He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t judge me too harshly, Sam. It was a different age, a different way of living. I supported some of their ideals, but not all. The important thing is that I saw the error of my ways.”
“And?” There was more; somehow she knew it.
He shifted in his seat. “Salazar…Dante Esparza…had some connection to the group. He started to blackmail me, threatening harm to you if I didn’t pay him.”
“Me?”
“The Cause…the Purists…don’t look kindly on those who leave the group. They would have punished me by harming you. Salazar purged the records…for a price.
“And you’ve been paying him ever since? How? There’s no spare money.”
“The money for the fertility research. Most of it went to him.”
The shoe finally dropped. The lack of money, her grandfather’s incomprehensible bookkeeping system. He’d been covering the fact that he’d siphoned off money to pay Dante. “You’ve been lying to the pack all these years?”
“For you. To keep you safe.”
She looked at him, stunned.
“And it didn’t all go to blackmail. Research has been done. Unfortunately, there’s no cure except widening the gene pool.”
Sam was silent, thinking of all the years of scrimping and saving, of doing without. Of the despair in the pack members’ eyes when year after year there were no pups born.
“I can’t believe this.”
“I did what I thought was right at the time.” He lifted his chin, remnants of the Alpha he once was still showing. “The Harper line had to continue through you.”
She paced the room, hardly registering what he was saying. “Sinclair will have a field day with the news that we’re Purists.”
“Were. Not any longer. Those that wouldn’t change their views left after Gary’s death.”
“So everyone in the pack knew except me?”
“Hiram, Florence…the older ones. Andrea and Keith, Laurie and Jonah, those nearer your age won’t recall. We vowed not to mention it again. The stain of guilt will die with my generation. Our sins shouldn’t be visited on you.”
She paused by the window, not wanting to look at her grandfather. All these years, he’d been tough on her, hard to please, miserly with his praise, yet she’d always looked up to him. Had placed him on some sort of pedestal. Now, she didn’t know what to think.
Rain spattered the window pane, blurring her vision of the yard below, but she could still make out where her Harley was parked. It was alone, the space where Damien’s ride had been was empty, the tarp they’d shared blowing forlornly in the wind.
“Sam?” Her grandfather’s voice sounded hesitant.
She cleared her throat. “Today sucks big time, doesn’t it?”
Chapter 31
Damien sat at a table near the back of Club Mystique. With the challenge happening in a few hours he was confident Sam wouldn’t be stopping by the place. She’d be strategizing, prepping for the fight, all the things any sane person would do. He, however, was sorely in need of a drink—the good stuff, not the mouthwash the humans drank—and this club was about the only place he could get it.
Already on his third drink, there was no sign of a numbing buzz invading his brain yet. Maybe he was too worked up for alcohol to even take effect. Downing the contents of his glass, he signalled for another.
His emotions churned with a violence that matched the storm that still raged outside. It had rained all last night and all day; the remnants of some tropical storm venting its fury on them.
He understood fury, just couldn’t decide who he hated more. Himself or Sam Harper. She’d lured him in, played him for a fool, caused him to betray his blood bond with Beth. And he’d fallen for it hook, line and sinker. Why hadn’t he picked up on the clues? The fertility problems, the fact the old man was selective about who joined the pack, the way she’d spoken of contaminated blood… Fucking Purists, the whole lot of them.
“Here’s your…oops!”
Ice water suddenly descended on him and he jerked back in surprise only to have the legs of his chair tip out from under him. He landed on the floor in an ungainly heap.
“What the bloody hell!” He shoved his wet hair from his eyes and glared up at the waitress. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear she’d kicked his chair out from under him. From a few tables over he could hear the barely suppressed sound of someone chuckling. If he didn’t already have a fight scheduled, he’d go over there and—
“I’m so sorry, sir. Let me help you up.” The waitress righted his chair as he clambered to his feet, her neon orange hair appearing to glow in the overhead lights.
Ignoring her outstretched hand, he warily took his seat, not taking his eyes off her. She had another pitcher of ice water balanced on her tray. Wasn’t she the barmaid he’d seen Sam talking to? The hair was different but… “Are you a friend of Sam’s?”
“Sam? Er….” Her hesitation gave her away.
He scowled. “Any problems Sam and I have are between us.”
The girl glowered at him. “Sam and I go way back. We stick together. You disrespected her—”
“I disrespected her?” He wondered what the girl was talking about.
“So you admit it!” She almost pounced on his words.
“No, I—”
“Yes you did! You talked her into having sex with you and then walked away once you got off!”
“What? How do—”
“As if that’s any way to treat a woman when it’s her first time. You should have—”
“Wait a minute. Hold on.” Damien held up his hand and shook his head, not believing what he’d just heard. “Did you say her first time?”
“Well, yeah.” She let off her verbal attack and cocked her head to the side, staring at him. “You didn’t know?”
“No!” He scowled, stunned at the news.
“Well… ” She paused and cracked her gum. “You’re still an asshole. First time, tenth time, you don’t walk away the minute you’re done.” She took a cloth she had draped over her arm and threw it at him. “Here. Dry yourself, dickhead.”
