before. Not here.”

“Then you’ll go somewhere else. Make a new family. Live a better life.”

“I don’t want to go with the rest of the pride,” Josiah stated.

“No problem. You’ll come home with us until you decide where you want to go,” Axel offered as he and Lucifer joined them. Slowly walking in the direction that they’d come from.

“Mr. Lucifer. Alpha,” Josiah bowed his head. “Thank you for everything you did for us today.”

Lucifer smiled. “It was my pleasure. And you just call me Lucifer.”

“You are family,” Axel stated firmly. “I’ve already spoken to Mason. His cabin is available for you and the girls. I thought youmight like to spend time with Logan before you decided where you wanted to live.”

“Thank you.” Josiah grew teary-eyed before he turned his face away.

“There’s more,” Lucifer said. “Every town and territory that my demons checked on are like this. We are reaching out to every shifter leader and mage that we can. I already have a lion alpha headed here. Some of the elderly are saying they won’t go.”

“What do we do?” Logan asked. He clung hard to his mate. “We can’t force them from their home.”

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