Kraig waited in my sitting
room off the bedroom. He was on the couch, huddled under a blanket. It struck
me how short a time we’d had together since I found him. His ruff was still a
golden stubble, his cheekbones still stood out as his muzzle punched forward
more than his human face had. Part of that might be that he was still
underweight, but I had the feeling he wouldn’t look human even after he
recovered.
“Mom.” Kraig’s voice broke as
he stared at her. He glanced toward me.
I nodded. “It’s okay.”
Kraig shoved the blanket off
and jumped up. He rushed to his mom, barely slowing before he slammed into her.
He wrapped his arms around her and buried his head in her neck. “Mom,” he
sobbed thickly.
“Shh.” She held him tight,
tears streaming down her cheeks. “I know. It’s okay to hurt.”
As much as my heart ached to hold
my mate, I knew Kraig needed his mom. Lydia wouldn’t welcome my touch, so I
hovered near the doorway. They whispered to each other, and I tried not to pick
up what they were saying, but I couldn’t help it.
“I’m sorry,” Lydia said.
“Why, Mom? Why would Dad do
this?”
She stoked his back. “I don’t
know. I wish I did. If I’d known... I would’ve stopped him.”
“Do you think it’s because I
was a human werekin? Was he ashamed of me?” Kraig pulled back and stared into
her eyes. “Did you wish I was never born?”
“Never,” she said fiercely.
“You were a precious gift, and I never wished for you to be anything else.
You’re my son, and I love you.” She cupped his face. “Never let anyone feel
like you’re less than you are, you understand me?” Lydia waited until he
nodded, and then she patted his cheek.
Kraig led her to the couch and
they sat down. She looked over at me. “What now?”
“Do we have permission to
search your house?”
“Whatever you need. Do you
think there’s something there?”
“I don’t know. Henry never
once gave me cause to doubt his loyalty. I can’t understand why he’d do this to
Kraig, much less how. I have enforcers looking for him, but I don’t know if
we’ll be able to pick up his trail.” I ran a hand over my head, which was
aching. I’d faced mutters and resistance when I took over as Alpha, but that
was nothing compared to all of this. “We’ll be careful, and I swear we won’t
leave the house a mess.”
“He called me last night and
asked about Kraig,” Lydia said. “I didn’t recognize the number.”
Kraig stiffened. “What did he
want to know?”
“How you were feeling, if I’d
seen you or Deke.”
“Is that so?” Was he trying to
find out if we’d discovered his betrayal, or was he keeping tabs on Kraig and
my whereabouts for another reason? “I’ll need your phone. While I’m gone, I’ll
have guards on both doors. Please don’t go outside for any reason.”
“You trust me here with Kraig?” Lydia looked shocked.
That hurt, but I tried to keep
it out of my voice. “I know what I did was painful; I hate that it was necessary,
but you are a member of my streak. If Henry could do this to Kraig, could hurt
his own son, you are in danger too. I want you safe, and there’s no safer place
than the Alpha house with guards standing at every entry.”
Lydia stood, patting Kraig’s
shoulder when he went to follow. He sank back down on the couch. I watched
warily as Lydia came closer to me, standing completely still, barely breathing
when she reached out. I was unable to stop my flinch when her hand touched my
cheek and then dropped down to my shoulder.
“Oh, Deacon.” She shook her
head. “I know you didn’t want to hurt me. I could feel your rage and your pain,
and it fed mine. That’s why it hurt so bad. How can you handle that much
emotion inside you and not break down?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
She searched my eyes, but I’d
learned the lesson early at my father’s knee—an Alpha had to be stronger than
anyone else because it was his job to take all the stresses and pain without
breaking. I had to protect them, not just because it was my duty, but because
it was part of my very nature to lead by example.
“I hope one day you don’t have
to carry that much inside you,” she said.
Kraig stared at me, and I
stared back over her shoulder. “When we stop the monsters who helped that
doctor hurt Kraig. But not before that.” I had a feeling I was going to need
that fire inside fueled by the rage and pain to stay strong enough to see this
through.
Lydia smiled sadly. “I guess
the little boy I knew really has grown up.” She brightened. “That reminds me!
Kraig and I can spend the time planning your birthday party.”
I frowned. “Do you really
think that’s appropriate right now?”
“Yes. We need something to
break the tension. Don’t let the bad things take away all the good.”
“Do you want to help your
mom?” I asked Kraig.
“Sure. I have a few birthdays
to make up for.”
Maybe we could do a party to
welcome Kraig back, introduce him as my mate, and celebrate my birthday. Still....
“How about a backyard
barbecue?” I suggested.
“If the weather holds.”
Lydia went to rummage around
for some paper and pens. I squatted next to Kraig. “You going to be okay? I
won’t be gone long.”
Kraig snorted. “You know, you
keep asking me that every time you leave. How about I’ll tell you if I’m not
okay.”
“All right.” I held up both
hands. “Jeez. Damned if I do and damned if I don’t.” I chuckled.
TBC
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