He caught the cloth just before it smacked him in the face. After slamming his drink down in front of him, she stalked away. Orange hair, purple mini dress, neon green stilettos with little lights in the soles that flashed with every step she took. Hard to imagine Sam was friends with someone like that.
Sam.
He’d been her first? Damien still couldn’t believe it. Shouldn’t he have noticed? If not during, then at least afterwards? Of course, he’d been kicking himself too hard after the fact to really notice anything.
He really felt like a piece of shit now. No one deserved to be treated that way. Not even if she was a Purist.
Noticing he still held the towel the server had thrown at him he wiped off his face and set it aside. His clothes were wet too, not that he could do anything about that. He plucked at his t-shirt, making a face as the cold material immediately returned to cling to his skin. Evil-minded witch…
Witch? Yeah, the server likely was one, definitely not a shifter or he’d have noticed the scent.
He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin. So what was Sam doing befriending a witch? Purists didn’t befriend humans or Others. He took a sip of his drink and frowned. Sam was friends with a witch. She had violet eyes. She’d admitted to him that she had tainted blood. That didn’t gel with the pack being Purist.
Yet, the old man’s notes had said… He rubbed his face trying to recall the exact wording.
Elise stared out her bedroom window, arms wrapped tightly around herself for comfort. Kane still wasn’t home. They hadn’t spoken since their fight the previous day. He hadn’t come home to eat or sleep and she’d spent a restless night constantly waking to check if he’d returned. The other side of the bed had been empty and cold, and the night had seemed to go on forever.
Leah’s tooth had finally come in during the day. With the pain gon
e, the baby had slept soundly, not providing any distraction from the slow ticking of the bedside clock. She’d arisen several times to check on the children. Looking down at Jacob, she smiled at how he protectively clutched his teddy bear in his chubby arms, then moved to the crib to brush the soft brown curls from Leah’s face.
So sweet and innocent. It would be easy to spend hours staring at the marvellous little beings she and Kane had created. Indeed, hadn’t they done that after Jacob’s birth? She recalled standing in the doorway, her back pressed against Kane’s chest, his arms wrapped around her as they watched their sleeping son. They’d promised to always be there for him, to put his needs first, to make sure he always knew he was loved and cared for.
A tear crept down her cheek. Both she and Kane seemed to have forgotten that promise. She wanted to have her own life, her own career; Kane was just as bad, with visions of grandeur guiding his decisions. Maybe she should cut back her hours at the Grey Goose. Not sell out��someday the children would be older and she’d want an outlet—but a few less hours each week. Mr. Mancini had run the place for years and the staff were more than capable.
It might help if Kane was willing do his part, too. Would she be able to convince him?
She wandered into the sitting room and found herself drawn to a statue they’d received as a bonding gift. Sitting on the floor in front of the table, she studied it. It was an intricate carving of a wolf guarding his mate. The artist had somehow managed to make the wolf appear both fierce and loving at the same time.
Gently, she ran her fingers over the polished surface. As always she was mesmerized by the fine details, the fluidity and passion the piece managed to evoke. She gave a small smile as she recalled how things used to be between them. Kane had been so loving and protective, strong yet vulnerable as he’d shared his hopes for their future, his desire for a family… “Beautiful, strong, loving.” She whispered to the inanimate creature. “You’re the Kane I fell in love with.”
“Really? And all along I thought it was me.”
“Kane!” Elise looked up surprised to see her mate leaning against the doorjamb. His face was drawn but otherwise expressionless. There were dark shadows under his eyes and stubble covered his chin. “I…I wasn’t sure if…when…to expect you.”
Kane pushed off from the door and walked into the room. Sitting on the sofa, he nodded towards the statue. “Do you talk to it often?”
She felt her face flush. “No. I mean, sometimes. I guess it used to remind me of you.”
He picked it up, studied it, then looked over at her. “Used to? But not any longer?”
She shrugged and looked away.
Carefully he set the carving back down and rubbed his hands over his face before studying her with weary eyes. “Are you going to leave me?”
“I…” Her throat tightened, pain stabbed through her chest straight to her heart. She didn’t know what to say. Did he want her to go? Had her petty complaining driven an insurmountable wedge between them? A panicked feeling filled her and she blinked to hold back the tears that welled in her eyes. A future without him was unthinkable. She clenched her hands tightly in her lap to stop them from shaking.
Kane stared across the room. A muscle worked in his jaw and when he finally spoke his words were measured, determined. “I know the noble thing would be to let you go without a fight, but I won’t do it.” He swung his gaze towards her; the intense expression in his amber eyes made her gasp. “I love you, Elise. I love you and our children and I want to make this work for us.”
“Kane…” She rose to her knees and stretched out her hand towards him, but he kept speaking.
“I know our mating wasn’t of your choosing.” He stared down at his clasped hands, his voice low. “You were forced into it but I think, despite that fact, something special has happened between us. That first night I vowed to myself that I’d make you happy.” He turned his head and looked at her, a definite sheen in his eyes. “Somewhere along the way, I’ve forgotten that. Grown complacent. It’s all my fault.” His mouth twisted bitterly.
