Page 146 of Unforgivable

"He was just probing. He told me that his father didn't accept his mother at first, and it caused strife between them." I look into the distance, picturing a young Luna Gloria. A pup, really, just like I was, but unlike me, alone in a foreign pack with her mate as her enemy. I didn't tell Alpha Macon that his mother had already told me her version of the story.

"He said that his father died because his mother just couldn't forgive him. He knew she would never love him, and it weakened him."

I shake my head. Forks move against plates, but no one takes a bite.

"What happened?" Penny asks impatiently.

I smile sadly, "Luna Gloria already told me what happened between them. Alpha Quin had a replacement, just like Daan," I whisper in a choked voice. I shudder but keep going, "he spent two years with that other female, right in front of Luna Gloria, trying to Claim her. He even got her pregnant twice, but they lost both pups. Then, Gloria became pregnant from her Heat."

Mom and Bea wince. Bea uses the tablecloth that she brought from her home to 'civilize' my males, to dab at her eyes.

"I don't think Alpha Macon knows he's a Heat accident," I confess softly. "The other female attacked Luna Gloria, and Alpha Quin killed her."

I bite my lip, my heart aching for Luna Gloria, "he told me a much more palatable version. He thinks, or at least he told me, that his father set aside his other lover almost right away. He didn't mention the miscarriages or the long time his mother suffered."

"So he's a liar? We shouldn't trust him," Carmichael jumps in.

I shake my head. "I don't think he knows the full story, Carm. But, anyway, it doesn't matter. There's no way I'll let Daan take Inuit's position away from him. As for me? Impossible."

I'll call it out as I see it. As far as I'm concerned, Inuit is the alphason for the RustClaw. I'll die to make sure that it happens.

"You'll need training, pup," Carmichael tells Inuit.

Inuit nods, looking pale. It hurts him. I can see it, the thought of forsaking fate to take a choice. I truly hope he never makes a mistake like Daan or Quin. I don't want that pain for him or my sister.

I sneak a glance at Penny. They're close, and Liam is dead. I will need to keep a close eye on them. I won't be blind like Alpha Jax and Luna Jessi.

"What's Inuit's position?" Sarj chimes in, lifting his head from where he's playing with Tyler on the floor.

"Alphason, pup," Dad says proudly. He's recovering from the heavy blows. At least as far as my dad is concerned, Inuit has breathed new life into the broken pack. I only hope the rest of RustClaw feels the same way.

A knock on the front door brings all of us to attention.

"Stay here. Thjis and Inuit, my back. Ez, stay with Lyri. Carm, make sure no one's coming from another direction."

We all follow Rhet's orders, most of us huddling the pups in the midst of us. I turn off the lights so that we can see outside. I hurry over to stand in front of my family with Ezra by my side. Carmichael is checking the windows; his wolf peering into the darkness.

Thjis walks back into the room, grim-faced, only a moment later. "Whoever it was, is gone. But he left a message."

---

Rhet

Inuit is scowling at the head of Cal Jensen left on our porch. "We should do this to them all. All of them," he says.

He slaps his chest; his fingers splayed wide as his pack did when they pledge on their own lives. "I would never, when I am Alpha, I will never call for a Shaming. My wolves will never do that."

Lyri walks to Inuit, ignoring the head. Carmichael isn't the only one with an iron stomach. Bea and her mom took Penny back inside as soon as they saw the grisly sight.

Lyri wraps her arms around Inuit's thin body. He's already taller than she is. "You'll make a good alpha, In." Her eyes fall to the severed head.

"They're all so young," she murmurs sadly. "What is happening here? They were my friends, my pack?"

"Young wolves are less able to resist the rut of the full moon," I tell her bluntly. I want to tell her that I was the oldest wolf there, but then I have to see those honey-eyes darken on me. I'm not that brave.

"What do we do, Rhet? Gamma Brett left the pack, and Alpha Jax-"

Loud growls cut off her words. She tosses a glare to Thjis and Ezra. "Alpha Jax," she emphasizes, "is an asshole. Happy, my males?"

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