Page 66 of Redeemed
“You’re a Collins?”
“Marcus, David’s cousin.”
Connor’s got an arm around me and Cliffe is holding my hand. I’m shaking and it’s all I can do not to give in to the tears that are threatening to fall. Marcus isn’t just my cousin, he was my best friend. His participation in the act that got my uncle killed hurt me more than anything else.
Marcus hands the judge a piece of paper. “This is a letter from the American Alpha, authorizing the pack his son has created. Uncle Randolph knew about the pack from the beginning. He just didn’t think anybody would be petty enough to file a complaint about something that’s none of his goddamn business.”
The last line is directed at the Los Feliz alpha, whose eyes are bright with anger.
Someone comes up behind me, wrapping me in a hug. I inhale and recognize my sister Abby’s scent. I’d texted her to find out who filed the complaint, but this response well exceeds my expectations. I tip my head back and she presses her forehead between my shoulder blades. I don’t get pack from her. The feeling is deeper, more essential.
Family.
“I think we’re done here.” The judge stands, and when the Los Feliz alpha starts shouting, the judge shuts him up with a snap of his fingers. “Clearly Mr. Collins’ pack is authorized, and if you ever, and I meanever, file a nuisance complaint again, I’ll take a hard look at how you ended up in charge of anything, let alone a pack of wolves.”
The judge leaves and so does the Los Feliz alpha, muttering about how he fought his way in and blah blah blah. Whatever. I wave at him, almost sad the dude didn’t have the stones to challenge me. Showing him how a real wolf fights might have been fun.
For a minute or two.
Connor’s standing close, and so are Cliffe and Abby. Marcus is a few feet away, staring at the floor.
“Thank you.” My voice is so husky it’s embarrassing.
“I meant what I said.” Marcus doesn’t sound like himself. He’s distant, somber. Sad. “Going along with our uncle’s plan is a shame I will carry for the rest of my life.”
Yeah, well, it’ll be on my mind, too. “What happened to your eye?”
He meets my gaze and his naked pain hits me with the strength of a blow. “Your father. He met with each of us who…I was one of the lucky ones.”
“Oh.”I mean, what do you say to that?I reach for Connor’s hand, interlacing our fingers and squeezing tight. “Well, I appreciate your timely arrival today, and you too, Abby.” I glance at my sister over my shoulder. Her closeness is restorative.
“Can you still fight?” Connor’s shifted to Elites mode and the look he gives my cousin is far from friendly.
Marcus gives a one-shoulder shrug. “Not like I could, but I try.”
“Because we have a bit of a situation and as long as you’re in town, maybe you could help us out.”
The flash of hope that crosses Marcus’s face is hard to bear. “I could stick around. Yeah.”
“Abby?” Connor raises his chin in my sister’s direction.
“Of course.”
He gives my hand a squeeze. “Okay?”
I don’t even have to think about it. “Yeah.”
“Come on, then. We meet this evening to come up with a plan.”
With Connor in the lead, we leave the courtroom. It might not be possible for Marcus to regain my trust, but until half an hour ago, I’d had no idea he wanted to try.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Trajan
ON RISING, MY focus is torn between what’s happened in the past and what we still need to face. If I feel a pull toward Peter, the vampire I’d made, it is easily dismissed. Delia Packard will not shirk her obligation and her scion Gillian will see to his care.
Still, knowing that I’d taken that step gives me a newfound sense of responsibility, of confidence. That feeling lasts until I see my cell phone.