She placed her hand on his leg, looked up into his tired yet beloved face. “Kane, I’m sorry...”
He paled and she felt the muscles of his thigh tense beneath her palm. “That’s it? You can’t forgive me?” The devastation in his face nearly broke her heart and the tears she’d been holding back spilled down her cheeks.
“No!” She rose to kneel before him. “That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting. You’re the Alpha, I have to accept that—”
Kane pressed a finger to her mouth. “No. You should never have to settle for being second best. My mate should be my first priority.” He cupped her face, his thumbs wiping away the tears. “I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you, to make you cry.” Drawing her closer, he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “We need to work this out together, to sit down and plan as a team. If both of us compromise for the good of the family, then both of us will win as well.”
“I’d already decided to cut back on my hours at the Grey Goose.” She sat beside him on the sofa, leaning against the solid warmth of his body and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“And I’m telling High Council to take my name off the list of possible candidates.”
“But Kane, that’s such an important position!”
“If it’s meant to be, the job will be offered to me at some point in the future. The prestige of being the youngest Alpha ever appointed isn’t worth risking our happiness.” Kane stroked her cheek, his touch tender.
She turned her face and pressed a kiss to his hand, a feeling of peace filling her heart. This was the man she’d fallen in love with. “What about the Chicago takeover?”
“What do you think?”
“You’re actually asking my opinion?” She raised her brows.
He chuckled. “Yes, I really want to hear what you think, not just what I want to hear.”
“Well, I’ll tell you...” She wrinkled her nose “after you’ve had a shower. Did you sleep in those clothes?”
“Yeah. I spent the night in the car. A bit gamey, am I?”
“More than a bit.”
He stood and pulled her up. “Do you want to help me?”
She laughed. “As I recall shower sex was one of your favourite things when we were first mated.”
“It still is.” He scooped her into his arms and then stared down at her, seeming to drink in her features. “I really do love you, Elise.”
Her heart felt as if it were swelling with happiness as she looked up at him. “And I really do love you, Kane Sinclair.”
Chapter 32
The rain had finally let up by the time Sam arrived at the clearing she’d chosen. It was a nature preserve on the outskirts of the city, seldom visited by humans. Long grass covered most of the makeshift roadway that led into the area, overgrown trees and shrubs flanked either side, their branches stretching out, making passage difficult. It was a location her pack frequently used for their monthly runs and, over the years, she’d become well acquainted with the terrain. Home turf advantage was always a plus during a fight. She knew where the land swelled, where slight dips in the soil were hidden by foliage. Her chances of being taken unawares by a sudden change in footing were a lot less than her opponent’s.
Was the choice of location unfair? Nothing in the rules prohibited it, but her wolf’s sense of fair play was kicking in. She shook her head. This was a fight for survival; ethics be damned.
Shoving her hands in her pockets, she began to circle the area. The ground squished underfoot, soggy from the intense rain of the past twenty-four hours. Sam shivered as the cool breeze rattled the overhead branches and drops of water rained down leaving damp spots on her shirt.
The storm front that had moved through had caused the temperature to drop dramatically from the unseasonable highs of the previous weeks, and thick clouds still blocked the sun. It was a dreary sort of day, the kind that reminded yo
u that summer was gone and the cold bleakness of winter was just around the corner.
Perfect for my mood, Sam thought dourly.
She swung her arms back and forth, then bounced on her toes. Nervous energy filled her. Maybe she shouldn’t have arrived so early, yet she hadn’t been able to handle staying at the pack house any longer. Tension had been running high with everyone wanting to come and her insisting they didn’t.
“It’s my right to see who will be the successor,” her grandfather had insisted. “And it damned well better be you!” She hadn’t voiced an opinion, still too angry over his revelations to speak to him.
“This big of an outing could do him in.” Florence had protested.
“And why the hell would it matter if I lived or died?” He’d retorted. “According to Lycan Link, my existence is already in question!”
Hiram had walked up to her and given her a hug. “We know you’ll do your best. But no matter what the outcome, we’ll still love you.”
She’d given a quick nod, emotion choking her throat. Hiram, Flo, her grandfather…at one time they’d all belonged to an organization that hated her, would have killed her simply because her eyes were the wrong colour. Yet when she looked at Hiram’s greying hair and lined face she didn’t see the hatred. Just an old man that she’d loved all her life. Maybe he hadn’t known. Maybe he truly regretted the past.
Chris had stood quietly in the background and seemed about ready to cry, yet had manfully held back his tears. He’d been so excited when he’d first learned of the challenge, but had grown progressively quieter as the time drew nearer. Most likely realizing it wasn’t all glory, she thought, eyeing him from across the room.
Her pack. The young, the old, the good, the bad. They were her family and she loved them, flaws and all. I’ve got to win, she said to herself. They’re depending on me.
The arguing about who should go to watch the challenge had continued to swirl around her until she’d thrown up her hands in despair and left them to decide on their own.
Betrayed: Book Two - The Road to Redemption Page 29