Page 155 of Unforgivable

That's two of us, son, I think silently. Out loud, I reply, "I don't have good service right now." Doesn't explain my distraction, but how to explain all of this? I went by the Koers house to see if they knew where Elias is, but everything is cold and empty over there.

I can feel something, my wolf on alert all the time. We haven't slept in the last two weeks for more than an hour or two here and there.

"Where are you?"

"At the Jensen stead," I reply.

"Those fu-guys still causing problems? Brent and Cal are violent, Dad."

Don't I know it, son. "Yes, they are," is all I can say.

"What do you mean?" Daan asks me. It should make me happy that my son is finally showing curiosity about the pack after being gone for nearly six months.

"Brent is dead. Cal is missing."

"You're shitting me?" Disbelief colors Daan's voice.

"Luke and Jake Rosen killed Brent. Jake took off, probably with Dahlia."

"Wait, where's Dahlia? Why isn't she home? She's gotta be only, what, fifteen, sixteen?"

"Sixteen. Brent was her mate. Luke and Jake disapproved. They killed Brent. We have Luke in custody."

"What is his punishment going to be?"

I close my eyes. Nothing. I can't punish Luke, isn't that fucking ironic? He's a father protecting his daughter just like I would have if Jess and I had been blessed with a female pup. After Daan, Jess told me she couldn't have anymore. I think she was just afraid. Daan was a rough birth.

The idea of issuing a punishment is suddenly beyond my abilities. I don't trust myself.

"I haven't decided," I say.

"Well, shit. Any other news from the pack I should know about?"

I pause. It's on the tip of my tongue to tell him about Lyri Song and her males. I can't, though. I don't know if I'm just too heartsore over all this bullshit or if part of me wants to protect that little female, even if it's too late. She's got her protection.

I've decided that I can't let Daan and Cloe try to hurt Lyri. The female has been punished. It's enough. It's more than enough. So I just respond, "nothing you need to know about, yet."

Daan and I are quiet for a moment, then I ask the dreaded question, "how's Cloe?"

"Fine," comes the abrupt reply. "We'll be back soon, Dad. Maybe two, three days."

Sooner than he planned. The dark cloud hovers ominously.

"Bye, son."

"Bye, Dad. See you soon."

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