Chapter 46 DANE Impossible .


    Everything about this was fucking impossible .


    Her hand was on my cheek , slender and soft but strong .


    What did I want from her ? What did I want ? I had made the engagement with Evelyn official because she was pregnant with my child .


    But Aurora was already the mother of my children .


    Two of them .


    By that logic , I should be engaged to her .


    Except Aurora and I couldnt work .


    There had been too many lies , too much betrayal .


    She might not be a Reed by blood , but she was still one of them .


    The things shed done , both on that night eight years ago and just barely , when she worked with Esther Reed to get Evelyn to catch me making love to her while I was drugged with Nights Truth , proved that .


    I was still waiting for the recording Esther gave me to be analyzed .


    But it was too far fetched that it might be a fake .


    There was no way .


    But until I truly knew … Chapter 46 2/5 I released my grip on Auroras wrist and broke away from her .


    My hand left an angry red mark , and she opened and closed her palm a few times .


    I clenched my teeth .


    I hadnt meant to hurt her .


    I always forgot that not having a wolf made her more delicate .


    Well ? she said .


    I had no answer , so I said , I dont want anything from you, Aurora .


    I only want my children .


    Then I turned and walked away .


    Maybe she could bring down the Council on me .


    Maybe even the full might of the High Alpine Pack .


    With Holden Coleridge as a friend … or more … she might be able to bring Fall Line down on us , too .


    Those two packsbined might destroy us .


    But like her , I couldnt let my children go .


    Not now that I knew I had them .


    When I had thrown that n B box at her years ago and refused to get her pregnant , Id been a different man .


    Younger , angrier , more broken .


    Shed been different , as well .


    If she wasnt constantly trying to destroy me … might I give us another chance ? Fuck .


    I went to the infirmary , where the pack healers had my A Chapter 46 grandfather and Piper under twenty four hour surveince .


    I sat in the chair between their beds .


    For a long time , I just listened to the monitors beep with the beats of their hearts .


    They were all the family I had in the world .


    3/5 I was the Alpha .


    I had hundreds of wolves who answered to me .


    Who relied on me .


    But sometimes I felt so fucking alone .


    I remembered my grandfathers words from the night I walked in on him having a nightmare .


    I wont sacrifice him … not my grandson … he doesnt need it … not that kind of power … It felt more and more likely that his words were tangled up in everything Aurora and I were doing .


    The shadows , the book , the Reeds .


    Why would have to sacrifice me ? I asked my grandfathers unconscious form .


    What do you know about this power , and why didnt you tell me before ? Of course , he didnt answer .


    His heart just kept beating , slow but steady .


    Shh ! My ears sharpened at the sound of the whisper .


    I didnt look around .


    I knew who it was .


    Your mother and I told you to find Mrs.


    Jamison , my voice Chapter 46 was a scolding growl .


    Tristans blond head poked out from behind the foot of my grandfathers bed .


    A secondter , his sisters did , too .


    4/5 What are you two doing here ? I was so tired , and while there .


    were children in the pack , I never dealt with them directly .


    When I told them to obey , they generally did .


    These two were different .


    Challenging .


    Like their mother .


    Tristan came all the way out from behind the bed , set his feet , and folded his arms across his chest .


    You and Mommy were yelling at each other .


    I just came here to tell you not to yell at her again ! Seraphina came out more slowly and put a hand on her brothers shoulder .


    Tristan , look .


    Hes sad , though .


    I dont care , the boy said stubbornly .


    Ill fight him .


    His sister sighed heavily .


    I had a brief vision of these two , far in the future .


    Nothing that felt as real and powerful as the time Id seen their faces before I met them .


    Just something … parental .


    The two of them , as adults , still arguing like this .


    I hadnt known these two existed days ago , but now … what I wouldnt give to see them grow up and be the leaders and fighters I suddenly knew they would .


    Chapter 46 Its a serious thing to challenge an Alpha , I told the boy .


    He red at me .


    Im serious .


    I nodded gravely .


    I can tell .


    5/5 Why are you sad ? Seraphina said abruptly .


    She stood on her tiptoes to get a better look at who was in the beds .


    Is it because Piper and this man are sick ? Yes .


    I said .


    Piper is my sister , and this man is my grandfather .


    That means hes our grandpa , too ! Seraphina whispered , her eyes going wide .


    And Piper is our … um … Aunt , I said .


    Tristans eyes went wide , and he rxed his stance to stand on tiptoes and look at them , too .


    He seemed to have forgotten his anger .


    Do we have more family ? No.


    I cleared my throat .


    Just these two .


    I could tell them about my parents .


    What Broken Forest … and their mother… had done .


    If I got the twins on my side , maybe they would choose me .