Page 10

Dinner wraps up fairly uneventfully, with Mother charmed by her grandson and obviously seeing Clara in a whole new light. I’m touched that Clara defended me, and even more impressed that she did it in such a way that my mother wasn’t offended.

After dessert, Mother decides to take Nico on a tour around the house, and Winnie gathers up the plates and cutlery to help Jerry.

“Galen,” Clara says, surprising me by reaching out to hold my hand, “why didn’t you defend yourself to your mother? I know you stood up for Nico, but you’re the alpha now. Surely she trusts you?”

A heavy sigh eases through my chest, and it has no effect on the weight in my heart. The memories are still there, like stones dragging the joy out of my world.

“Even though she was known as a strong lady, Mother was always very passive and quiet,” I explain. “She was a traditional ‘good wife’ to my father, which meant protecting our status and reputation, as well as keeping a beautiful home and submitting to his will.”

“So that’s why she was so judgmental in the past,” Clara considers. “She was doing her duty to him.”

“Not just that,” I reply. “She genuinely thought no one in this town was good enough for me. Yes, she had an issue with you because you aren’t a shifter, but she wouldn’t have been happy with anyone I brought home.”

Clara chuckles. “Good to know. What happened to make her so different?”

I look away from Clara and focus on the tabletop, trying to keep my expression calm. “My father died.”

“I’m sorry, Galen.”

I shrug. “It’s okay. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t exactly friendly with him when you left, and I might have some regrets about that, but it’s all done with now, and I can’t change it. The thing is, though, it had an extreme impact on my mother.”

“Go on,” Clara says, squeezing my hand.

“At first, she fell apart. For at least two days, she didn’t leave her room. Then she emerged and immediately started planning the funeral. She directed the pack, organized the wake and ritual ceremony to bid farewell to the old alpha, and led every pack meeting from then on.”

“She sounds incredibly strong,” Clara says.

“She is. Stronger than I ever thought she could be. She took on everything, making sure our reputation was maintained and Father’s legacy was honored.”

Clara squeezes my hand again, and when I look up at her, those beautiful gold eyes are shimmering with emotion.

“What was his legacy?” she asks.

I flinch, just a little. It’s a fair question, but it’s not a topic I enjoy, especially since it shattered my relationship with my father.

“Keeping the bloodline pure, and always marrying our own class,” I answer, my voice rough. “The iron-fist ways were handed down from father to son, generation after generation. They maintained a system of strict laws, dictating who the alpha line could marry, as well as separating the pack into distinct classes. They also did not tolerate disagreements and dealt mercilessly with rebellion. Either in our own pack, or with our rivals.”

Clara’s eyes have gone wide, and her lip trembles slightly. I know it’s going to be hard for her to absorb these words, so I don’t say anything. I just wait to hear what she has to say.

I’m not looking forward to this. There’s a whole can of worms here that I really wasn’t ready to open yet.

Footsteps in the hall interrupt our conversation, rescuing me from the uncomfortable topic. Nico enters with Mother, holding her hand and smiling up at her.

“Did you have a good time, honey?” Clara asks Nico, getting up to hug him.

“Yeah!” he chirps happily. “I saw a suit of armor! And some cool old-fashioned weapons, and paintings—”

“Okay,” Clara laughs. “I think we should settle you down and get you home to bed.”

“I concur,” Mother says. “It’s been a long day for you, Nico. We’ll see each other again soon.”

“Bye, Grandma,” Nico says, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her. “I’m so happy to have met you.”

“Me too, Nico,” Mother says, stroking his hair. “Goodnight, young man. Clara, Galen, I’ll be in touch.”

Macy heads up the stairs while we get Nico into the car and start the drive home. I can’t stop looking over at Clara every chance I get, and it’s not just her beauty or spirit that’s attracting me now.

She stood up for me. No one has ever done that for me before.

As the son of the alpha, I was expected to be bulletproof. Anything that happened at school or with the pack was on me to handle, no matter how rough it was. After Father died, the situation only got worse.

Mother worked me harder than anyone else. She didn’t want me to let Father down, especially after how I ended things with him. As if making an effort after his death could impress him in the afterlife.

The ugly thoughts crowd my brain, but they don’t have the same power over me that they used to. I don’t feel lonely and exposed anymore, like I’m doomed to fight alone.

I finally feel like I have someone on my side.

“What are you thinking about?” Clara asks. “You’re very quiet.”

“Well, I’m thinking about you, actually.”

“Oh,” she mutters, her cheeks getting red. “What exactly are you thinking?”

“That it was very sweet of you to stand up for me,” I say seriously. “My relationship with Mother hasn’t been great, but after everything we’ve gone through, I could never speak out against her. It was nice to have someone care enough about me to defend me.”

“I just wanted her to know that you’re not at fault,” Clara answers. “There’s blame all over the place here, and you’ve done wonders for Nico already.”

We pull into the driveway, and Clara gets Nico out of the car. The poor little guy is so sleepy, he can barely walk, so I pick him up and carry him inside. While he gets himself ready for bed, I join Clara in the kitchen.

