Page 8 of Bitter Discord

“Let me worry about me. I have a werewolf fiancé, a rogue werewolf pack in my territory, and I’m still Jacqueline, daughter of Hasan. What’s a couple more mistakes in the eyes of my father? He thinks I make them every time I open my mouth, so what’s one or two more?”

“Damn. Well, when you put it that way…”

“Did I ever tell you what he said about Heath?” I scoffed, turning away from Dirk. It was a rhetorical question. I’d told no one the exact words. I told Heath it had been more of the same, but that was only because I didn’t want to share the vileness of Hasan’s specific words.

“He said peace didn’t require degrading myself by sleeping with adog.” I looked over my shoulder to see how wide Dirk’s eyes had grown. “He said Heath—attractive, older, and hopefully good in bed—was a good choice for the werewolves to send to seduce the broken-hearted young daughter of the family. He degraded and spat on the man I love. He degraded and spat on my need to help the werewolves from Dallas and let Heath keep this pack. He spat on what I believe in and made me feel small.” I smiled but knew my sadness and regret filled the air. “So, don’t worry about me. There’s not much else he can say to hurt me. Everything I do is a mistake. Everything I do is a problem for him. Even this…” I shook my head.

“This gathering you’re hosting?” Dirk took a couple of steps closer. “Did you tell him about it?”

“He told me I would eventually make enemies among the werecats. I know I mentioned that before. It’s been one of the few things on my mind for the last six months.” Dirk nodded, so I continued. “I got the idea a few months ago in Mozambique but never told him directly. I wish I could have taken you, but…”

“I would have turned you down even if I was human,” Dirk replied, coming to stand beside me. I leaned on the window, an eyebrow going up, wondering if he would tell me why. He leaned on the wall, looking out the same large window, saying nothing.

“It’s pretty out there. You would like Makalo, too.”

“Sure. Tell me about getting the idea for this week and not telling Hasan about it.”

“Well, I met Jabari’s mate, Aisha, and she mentioned the family used to host parties and similar gatherings. It was a chance for werecats to dance and play but also discuss the world. Hasan would listen to their questions, ease their worries, or listen to their ideas. Zuri threw big ones in Africa. I guess Davor and Niko would have done them in Europe. They stopped when Liza died.”

“And you figured you could recreate it.” Dirk sounded a little impressed. “Play the family game?”

“Exactly. I thought if I hosted one, it would be as though I was actually part of the family. Bringing werecats to me, talking to them about the world and the changes. I need to know them. They need to finally know me. It’s not as if I don’t care about them. They’re my kind, but I don’t know them, and they don’t know me. I want them to see that I care about my werewolves, but I also care for them. It’s not a limited resource. I don’t have to pick one or the other. I shouldn’t have to. I’m hoping they see I only have good intentions.”

“If you talk to them with that much honesty, I bet they will,” Dirk said, then tapped his nose when I looked at him. “It’s pretty obvious.”

“So, back to the story… I told Zuri about my plan the same night, knowing I would need her help. She offered to help but wanted some time to think about a few things. We started making plans, and she told Hasan we were doing it because it’s a security thing, and letting him be blindsided by it later wouldn’t be a good move.”

“What did he say?”

“I don’t know. Zuri didn’t tell me,” I said.

“Oh…” Dirk caught on to what that meant.

It was too bad for Zuri to repeat.

Dirk and I fell into an easy silence. I wasn’t sure where to take the conversation from there. Staring out my big window, I realized I knew exactly how Dirk felt. Worrying about how they would all think about me when I was falling in love with Heath Everson or running off to save my human family. I was a step ahead of him. I was outed and had to take every cold comment, said and unsaid, on the chin. I had to pretend they didn’t hurt or that I wasn’t dying from a thousand cuts. For months, every time Hasan emailed, I had ignored how deep the wounds were. His words had ripped me open, and I forced myself to walk out of his office with dignity and even revel in his speechlessness at Heath’s declaration as a rogue.

Keeping my head up didn’t make the pain stop or stop the bleeding.

I knew exactly what Dirk was facing. Changed into a werewolf or telling anyone he was with Landon, I knew exactly what was coming for him.

I’ll protect him.

“Thanks for talking to me… about all of it,” I said, finally breaking the silence. “So you like the idea of easing Zuri into it and seeing if she can handle the secret? We’re pretty good at secrets in this family. We all have a few. What’s one or two more?”

“Yeah, we can give it a try.” Dirk said, then horror filled his scent. It was stronger than anything I had ever smelled from him. His face changed to match, paling to a deathly white. “Um… There’s one thing we didn’t consider.”

“What’s that?” I crossed my arms, concerned and confused.

“I know Hasan’s Talent.” Dirk swallowed. “Heath is my Alpha. All he would have to do is ask. If he knows what to ask for, I wouldn’t be able to keep the secret.”

4

CHAPTER FOUR

Dirk’s words echoed in my head for the next hour. We sat in silence because I didn’t know what to say. I sat down on my couch and stared at the television, with nothing playing.

Dirk had given me a problem I didn’t know how to face. While I knew Heath would never force Dirk to give up family secrets or information on us, I also knew most of the family wouldn’t care.

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