Page 36 of Until Forever Comes
Richie’s jaw dropped. “We have to buy our own land?”
“Haven’t you been listening to me?” Miguel snapped. “It isn’t your land. But it can be. If. You. Buy. It.”
A growl rumbled in Richie’s chest, and he curled his lips over his teeth. When I noticed him clenching and unclenching his fists, I knew he was trying to restrain his anger. He took in a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “Go on and explain it to me again,” he said.
“Please,” Crissy added.
I put my hand on Miguel’s knee and squeezed it. Then I rubbed his thigh.
“All right,” he said. “Here is how it works.”
Miguel wasn’t as patronizing the second time around. Instead, he put paper after paper in front of Richie and Crissy, showing them maps and price sheets, explaining which land would remain national forestland and which would be private property. He answered their questions patiently, and though it was clear that Richie was distressed, he was no longer glaring at my mate.
“Does the pack have that there kind of money?” Crissy asked her husband.
“Richie’s father is one of the pack Betas,” I explained to Miguel. “So he has a good handle on finances.”
“I don’t rightly know,” Richie said as he dragged his fingers through his hair. “If we all pool together, we might should be able to buy most of it, like the dens, and probably the school, but—” He gulped and pointed at the map. “The human town will come right up to Miancarem. And I don’t think we’ll be able to get enough funds to buy the open areas.”
“Why is that such a bad thing?” Miguel asked. “Maybe it’s time your kind integrated a little better with the humans. If you did more of that, you wouldn’t need me to tell you what they plan to do with your town. You can’t continue to be so isolated. It’s threatening your survival.”
“Maybe so,” I said. “But how can cubs shift and play if they’ve got humans as neighbors? How can pack members go for runs or talk openly among themselves? I think you’re right about changes being necessary, but the pack can’t live among the humans, Miguel.” I lowered my voice. “It’s like what you told me about where vampires build their homes,” I said, referring to his explanation that one of the benefits of cemeteries was that they were mostly empty, particularly at night, so vampires had a safe space, away from prying human eyes.
Crissy chewed on her lip nervously as she looked over the map once again. Richie scanned the paper that held all the numbers, his brow furrowed and concern etched on every line of his face. None of us spoke for several minutes, the atmosphere tense.
“I’ll buy the open areas in Miancarem,” Miguel said, cutting through the silence. “And I’ll buy enough land on the outside of your pack lands to create a sufficient privacy barrier. But that’s all I can do. You’ll need to work with your pack or your Alpha and buy the land that holds your houses and shops and schools.”
Richie flicked his gaze up and squinted at Miguel. “Why would a bloodsucker do that for our pack?” he asked suspiciously.
“I wouldn’t do shit for your pack,” Miguel answered roughly.
Richie opened his mouth, no doubt to say something equally kind and diplomatic, but I beat him to the punch.
“Thank you,” I said to my mate. “I appreciate it.”
Miguel grunted and threw his arm around my shoulders.
Crissy beamed and put her hand on Richie’s bicep. “He’s Ethan’s mate, Rich,” she said.
My brother-in-law looked at me and clamped his mouth shut, the pieces finally falling together so he understood exactly why my mate was willing to spend his money on land he’d never use.
“Are we done here?” Miguel said more than asked as he pushed his chair back. “We need to get going.” He got to his feet and reached his hand out toward me. I stood right up. “You can keep those papers,” he said to Crissy and Richie. “I have other copies. Show them to your pack, do whatever you need to do, but act quickly. I’m not the only one interested in buying land in the newly expanding Kfarkattan, and once they start advertising, offers are sure to come pouring in.”
And with that, he turned on his heel and walked toward the door.
Crissy scrambled up out of the chair. “Ethan,” she said. I went over to her and she hugged me tightly. “Thank you,” she said.
“I didn’t do nothing,” I said as I shrugged.
“Oh, you surely did. If it wasn’t for you, our land would be gone. But now we have a chance to save it, to save our pack.” She pulled back and gazed into my eyes. “You done that, little brother.”
I shook my head. “Not me. Miguel.”
“Crissy’s right,” Richie said. “That there vampire is helping us because he’s your mate. No other reason.”
“That’s right,” Crissy said. “So you see? You’re saving us.” Her eyes clouded and suddenly she was looking through me. “And this here is only the beginning, my special brother, just the beginning.”
“Ethan,” Miguel called to me.
