Page 41 of Healed
“No, I’m not. I’m worried about our son,” Avaleigh said. “He’s losing everything he’s ever worked for.”
“I’m going to find him,” Daniel said.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Avaleigh said.
Daniel kissed her quickly, then gathered his keys and his wallet and started for the door.
“I can go with you if you want, Uncle Daniel,” Brandt said.
Daniel thought about it, but shook his head. “No, I think it’s best if I go talk to him alone. Any clue where he is?”
“Check his house. Maybe he’s there. I intentionally didn’t check there this morning in an effort not to have things escalate again. If he’s not there, his girlfriend lives out in the neighborhood behind the grocery store. She drives a little white Taurus. All beat up.”
“Gives me a few places to check at least,” Daniel said.
“Let me know,” Avaleigh said unnecessarily. There was no doubt that Daniel would keep her fully apprised of the situation.
“I will. Don’t worry. We’ll figure it all out,” Daniel promised. Moments later they heard his bike crank, and the rumble of its engine as he drove away.
Brandt remained where he was, his hands shoved into his pockets. “I’m really sorry, Aunt Avaleigh. It’s not what I wanted to happen. I just couldn’t allow his behavior anymore. I thought threatening him with putting him out would wake him up. Instead, he chose to leave.”
“I understand, Brandt. I do. I’m upset, but I know as Alpha, there are lines you have to draw that the rest of us don’t. And it sounds like if he keeps on with his behavior, he’s on a terrible path anyway.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Why don’t you come in the kitchen and let me feed you real quick?” she asked.
“No, thank you. I have to go talk to my own clan. I haven’t really spoken to anybody about it but Tempest. I wanted to tell you first.”
“I appreciate that,” Avaleigh said.
He hugged Avaleigh. “I love you, Aunt Avaleigh. And I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for doing what an Alpha does. Maybe he’ll come around rather than leave.”
“I hope so. I’ve always looked up to Remi. I don’t want him to have to leave, but I can’t have the behavior he’s been conducting either.”
“I know, baby. We love you, too. You take care, you hear,” she said.
“I will. I’ll let you know if I see him or hear from him. I’d appreciate you letting me know if Uncle Daniel finds him and what he says.”
“I will. And let me know when Tempest goes into labor.”
Brandt nodded and gave her a sad smile before he let himself out.
Avaleigh sat down on the sofa and let herself cry. With no one there to see it, she allowed herself to sob freely, but it did nothing to release the worry she carried for her son.
~~~
Brandt paced back and forth across his porch as he waited for all of his clan to assemble in one way or another, while Tempest reclined on a glider rocker just a couple of feet away, gently swaying the rocker back and forth with one foot.
Havoc and Analise, Hellen and Lucien, Kiernan, Abby, and their kids, and Shaun were all there sitting round the outdoor breakfast table. Barron and Emmalyn were there, thoughEmmalyn was lying in a lounger a few feet from everybody else with a cool wash cloth across her eyes,and Barron was leaning with his back to the railing and chatting with everybody.
Havoc was talking to Ronan on his phone, while Brandt was holding his phone in his hand, and glancing at it from time to time.
Suddenly Brandt’s phone rang, and he almost dropped it, bobbling it from one hand to the next while trying to answer it. “Christian?” he said into the phone.
“Hey. Sorry we’re a few minutes late calling. I got in from the hospital a couple of hours ago and just passed out. But we’re both awake and here now, though,” Christian said.
