Page 60 of Unforgivable

"I'm scared, Inuit."

"Don't be, Penny. I'll protect you."

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Alpha Jax

"Daan," I try to keep my frustrations out of my voice. I blamed the female, but mom was right; Daan is just as culpable, if not more so. I shot from my hip, calling for Lyri Song's punishment. I decided in anger, and now I know some of the pack questions Daan's ability to lead. Other wolves who have been cheated on frown on a male who willingly betrays their mate.

"Dad," Daan greets me. He sounds tired.

"How is your aunt doing?" I start with an easy question. I feel a little guilty for not calling in awhile. I know Jessi talks to our son and Cloe at least a couple of times a week, but I haven't picked up the phone to call him in... what? Over a month?

"She's good. She and Cloe are shopping," Daan says.

"How is Cloe?" I try desperately to keep my voice level, casual. Goddess knows I need some good news.

"OK," comes the reluctant reply.

I sit up a little straighter. That uneasy pit in my stomach grows. My wolf is alert, his spine ramrod-straight. "Just OK? Last time we spoke, you said she was crying a lot?" I expressed no sympathy for my son before. He messed up, and Cloe paid the price. It's agonizing to have your mate cheat on you. It's worse when it's with a male or female who outranks you. It makes wolves lose confidence, and Cloe isn't a very confident female to begin with.

"She's better," he murmurs. I wait, knowing that sometimes not talking gets more answers. "She... she keeps asking me if I love her. She thinks I don't love her!" he says with frustration.

I rub my hand over my eyes. The headache that has been plaguing me consistently since this shitstorm broke is coming back.

"You messed up, son. Your mate is part of your soul."

"I know," Daan replies. He takes a breath, "I've always loved Cloe. She's... she's never been like this with me before."

"You've never given her a reason to be angry. You can't blame her. You cheated," I say bluntly.

"I know."

"That's... son... I can't imagine why... how? How the fuck did you do this to her?" I finally spit out the question that I desperately need the answer to. Daan has been close to Cloe since he befriended her a decade ago. She's not just his mate; she's his best friend.

"I don't know, dad," Daan chokes out. I can hear the tears in his voice and wince. He's my only child, my pup. It kills me to listen to the sorrow in his voice.

"She's not even angry, dad. Just... depressed. She won't stop asking me if I love her." He lets out a sad hiccup of a laugh. "You know, she always asked me if I love her. Every day she would ask, and I would tell her 'yes,' and it made her so happy. She's my one true love, and I was her hero. For years it's been her and me. Now it's all fucked up, dad, and I don't know how to fix it."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. My head is pounding. I know that Daan messed up, but it's been months of them hiding in my sister's pack to heal their relationship. "Listen, Daan, it's been nearly three months. It's March. I know Cloe has every right to question you, but she's the future Luna. I wouldn't blame her if she's pissed at you forever, but she needs to act like a leader. The pack needs you two to come back," I tell him.

There's a pause. "I don't think that's the best thing right now, dad."

"By MayDay, you need to return. That's all I can give you."

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