Page 31 of Forced Wolf Bride

We head out onto the porch and watch them drive away. Zack offers a low whistle when they're finally out of sight. "Not sure I've had a more tense morning, Diego." He chuckles as we walk back in. "Did that go how you expected?"

I pause for a moment as Quinn walks back into the kitchen and begins gathering things for lunch. She looks tired and wrung out, and I’m reminded exactly why I want to find a different path.

“Better, probably," I admit. "Mateo came with some reasonable suggestions. My offer of the haulage routes, something they're struggling with, and his willingness to forget Marcus's petty vandalism seems pretty straightforward. They're looking to build a skills college on the Colton Road. If both packs can attend, it would link our communities, foster closer relationships so war is less likely in the future..."

I trail off. These are all good points. As alpha, I know this is a just and sensible plan for my pack going forward, but...

"But?" Zack asks, as if reading my mind.

"As alpha, I say it's a good plan. As a father, I still want blood,” I admit, the emotion hanging like a weight around my neck.

"Did Mateo specifically mention Tyler?" Quinn suddenly asks.

"No,” I reply. “Though we discussed how we'd feel if anyone threatened our mate. How far we'd go..."

"You'd do the same," Zack finishes for me. I nod, suddenly unable to find the words.

Quinn comes around to my side and places her hand on my arm. We're silent for a moment before Zack stands. "That's my cue to leave. You know where I am, Diego. Call if you want to discuss anything, or I'll see you back here tomorrow. I'll be with you, whatever you decide. You know that."

After lunch, Quinn falls asleep on the sofa, and I cover her with one of the large quilts. Watching her sleep, I consider the baby growing in her belly and remember Tyler when he was a pup. And all my hopes and dreams for the boy.

He'd been so strong, and I was proud to be his father. I'm not sure when things began to change. Probably after his mother died. His willfulness became disobedience, but I tried to steer him right. I was busy with the pack, and he'd run out with his friends. They were wild, but I thought he'd mature.

I’d thought being with McKenna would tame him, but he only seemed to get worse. I knew they had problems, but they seemed fine. I hadn’t realized the situation was as bad as it was until she was shipped off to Silverstar. That was when Tyler began to unravel.

I know he could have killed McKenna, but deep inside, I still see my little boy. I know he could have been a great man.

Now he never will be.

I ran out of time to get him back on the right track.

I blame myself.

I don't know how long I've been sitting there, but after some time, Quinn sits up, looking at me with concern in her eyes. “Are you okay? You look upset.”

I pull her toward me, relishing in the softness of her body and the way her arms wrap around me. “I don’t want our child to turn out like Tyler. It kills me to admit that about my boy.”

She tightens her grip on me. “You’re a good father, Diego. You’re good because you loved him and you cared enough to try. What Tyler did was on him, not you. He was a man.”

“Why do you have such faith in me?” I whisper into her hair.

“My wolf knew you from the start, and my heart followed.”

Her words stun me, and I pull her closer, staring into the fire as I contemplate the inevitable next steps if Mateo refuses terms.

The following morning, I gently and reluctantly extricate myself from Quinn’s naked sleeping form and head downstairs. The crisp morning air reminds me how much I’ve always enjoyed being up in the mountains, my wolf relishing the freedom even amid tense negotiations.

Zack's truck pulls in just as the first coffee brews. Perfect timing, as usual.

"One of those for me?" he asks as I put two full coffee cups on the counter.

"You're just lucky Quinn isn't up yet," I reply, pushing one over to him.

He nods, smiling as he takes a sip. "Checked all the cameras on the way back up. No one’s been through, not even on that rear track we found. Seems like they're holding up their end. So far, anyway."

I nod, though I didn't think Mateo would try anything here. Alphas have a code of honor, and attacking me when I was here for negotiations would have broken just about every rule of decency.

"You think on it anymore?" Zack asks to break the comfortable silence that's fallen.

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