Page 74 of Eclipsed Heart

She wasn’t implying you didn’t.Bodey’s jaw clenched.She was saying that if the people need us, they are our priority.

Do you truly think that you two showing up here and fumbling over your words with nothing of substance to offer is going to ease their minds?Zeke’s disgust oozed through our connection.It won’t. What’s your lead?

I flinched. I’d hoped he wouldn’t ask. If I held back the information, even though I was tempted, it would only cause further issues between all of us and put Oregon at more risk.A witch is coming to see if she can determine who altered my memories.

For a moment, he didn’t respond.Well, keep me informed if you learn anything.

Will do.I wished fervently that Theo was in charge. It would be easier for me to deal with him instead of the man who’d tormented me and hidden me for all those years.And let them know they’re in our thoughts.

I’ll make sure to reassure them of that. I’m sure it will keep them warm at night.Zeke’s sarcasm dripped from every word.Talk soon.

Bodey snarled. “I really hate him. When things settle, his ass is gone, right?”

“I’d love for it to be one of the first official things I do. Lynerd should be in charge of Oregon. It was technically his right, and he’s stronger than Zeke. I don’t know what my parents were thinking.” I shivered. Calling the king and queen my parents for the very first time overwhelmed me, but I needed to accept my heritage. The mark on my body told the story even if the words felt strange.

“The way Dad explains it, Mila and Zeke were close, and she felt bad that she left Zeke’s pack behind to be with King Richard.” Bodey shrugged. “Maybe that was her way of making it up to him.”

There were way better ways to accomplish that than handing over power to a narcissistic abuser. “I don’t think that makes it any better.”

Bodey shrugged, taking my hand and holding it on the center console. He linked,At least, she had good intentions even if they were misguided. And Dad said Zeke didn’t start out that bad. He became worse over the years, and when Mila died, something inside him died along with her.

That sounded sad, but Zeke wasn’t the victim. He’d become an abuser, which terminated any sympathy I might have had for him. Only someone who had meanness in their heart would mistreat others the way he did daily. I didn’t believe that was something that would’ve grown over time. It must have always been lurking in the shadows.

I was done with this conversation. I’d spent too much of my life thinking and talking about Zeke.Do you think we should send the advisors to Ontario since we aren’t going?

I’m pretty sure that will just upset Lynerd and Zeke more and set them against one another. Zeke is the advisor for that region, so having Miles, Jack, Lucas, or even Samuel go there would make him feel threatened and would also make him appear weak in front of Lynerd.He shrugged.Besides, River will want to talk with Miles to touch base on things with his pack and territory. It’d be best if we all go home.

This crap was hard. The power dynamics seemed almost petty, like if someone farted a little too loud, too soft, or too stinky, someone would be offended.

Bodey turned onto a new road to take us back toward Idaho instead of central Oregon.

Michael linked,Hey, what’s going on?

I realized that we hadn’t informed the dads, so I gave them a quick update.

Michael didn’t say anything until I was done.That was the best call to make.

Hearing another person say that was exactly what I needed.I wish there were an easier answer.

I think we all do. I’ll inform Dan, Phil, and Carl about what’s going on. Let us know if anything else happens.

I closed my eyes and leaned over the center console, placing my head on Bodey’s shoulder. I needed the thrumming of our bond to be as strong as possible right now. His touch and smell made me feel whole.

He kissed the top of my head and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, embracing me as much as he could while driving. “We’re going to figure this out,” he promised.

I nodded, knowing that both of us needed to believe it…especially right now.

“Get some rest.” He used the controls on the steering wheel to turn on the radio, and he stopped when Wilson Phillips’s “Hold On” started playing. The lyrics spoke to my soul, and I focused on being with my mate and what the future might hold.

* * *

Even though Itried to sleep, it evaded me. My neck hurt from having lain on Bodey’s arm for so long, and my back was stiffer than ever. The one nice thing that sitting for hours had accomplished was that my wounds were now mere scabs, and I wasn’t tempted to ask Dina to heal anything.

When we pulled into our neighborhood, the moon was hidden behind thick clouds, and rain drizzled the windshield. I glanced at the clock. It was almost seven thirty at night, and I felt like I hadn’t slept in ages.

Soon, we drove up to our white house. Lights were on inside as Bodey pulled into the garage.

Is Janet here?Bodey’s family and friends liked congregating in Bodey’s house, which I didn’t mind. I enjoyed having everyone there.

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