Page 34 of Homecoming

“Me and Zak, we were justfoolin’aroundhavin’a little fun. The pups were up here. They were fine. Kat, you’re over-reacting.”

“Yeah, they’re fine now, thanks to me. I told you how worried I was about Evelyn. And you promised me you’d take care of us. I’m starting to think I made a mistake coming back from the mountain. I should have stayed there. At least Noah could protect us. He wouldn’t have let this happen.”

“Oh yeah. Yeah, Saint Noah… He can do no wrong, right? Kat, I’m a wolf—I do wolf things from time to time. I’m also the pack leader.”

“Oh really? You’re the pack leader?” she laughs. “See, I don’t see that… no one sees that.”

“Fuck you!Hell, I don’t know what else to do to satisfy you. I certainly can’t live up to Darius’ expectations. Now it seems I can’t even live up to Noah. I don’t why I bother because I obviously can’t satisfy you. I don’t even know what you want from me anymore.”

“I want you to protect us—I want you to be here for us. Not this. You knew how worried I was. How I… Evelyn, I’m so afraid of someone coming for her.”

“Yeah, well don’t be. I got this. Kat, she’s my daughter too. I promise I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“Really? Digby, you’ve hardly been near her. You dote on the boys but Evelyn, you’ve not spent any time with her. It’s like you don’t want to know her.”

“Okay, maybe that’s true. Sure, I have found it a little more difficult with her and I probably haven’t bonded as much as Icould,but don’t forget, Lukas and me were on our own when you weren’t here and—”

“What the fuck? When I wasn’t here? What? Are you saying I wasn’t here for him? Did you really just say that? You do remember what happened? Are you blaming me?”

“No. God no. Kat, that’s not what I meant. You’re twisting my words again.Goddamit, I can’t do anything right but… well, maybe you need to look at yourself and decide what you want from me.”

“Fuck you,” she sneers angrily.

“Right. I’ll go do that then. If you don’t wanna be with me, Kat, just say so. You want Darius… Noah? Okay, thengo ahead andchoose one, but you are not taking my kids. She’s my daughter and I told you I will protect her.”

“Really… But what if she’s not yours?” Kat lashes out in anger. Then as the reality of her words hit she clamps a hand to her mouth and closes her eyes. “Oh God… I’m so sorry, I don’t know why I said that.”

“What do you mean? Are you trying to say she’s not my daughter?”

“No, forget it… I was angry. I just wanted to hurt you.”

“No. No, you said 'what if she’s not mydaughter'.” Digby takes a breath. His mind races and stepping forward, he growls. Then lashing out he grabs Kat by the throat and pushes her back against the wall. “What have you been doing? Who the hell did you sleep with?”

“It’s not like that. Digby, please… please let go of me. Digby… you’re hurting me.” She grabs at his hand.

“Tell me what the fuck is going on.”

“Nothing. I told you I was angry, and I wanted to hurt you. I just… please, it’s nothing,” she sobs. “Digby, you’re drunk. Please let me go.”

“You’d better start talking right now! Tell me, is she my daughter or not?”

Kat cries, her head drops, and she sobs uncontrollably.

“Let go of her.” A calm voice sounds behind them and Noah takes a firm hold of Digby’s hand, peeling it away from Kat’s throat. “Ryan, I said let go of her.”

“Get the fuck away from me. I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to her. This is a private conversation. Now go away!”

“Then stop shouting. Everyone in the house can hear you and you’ll wake the boys.” Noahlooks at Kat, then back again at Digby. “Darius… Evelyn is Darius’s pup.” He now replies with a firm calmness to his tone.

“No…” Kat gasps. “Noah, no don’t.”

“He needs to know the truth. You can’t do this anymore… to you or him.”

“What? What the hell is hetalkin’about?” Digby lets go of Kat then looks at the pair and laughs. “Wow… she’s really fed you some bull crap, hasn’t she? Did she tell you Evelyn is Darius’s? Oh my God… Wow, I thought you were dumb but that, brother, dearest, can’t befuckin’true.” Digby can’t help but laugh. “You know what Darius is, right?”

“Don’t call me dumb.” Noah’s rage bubblesandfor the first time ever, Kat feels the presence of his authority. She steps back in shock, watching as he grabs a firm hold of Digby and overpowering him with his size, he pushes the wolf forcefully against the wall. “You’re the dumb one. You had it all. You are bonded to her and still you don’t treat her with respect. She said Evelyn is Darius’s and why wouldn’t I believe that?”

“Maybe because it’s not possible? And you’re being a dumb schmuck. Vamps can’t father offspring.”

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