“Tara, we held off on this to the point of being rude. We can’t back out again. It looks like we aren’t serious about opening the lines of communication with the Maple Grove Pack. We have to go. Now please get ready. It shouldn’t be a terrible drive if we leave soon.” Cal explained for the second time today. He’d lost count how many times he explained this to Tara. “You are strong enough to handle anything they might say or do. I’ll be right there, and I promise you I won’t accept them acting out against you in any way. If they try to do that, I’ll pull you out of there so fast everyone will have whiplash. Now go get ready.” Cal put some stress behind his last words, and he wasn’t surprised that he put a little of his presence behind it. He was frustrated and didn’t want to deal with her fears again.Tara had been running the gambit of those fears and now they were stuck on repeat. Cal was fairly certain he could now pick out a pattern on how they surfaced.“Fine, I’ll try to hurry.”
Tara hesitated for only a few breaths until her mind could catchup to what the old, she-wolf demanded and who she identified herself as. Her grandmother. This was someone that insisted Tara had roots and a family. Not just a male claiming her as one of his. She knew this she-wolf existed. Kole told her to expect to meet her. What she didn’t expect was the depth of surprise at there actually being a real person actually waiting to meet her. Really wanting to meet her, not just reluctantly there. “Go on Tara, she wants a hug. She really wants to know you’re real.” Cal whispered from behind her in encouragement. He probably was right. Touch and scent were so important to wolves. A scent could tell them so many things about the wolf. From their health, to pack, and even in some cases some wolves could recognize family by scent even if they were new to them. Which could cause all sorts of issues for others. Nothing like finding out that you’re a father by catchin
Cal’s hand settled back on Tara’s shoulder, shocking her out of the daze she’d been in for several moments. “I’m sorry, this is something that took Tara completely by surprise. She’s going to need time to understand what it all means. What we’ve learned as we dealt this the scum who had her is that they taught her nothing about our world and what to expect. She’s been almost alone for most of her life. She raised a pup believing he was her younger brother. Before you ask, sadly he’s no blood relative, but we were able to save him as well. He’s finally able to settle within our pack. The wolf who claimed to be her father was murdered and the female, who is the male pup’s mother, is still missing. We gave Kole the information Tara could remember about her, and he’s given that to your investigator. But she has little understanding of what a pack or family.” Cal thought it best to get this out of the way so that Elaine and Elliott could understand why Tara isn’t jumping for joy a
“So there’s nothing special about how you were raised, pup?” Cal wasn’t sure what Stone was trying to get Tara to say, but it was annoying him. “If you want me to tell you, it was all rainbows and sunshine. It wasn’t. I don’t talk about the rest. What’s the point of rehashing it?” He hated hearing the annoyed tone Tara had in her voice because he could hear and almost feel her pain. “So you don’t want to talk about it?” “Why would anyone want to talk about stuff like that? It’s not like I have anything to be proud of.” Stone’s eyes narrowed at these words. “No sob story about how badly you were treated. No seeking comfort?” Tara sat there and returned the old wolf’s stare for stare before she simply said. “What would be the point?” “The point is to get attention, pup. To gain something you want.” Stone’s temper was surfacing now. “But that means I would have to want something from you. I am curious, though. What s
“That’s my third pup there and his mate. Your uncle, Stephen, and his mate, Ariel. Their grown pups, Erin, and Eric. That about covers your living family here, dear. Everyone sit please. Stone has created enough excitement and drama for one day. She has a sweet soul. Stephen, treat her like you would your sister and don’t act like your father if you know what’s good for you. As for the doghouse, it’s an old guard shack that’s been turned into a bunkhouse for single wolves who, for one reason or another, don’t want to make the trip all the way back to their homes to sleep. It’s affectionately called the doghouse because often there’s trouble between the few mated wolves that stay there.” “Oh, good grief. That’s horrible.” “Oh, don’t think your grandfather hasn’t stayed there a time or two. Though these days he’s more likely to use a guest apartment.” Tara looked over the tissue at Elaine with a shocked expression. “You’re joking.” “No, I’m n
Kole wanted to get back to the gathering as quickly as possible. He didn’t want any misunderstandings between anyone, let alone the two packs. There was no way he’d explain to the pack that their beloved elder and ex-alpha alienated his first born grand pup with blind stubbornness, hateful questions, and fear. That wouldn’t be happening today or any day. Kole wouldn’t risk fighting with Cal. How would it look when the Council of Alphas met? His father always forgot about that. Though the council of alphas didn’t exist during his time in control of the pack. He’d been a forward thinker of his time and moved his pack to a territory that was being noticed by the local humans. It meant he could settle their businesses in, and those humans would see those businesses as founding members of the business community. “Let’s go back down now and please be nice to her. She’s so much like Heather and you wouldn’t talk to Heather that way. Just apologize and let mother do
No one said much of anything on the way home. The privacy divider between the front of the vehicle and the back raised then never went down. Cal pulled Tara to him and sat her in his lap. He didn’t do anything more but let her soak up his warmth and strength. He buried his head into her neck and hair. The smell of the wool sweater mixed with the natural spice of her scent. He instantly felt his aggressive feelings smooth out and gentle. It’d been difficult watching her get so wound up from it all. Tara sat there, and all but purred. As their vehicle made slow progress through traffic, it’s darkened windows gave them the privacy that Cal didn’t care, Tara turned and straddled his lap instead. She didn’t do anything more than that. But his body felt her skirt hike up and he groaned, knowing how naughty she was instinctively gravitating to for comfort. That wasn’t what their mating would ever be based on. He’d never satisfy his needs while she was seek
“Stone dear, you know I love you. I’m your mate and partner in life. I have always advised you about everything honestly and in your best interest.” Elaine still quietly sat in the sitting room and calmly spoke to Stone. The others had slowly filtered out to go on with their day or to watch their guests leave. “Of course you are, and you have.” Stone looked out the window and watched the vehicles leave. Elaine could see he was distracted by what was going on and his own thoughts. “Then why are you being an ass and not listening to anything I say now?” She let her irritation slip into her voice and she dryly responded to him. Her annoyance was obvious. Stone’s instincts instantly alerted him to the fact that not all was good between himself and his mate. Over the years, that instinct helped him avoid many different disasters from exploding in his face when it came to their relationship. “I’m listening Ellie. I’ve always listened.” “Then explain to me if you listened to me, then why