I grind my teeth, remembering those gut wounds, remembering that he lied by saying he took them as an unjust punishment.
“If he was so deranged, why was he allowed to be with the pack? Why wasn’t he put out of his misery?”
“Triplets are rare,” Bailey says. “Twins usually work out fine and we get an alpha and a beta, two betas, sometimes a strong council-level alpha and an omega. Single births don’t always turn out alpha. Beta is the most common. A triplet pregnancy with our pack’s lead council alpha, your grandfather being the father, Cornelius had to have been half-starved in the womb during development, didn’t get enough of anything because his brothers took it all, so he had underdeveloped senses, and it was a hard life for him growing up. He was a very sickly child. Our pack takes care of those who are disabled; we don’t just destroy those that are weak or physically challenged. He couldn’t accept his life and the blessings in it. He was treated as eccentric and looked after. He was a talented artist, there’s a storage area in the library basement dedicated to his paintings. If he hadn’t committed those crimes, they’d be displayed. He would’ve been loved and had a happy life. He just couldn’t let it go… his obsession with your mother drove him to murder his brother. I guess he kept you when she wouldn’t give in and be with him.”
He taught me to paint. And he was mad. I always thought so. He would shout obscenities out of nowhere, just go off on tangents, nonsensical ones.
We’re all quiet for a moment.
Poisoned. He poisoned my father. Fuck. And stole me. And hurt Catrina. She’s lived with the fallout of his evil madness every day for all this time.
If I could kill him… if I could take back all the times I saved his hide, all the times it was down to me that he got to eat, down to me that he had a garage filled with money to buy his whiskey for the times he was man.
“How’s it going with your mate?” Greyson asks.
“Meaning?”
“I know it’s new. Brand new. Cat didn’t say much, but I get the impression your mate is reluctant.”
I bristle.
“Bring her into the fold with us,” he says. “We’ll help get her acclimated.”
“We can’t have you without your mate. Anything we can do to help…” Bailey adds.
“I won’t be without her. I need no help.”
Grey raises his hand defensively. “No disrespect meant, Tyson. I just get the impression issues are there, and community often helps with non-shifters who have no ties to our way of life. We’re here to help. Show her what our lifestyle is and how fulfilling it is to be in our community.”
“I need no help,” I snap.
He looks down and says nothing.
I’m irritated.
“You’ve given me a lot to think about. I’d like you to go so I can do that. Think about everything.”
“Sorry we disturbed you,” Bailey says. “And I only meant –”
“Cat comes tomorrow. Please come with her,” I request. “I’d like you to befriend Ivy.”
She brightens with a smile. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Grey extends his hand and I take it. And I feel with him what I felt with the others as he pulls me toward him and slaps my back and bumps his right shoulder to my left.
“You’re our brother. We want you to be part of our family, Tyson. I know it seems like a lot. Give it a chance. Just spend time seeing if we feel like your pack. We’ve got no heavy expectations. It’ll come naturally over time, bro.”
He lets go of my hand and steps back.
I swallow and look into his eyes. I say nothing. I know I don’t need to because he sees. We see things in each other. This guy is genuine. I feel the strange, new sense of camaraderie with him, just like with Riley.
“Goodnight,” Bailey says and hugs me awkwardly.
I pat the top of her head rather than embracing her and step back as soon as she lets go.
***
I climb into bed with Ivy. She’s exhausted and taken the pain medication so she doesn’t even stir. I caress her face and stare at her features in the moonlight.
I’m glad Greyson and Bailey came to see me.
I hate some of what they told me. Hate it with a fever that makes me want to rip things apart. If I could run and feast right now, I would. I can’t leave her yet.
So many thoughts flood my mind.
Catrina has suffered so much loss.
They’re worried about Riley. They want me to be a part of their pack.
Most alphas, I’d have expected they’d see me as a threat. I was taught that they would, and it made sense at the time. Why would anyone want to willingly give up their power? But these shifters don’t seem to think that way. They seem to feel there’s strength in numbers and that makes more sense.