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Chapter 16

Caleb sat at his desk, staring into space and wondering where Regan had stormed off to last night.

Shocked by her words, he’d let her go.

She didn’t need him.

He hated to admit it, but the words hurt him more than he would have believed possible. He wanted her to need him. They’d told each other that this attraction was a thing between their wolves, but Caleb knew it was more than that. He was falling in love with her, and right now, that thought brought him no pleasure at all.

A deep, nagging sense of concern tugged at his mind. The only consolation was she still had no idea how to find his father, but all the same, he wished he knew where she was. His wolf needed her close to him where he could protect her.

He almost laughed at the idea. As if Regan needed anyone to protect her. She could stop the sun, for Christ’s sake. What could he do for her that she couldn’t do for herself?

The phone on his desk rang. He reached across and picked it up.

“Mr. Stone. There’s an Ethan Stone in reception for you.”

At the sound of the name, a rush of black hatred ripped through him.

“Mr. Stone?”

“Send him up.”

What the hell could his father want? He considered calling the Council and telling them Ethan was here, but he couldn’t be sure they wouldn’t pass the information on to Regan.

He forced his hatred down; he needed his mind unclouded by rage. By the time Ethan came through the door, he had his expression schooled to blankness.

Ethan looked around the office. “I’m impressed. You’ve done well for yourself.”

Watching his father stroll across the office, Caleb realized that all his life, he’d been conflicted. He’d hated Ethan, but at the same time, deep down had been the need for his acceptance and approval. Now that need was gone—finally banished by Ethan’s own actions. Caleb could look at him without the blinkers of need, could see clearly the cold ambition that had deemed it acceptable to drive Caleb’s mother to suicide, to torture a young boy.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“Not going to offer me a drink?”

“What do you want?”

Ethan shrugged and sat down in the seat opposite. “I believe you have something of mine.”

Caleb was silent for a moment, wondering how best to play this, how best to ensure Kelly and Jason’s safety.

“I want them back,” Ethan said. “And I want the witch.”

“Why do you want them back?” Caleb asked, genuinely curious. “Why not let them go?”

“You know I can’t let the others see that. They have to understand the consequences of disobedience. I need to make an example of them.”

“Are your wolves getting restless, Dad? Are you losing control?”

“No!”

“You killed Tom and Sarah.”

Pain flashed across Ethan’s face. “Sarah was a mistake.”

“A mistake?” Caleb slammed his fist onto the desk. “You killed your mate, and you call it amistake?”

His father ignored the question. “Where are they?”