She shook her head. "I don't get access to it until I'm twenty-five. Per our parents will. I will in about a year."
"Your father was a sharp man, made very smart decisions." My father said, sounding honest. "He's missed. Your brother is holding up alright for the position, but he has large shoes to fill."
I glanced at Jay, watching a flicker of sadness cross her face before she shook it off. She forced a smile, taking a bite of her food.
The conversation went quiet as everyone started to eat. Sasha and Sven asked Sam a question every once in a while, and I could tell she was trying to make Sam feel better. I'm sure they both know just how uptight the guys could be.
"So, Sam, what was your mother like?" Sasha asked, and the entire table went quiet.
I watched as Sam tensed up her fork, pausing on her pork chop. She swallowed, glancing at Sasha. A hurt expression flicked across her eyes before she quickly changed it.
My father grunted, taking the attention. "She was a human. A weak, fragile human that had no reason to marry."
I tightened my grip on my fork and glared at my father. I felt a sudden flare of anger hit me. I knew my father had his opinions, like everyone else in the pack, but even that was harsh. And to say it in front of Sam.
I set my fork down and curled my hands into fists, ready to growl at my father, but Sam turned in her chair towards my father. "What's the difference between humans and shifters?"
My father cackled. "So much."
Sam shrugged, placing her hands on her lap. "And yet you need us to bear children."
The entire table fell silent. My father's hands tightened on the table and I glanced at Sam, who held a very calm expression. "There is no denying that shifters are faster and stronger, but that doesn't mean that humans are less. That they don't deserve as good of a life as you do. I've worked hard and outranked many shifters for my position. I've seen humans outrun shifters and some train better."
I watched my father grind his teeth together.
Sam's eyes grew harsh. "And that doesn't mean we don't deserve love. My father loved my mother with every fiber of his being, and if my father were here right now, he might have punched you for that comment."
The table fell silent, and Sam wiped her mouth onto the napkin, pulling herself up. "If you will excuse me for a moment. I need to use the restroom."
"It's down the hall to the right," my mother said, looking stunned as she looked between them.
Sam pulled herself up and stepped out of the dining room. I doubt she even knew where she was going, but she likely just wanted to leave the room. I didn't blame her. I was surprised she didn't leave it sooner.
I glanced at my father, who shook his head. "Such a stupid child."
I growled at my father, baring my teeth, and my mother's eyes widened. "Stop!"
My father narrowed his eyes at me. "This is my house and in my house...."
"And you have insulted my wife," I snapped back, pulling myself out of my chair. "Do not speak so freely in front of her like that again!"
I hurried out after Sam and started scanning the hallways for her. I found her back near the front, wiping at her eyes. I could see her eyes were red, and she had started to cry.
I stopped a few feet away. "Sam."
She turned towards me, and her eyes narrowed. Her lips curled up tightly as she scowled at me. "What? What do you want to add? Do you have anything you want to say about my family as well? How my mother was weak and fragile?"
I pulled my hands up, not wanting to fight with her. "I'm not here to fight. I just want to talk. Let me apologize."
"And I don't want to talk to you, and I don't want your apology."
I sighed and stuffed my hands into my pocket. I couldn't blame her. If I was in her shoes, I wouldn't have wanted to talk either. But this wasn't how I wanted this to go. I wanted us to be able to at least speak to each other. We were married. "What do you want?"
"I want to go to my home, but you made me get rid of that, so I guess I will go toyourhouse."
I wasn't going to argue with her. Dinner was a shit show, and why I thought it would be better, I didn't know.
We headed home and decided to walk. I could get my car in the morning, and it looked like Sam wanted the fresh air.