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Galen raised his hands, gesturing to the crowd to simmer down and quelled the rising tide of concerned voices.
“We are safer and stronger together as a pack. I am proud of each and everyone of you for the contributions you have made as a Long Claw and it’s in that spirit that I stand here before you today to ask for your support, to stay the course and fight against the demons.”
My old alpha never would have addressed the Northwood pack that way. He wouldn’t have asked for help, he would have demanded it.
But that’s how Galen earned the respect of his wolves - by giving them the respect and support they deserved.
“I know you’re tired. I share your pain and your grief. I feel it through the pack bonds and in my heart. Remember what my father always said, ‘there is strength in numbers, but the real power is unity.’ We’ve lost parents, brothers, sisters, loved ones, but I won’t let their deaths be in vain.”
Galen ended the meeting with new perimeter patrol rotations, safety protocols for the pack and coven to follow along with the renewed support of his pack.
“I want to run the property line and check in with Marguerite before we head out. Do you want to stay here or...” He let the unspoken question hang between us, no doubt expecting my answer would be no.
I hadn’t joined him on a run since the Northwood pack’s last attempt at a takeover - and the first appearance of my red eyes.
No or never, Talia. The invitation to go for a run provided the perfect segway to come clean with Galen.
“I’d love to.”
A flicker of hope flashed in Galen’s eyes and I almost regretted my decision. As much as I hated the idea of being rejected - or worse, hurting Galen - it was too late to back out. I’d agreed to go on a run with no rational reason for changing my mind.
“But I need to tell you something first and you might rescind that invitation after you hear what I have to say.” My heart raced and my stomach roiled.
I took his silence as an invitation to continue.
“You asked what’s bothering me on multiple occasions and I gave you the same answer every time. Nothing. But you knew it was something.”
I took a deep breath and plowed ahead, afraid I’d lose my nerve if he interrupted. It appeared he felt the same way because he didn’t move a muscle or utter a single word.
“I can’t imagine what’s going through your mind right now. I just hope whatever it is, it’s worse than what I have to tell you and everything I say will feel like a relief. If you’re worried it’s about us, don’t. I’m still in love with you as much, if not more, as I was when you claimed me.”
Cracks in Galen’s statuesque demeanor appeared and his coiled muscles relaxed. It was clear from his posture that he was worried my issues were about us.
“After the Northwood pack attacked us and I stood up to my old alpha, you found me down by the water, do you remember?”
The question was rhetorical, but he nodded in affirmation.
“Something happened when I shifted that night. My eyes turned red. It only happens when I am in wolf form. I’ve replayed the events from that night over and over in my head and nothing stands out as a cause. And I don’t know what it means.”
“That’s what you’ve been so worried about? You should have told me.” Galen crossed his arms over his chest, cocked his head to one side and narrowed his gaze. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”
“Before we left the summit the wolves from Alaska stopped by the cabin. They’re from a demon wolf tribe and they think my mother was one of them. Which would make me one of them too.”
His gaze dipped down to the spot on my arm where I’d been marked by a demon; seemingly coming to the same conclusion I had.
That the demon attacks on the Long Claw pack had something to do with me.
The few feet that separated us felt like a canyon. We were on opposite sides and there was no bridge to cross it. Silence built to a deafening roar as I waited for him to say or do something.
Galen asked for the truth and I gave it to him. What came next was up to him. I hoped for the best, but I would have been a fool not to prepare myself for the worst. - rejection.
I was at the mercy of my alpha and my mate.