“Don’t ever blame yourself,” I say, her previous words weighing heavily on me. “You had to leave, and I know it was impossible for you to come back. My parents made it hard enough on me. I wouldn’t want you to be subjected to it as well.”

“This is exactly what I’m talking about,” she says. “I’m starting to feel bad that I left you alone. I never imagined that it was so hard for you.”

“I might be starting to feel slightly inadequate,” I answer in a lighter tone. “Are you going to stand up and protect me all the time now?”

“If that’s what it takes,” she says, tilting her head. “I know what a softie you really are, underneath it all.”

Emotions stir in me, and I feel like it might be my turn to blush. Clara sees my grin and reaches up to lightly pinch my cheek.

“I’ll never let anyone hurt you,” she whispers, and her eyes darken with intensity. Something changes between us, and I can suddenly feel the heat rising from her body.

“Mom, I’m ready for bed,” Nico says from the doorway.

We break apart, a bit too suddenly. Clara goes to Nico, leading him down the hall to his room. I follow behind them, feeling excited about being so close to Clara, but rattled by the emotions raging inside me.

I don’t deserve another chance with her. Any kindness from her is a gift. Don’t read too much into this.

I watch Clara tuck Nico into bed, struck by the sweetness of the scene, but still tantalized by the energy that has been rising between us.

When she comes into the hall, closing the door behind her, the heat is still rising from her skin. Her scent is thick, surrounding her in waves that almost make me dizzy.

Is she aroused right now? It smells like she is…

But that’s what I want to believe. I want it so much, it can’t possibly be the truth.

“Galen,” she whispers, stopping in front of me. I try to keep it together, but when she puts her hand on my chest, the closeness of her and her soft touch break through all my control.

“Clara,” I murmur, grabbing her shoulders and kissing her. She melts into my chest, her arms going around my waist, running her fingers down my back as she squirms against me.

I push her against the wall, pinning her there as I rub my body against hers. She squirms, gasping into my mouth as my lips find hers again, and I search for her tongue with mine.

Running my hands down her arms, I grip her wrists, gently thrusting into her with my hips. I’m tempted to pin her arms over her head, tear her dress open, and feast on her breasts, but I’m still watchful for any sign that she isn’t into this.

I can’t hurt her again, I can’t. What I did was unforgivable, and I don’t deserve this—

Suddenly, Clara grabs my shoulders and lunges at me, wrapping one leg around my waist as she clings to me and kisses me even more deeply. I slide my hands down and grab her ass, lifting her and slamming her against the wall.

She gasps, moaning into my mouth as she kisses me, her hands roaming over my chest as her hips thrust against mine. I’m so hard that I can feel her rubbing against me, with nothing in the way except a zipper and the thin fabric of her panties.

I squeeze her ass hard, moaning as I thrust towards her again. She tightens her grip on me, an urgent look in her eyes.

I went too far.

“Shh,” she says, putting a finger to her lips. “Don’t wake Nico.”

I smile as I move in slowly for another kiss, gently touching my lips to hers. I tease her, keeping just out of reach so every kiss is light and sweet. It doesn’t take much of this before she wraps her hands around my neck, tightens the grip of her thighs on my waist, and presses her lips hard against mine, flicking her tongue into my mouth.

I hoist her up a bit higher, pulling us away from the wall. She weighs almost nothing in my arms as I let my hands roam up her sides, loving the feel of her legs squeezing around my waist.

Clara leans back, exposing her neck and making me slam her back against the wall. I look down, my mouth watering at the sight of her breasts crushed up against me, almost popping out from the low neckline of her dress. When she writhes and they come even closer to bursting free, I can’t hold back a deep, hungry growl.

Hitching my hands under her arms, I lift her up a little so I can bend my head to her breasts, caressing the exposed tops with my tongue. She moans and digs her heels into my lower back, leaning her head against the wall. I tug at her dress, and I can see the lace edge of her bra peeking out from the neckline.

I slide my tongue across the firm mounds, loving the taste of her sweat as I dip between her breasts. Her hands clasp the back of my head, and she thrusts her chest towards me, gasping as she writhes against the wall.

I wrap my arms around her again, and she slides down a little, her legs settling around my waist. I kiss her lips softly, gently, looking into her eyes. I feel so full of words, but I can’t find my voice. The moment has moved beyond lust, and I feel so close to her right now that I don’t know how to express it.

This. This is what I’ve missed, for so many years, I dreamed of her body, knowing she was the only one who could satisfy me.

But this is deeper. She is touching my soul.

I kiss her again softly, still looking into her eyes. Suddenly, she stiffens all over, her hands gripping my shoulders as she tries to pull away. Panic flashes in her eyes, and she wriggles against the wall, letting go of me.

“Are you okay?” I ask, worried.

She looks like she’s been shot!

“Are you hurt?” I ask, desperate to help her in any way I can.

“I have to—I can’t—I mean—” She backs away, her hands up as she slowly staggers down the hall. “I’m okay. Don’t worry. I just have to—”

Clara shakes her head, then turns and runs, leaving me with only the scent of her on my clothes and the taste of her lingering on my lips.