Page 50 of Rejected By Wolves

The sweetness of the scent is vastly different than the scent of our mate, but it is nice, and I like it.

“They are cookies,” Scar explains. “My mother made them.”

Scratch gasps. “Your mother?”

I narrow my eyes at our leader as I drop the cookie back into the tin. “You went to see your mother? When exactly did you have time …”

“If you’d let me explain things the way I was going to before you interrupted, you would know I went to my mother’s house when I left and that it is the only place I have been tonight,” Scar explains, pausing to give me a chance to continue to question him.

This is a tactic he employs to make me shut up. If I do not, the story will take forever, and he will only talk about the parts we really want to know at the end.

I learned a long time ago that it is better to be quiet and let him talk, but it is not the easiest thing to do when I am impatient to hear about our mate and why it is okay that she is not with us.

I can feel all my brothers staring at me, as if they are waiting to see if I decide to make this take a longer, more arduous route before I allow Scar to simply go on. I scowl back at them and pick up one of the cookies again, this time putting it in my mouth to show I am done being disruptive.

One bite, and the explosion of flavor is like nothing I’ve experienced before.

It is gone much too quickly, and I must have more.

Scar did not lie about his mother’s talent for creating tasty snacks.

I grab a handful from the tin, and Snake copies me, realizing he is missing out on something interesting judging by my immediate reaction.

Scratch shakes his head at us. He shows no interest in the cookies. I am glad. It means there is more left for the rest of us. I chew the next one slowly, eager to make the sweet taste last.

Scar goes on with his story. “Lita was raised by my mother. Her own mother died after she was born. Her father is from another place. I will explain that part later. For now, our mate is safe with my mother. That is where she should stay until we have challenged my father.”

I blink at him, my mouth full of cookie.His father?

Snake stops chewing at the same time, and Scratch is staring at Scar, his eyes wide.

“William Masters is the Alpha of Nightshade,” Scar goes on. “He has been exiling the rejected children of the pack since before I was born. We are the only ones to survive this barbaric practice, and my mother is the only reason for that. If she had not protected me and taught me everything I know before I was found and exiled, none of us would have made it this long on our own.”

“The Alpha was your father?” Scratch asks, shock apparent in his tone.

Scar nods. “It has caused me much shame, but I understand now that it does not matter if this is a matter that is personal to me. We are family, and we are strongest when we are united. I should not have planned to challenge him alone. You are my brothers. We will rid Nightshade of William Masters together.”

It is hard to describe the emotions that wash over me as our leader looks at each of us, making it plain that he is inviting us to stand with him as equals. Snake and I are often treated like children, probably because we are a few years younger than Scratch and because we have never been as serious as our wolf brothers. They are the ones who give the orders. They do most of the hunting. They rely on each other to make plans to eliminate threats.

I do not know if Scar has ever shown this level of trust in either of us.

I look at Snake, and he appears just as shocked as I am.

Of course, Scratch is quick to nod. “We will not let you down.”

For once, I do not have the urge to tell him to speak for himself.

I simply finish eating my cookie so I can nod. “You can count on us.”

Snake crunches noisily before he hisses his agreement.

“What is the plan?” Scratch asks.

“I thought we would work on the details together,” Scar tells us. “But the plan is to kill the Alpha and take over the town. We will not claim our mate until this has happened, and we are certain that no threats remain that could jeopardize her safety.”

It is a bold plan. I do not like that we will not immediately be claiming our mate, but I understand why. Scar has thought of everything. He is our leader, and his plan means we will have a better life with a good future once we have dealt with the Alpha and his supporters.

It is not going to be easy, but it will be worthwhile.

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