Page 38 of Scarred Resolve

He wished he was a little more like Jacky, but even when she ran afoul and killed werewolves, it was always in terms of them starting it or her getting pulled in by her other family, both reasonable excuses. This situation was no place for him. His children weren’t in danger. His pack wasn’t in danger like it had been when the werecats visited Dallas to meet with Jacky and Zuri. His fiancée was off to deal with it, and that wasn’t a good enough excuse for him to join the fight, not if he wanted to keep his children from being victims of his pushing the boundaries. If they were already married, or better, had a mate bond, then no one could ever question it. He and Jacky had neither. They hadn’t even started planning the wedding.

“Carey, I know this is hard, but please… Jacky really didn’t want you to worry. She wants you focused on school and life. You deserve that. You are still too young to be carrying this sort of weight.”

“Dad, I met Jacky after running from werewolves who were trying to kill us,” she reminded him. It dug into his chest like a knife. “I watched her get shot. I thought she was dead as they dragged me away, and I cried even when they put me in a cage next to Landon.” She threw a thumb at her brother. “Richard tried to kill me…”

He couldn’t look at her anymore, knowing too well how much he had failed to keep his daughter safe.

“I get it, Dad. Werewolves attacked on my birthday, though. I just want updates. My classes will be easy to focus on. I’m used to using them to keep my mind off stuff. I have to be. If everyoneelse can keep moving with their lives, so can I.” She stood up and nodded firmly. “I’ll go work on my paper right now, actually.”

She marched out, sixteen and proud. Powerful enough to overthrow the government if she wanted to.

“She’s tough,” Landon said as he sat down. Dirk did as well, looking uncomfortable.

“She is. I’m proud of her. I just wish I was a better father who could keep her safe and out of… this. She doesn’t need all of this, and I hate every time it keeps brushing against her life?—”

“She asked for it this time, Pa. She figured us out and called you out. I will burn the world to the ground for her, but even I know you’re losing this battle to keep her away from it. Lost a long time ago.”

“Dirk, did you ever try to stay out of our world?” Heath asked him, putting his son’s mate on the spot.

“Yeah, after I got tired of it and tired of trying to fit in when Hasan had already made it pretty clear I wasn’t good enough,” Dirk replied, looking away. “Can I speak out of turn?”

“This is your family, too,” Heath reminded him. Heath respected and loved the young man in front of him as much as his own son. He was maintaining a bit of distance now that they were mated so they could bond more and enjoy their time, but Dirk was a son to him.

“I think you need to put Carey into therapy,” he said in a whisper, as though he was scared to even suggest such a thing.

“I know… I know I do. She seems like she’s strong enough to deal with it, but it’s so unreasonable to think a sixteen-year-old should have to. Or that it’s fair to her. Or that…” He leaned back, closing his eyes.

“It’s not really your fault. She doesn’t blame you. I would bet my life on that. I don’t ever really blame Niko for it. We live in our parent’s world. How can we not? But I think someone needsto just check in with her who isn’t… one of us. Has she gone before?”

“We have gotten her sessions before, but they fall off as she gets busy with school, and she says she doesn’t need it. All of that. It’s difficult finding a therapist who can be told all the supernatural things, works with human children, and might be a good fit for her.”

“Make them mandatory once you do find someone because…” Dirk trailed off, and no one moved. After a few seconds, their ears adjusting to the soft sounds of the house, Heath could hear it.

His daughter was crying in her room. Heath’s body tensed, needing to find out what hurt his little girl, but he knew. He already knew, and there was so little he could do about it. Before he or Landon could get up, Dirk was out of his chair.

“I got her. I’m the kid of a werecat. I get it. Landon has something else to ask, anyway.”

“Thanks, Dirk,” Landon said. With a nod, Dirk left and went to see Carey, leaving Heath staring at Landon.

He would check in once Landon was done with him. He had to. He knew Landon was going to do the same thing. Both of them fought to stay in their chairs until they heard Dirk, unable to make out his exact words, begin talking to Carey. It was still a battle as Heath opened his mouth.

“What was it? What did you need to ask me about?”

“More like throw out some situations and ideas. We should tell Shamus and Ranger the full story about what’s going on, just in case,” Landon said quickly. “Plus… with Jacky gone, I think you need to talk to the pack about what’s going on with her. They notice, Pa.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do. Call Shamus and Ranger. We’ll talk to them first and plan something for the entire pack. Let me guess, some of the wolves have approached you about this.”

“Yeah, it’s a little weird, but they have,” Landon confirmed. “They don’t want to make you upset. She’s yours, but they’re worried.”

“About what specifically?”

“About whether she still cares about them or wants them here after what happened with Fenris.” Landon slowly shook his head. “I think they rationally know that’s not true, but the ice out is frying their good sense, as it would anyone who lived in such a tenuous and dangerous situation.”

“We’ll deal with it. Thank you for bringing this up,” Heath said, knowing he now had a much fuller plate than he expected while he mostly just wanted to pray every minute of the day for the safe return of the woman he loved.

17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

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