It's Wednesday, which means more flash fiction! (It also means there's only 5 more days before the cover reveal for On Fire!!!) This week's flash was inspired by the prompt: He slid his hand into mine. Enjoy!!
Chapter 19
The question was rhetorical.
Which one had fled the streak? I was already grimly contemplating my response,
but I was distracted by the thoughts of the death Henry had earned himself—once
he confessed to everything he knew. No reason could justify drugging his own
son.
Nothing would excuse him from
harming the alpha’s mate.
“Oh my god,” Kraig gasped. I turned
and saw the realization in his eyes which quickly filled with tears. He fisted
his hands in his lap, taking ragged breaths. “My dad? He did this.” Kraig
shoved his body into the corner of the couch and curled up, wrapping his arms
around his legs. “I-I can’t....”
“It’ll be okay, Kraig.” I
tried to soothe him, but he shook his head.
“How could this ever be okay?”
he cried.
There was no answer to that
question. No way to tell him there was any other way to see his father’s
actions but as the actions of a traitor. How long had we been harboring someone
who was so vile they were willing to sacrifice—to torture—their own child?
I sank onto the couch next to
Kraig and put my arms around him, pulling him close. He slid his hand into mine. “No matter what, I’m here
for you,” I whispered against the side of his head. He let go of his legs with
one hand and latched onto my shirt. It took a monumental effort, but I tried to
calm my heartrate and breathing. My mate didn’t need my rage on top of the
volatile emotions churning inside him.
Park rolled over and sat up,
careful to remain at a safe distance when I lifted my lip and showed him my
teeth. “Deke, can we be sure of this information?”
“It makes sense, both in how
Kraig and your dad was acting. How would lying about it benefit Uncle Radford
and the lion’s medic? The only way would be if they were both involved in this
testing, and Kraig would’ve know at least Uncle Radford on sight or hearing his
voice.”
Uncle Radford made an
indignant sound but was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. It was a small
blessing; his arrogant droning voice had ruined more than one day when we had
to listen to him tutor growing up.
“Okay, okay.” Park lifted his
hands. “I just....”
It took me a moment, but in my
concern for Kraig, I’d forgotten that we were also talking about Park’s dad
too. The evidence was damning, but who wanted to believe their own parent, who
should love and protect them, was capable of such betrayal?
“We need to run more tests,”
Uncle Radford said. “If you want to understand Kraig’s dual nature and what
they did to him.”
Kraig shuddered in my arms.
“Only on his terms.” I stared down Uncle Radford until he ducked his head and
nodded.
“You may be my beta, but I
don’t think you should be involved in searching for your father,” I told Park.
His eyes narrowed and his
cheeks flushed. “You don’t trust me,” he stated flatly.
“That’s not true. I just don’t
want you to have to be the one to drag him back here. Cameron has the best
senses, and he can cover his facial markings.” I was deadly intent that Henry
would face justice and soon. “Besides, you have a task and—I frowned—“wait. What
are you doing here?”
“Oh.” Park relaxed out of the
rigid posture he’d assumed. “I got in touch with Ritch’s family. They weren’t
much help. That arrogant pig of an alpha dared to tell me that Ritch was his
third’s property and that he’d see you in challenge if we didn’t give him
back.”
“Property?” Disgust made my
stomach roll. “People are not property.”
“Unless you’re a human werekin
and born into a group who doesn’t value our unique nature,” Kraig said. His
voice was muffled and thick. Slowly, he leaned back so his face was buried against
my chest, but he didn’t make eye contact with everyone. “Radford knows what I
mean.”
It was a distasteful reality
and one that should’ve ended long ago. There were a lot more risks of discovery
by the humans with the technological advances made every year, but in other
ways it was very beneficial to werekin. There were a lot of options for careers
from home, online college courses, things like that. Groups that took advantage
and moved into modern society prospered.
The ones who clung to the old
ways did not. Unfortunately, they were in the majority.
“What about the challenge?”
I shrugged one shoulder. “I’m
not worried about it.” My age might weight against me, but my training made up
for it. Physically I was in my prime, and a fight wasn’t more than a blip on my
radar. That an older tiger werekin, who’d know the risk, would push so hard for
Ritch’s return made me very suspicious.
“Maybe I should get in touch
with that alpha... issue a little challenge of my own. Ritch said they were
suspicious of the doctor, but he didn’t really say how or why.” If Henry could
betray us, what might that streak be capable of?
Uncle Radford collected the
paperwork he’d spread out and stood. “I have more research to do. I’ll be at my
apartment.”
Park watched him leave. “I’ll
talk to Ritch again and try to find out why he thought they were suspicious.”
“Also ask him where else he
tracked the doctor. I’ll have Cameron get in touch with you before he leaves.”
If Henry was in league with the doctor and his allies, then he might be headed
to those groups. It would give Cameron a direction at least, since he wouldn’t
be able to scent-track him while driving.
TBC
Want more? It's coming next week! And don't forget to swing by Monday to see On Fire's gorgeous cover and pre-order your copy (you know you want to!) In the meantime, here's more flash fiction for you:
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