Page 6 of Echoes of Us

Talon pushed the truck harder up the mountain, the engine growling like the beast inside him, but it couldn’t outrun the storm in his soul.

He had spent the night and the whole day with Willow, talking with her and holding her.

Things were still shaky in their relationship, but they both agreed they wanted to give it a try.

There was no trying on his part. She was his and always would be.

Leaving Willow had damn near torn him in half, but he needed to get his head straight before the weight of it all crushed him.

His father. That bastard. He should’ve known the truth.

Talon had never respected the man, never bowed to him as a son or as a wolf.

The old Alpha had been a tyrant who thrived on hate, especially when it came to most humans.

And it was him, of course it was him, who’d been behind driving Willow out of town and out of his life.

The thought made Talon’s hands clench the steering wheel until his knuckles whitened.

Everything finally made sense, and it sickened him.

He turned hard into the driveway, the tires spitting gravel toward the house he and Cory had taken over after the old man died.

They’d gutted it, stripped it clean of every damn reminder of the bastard who had called himself a father.

Talon had fought Cory about living there at all, but an Alpha’s duty chained him to the pack’s heart.

Whether he wanted it or not, this place was his.

The moment his headlights swept the yard, his gut dropped.

With a curse, he stopped and shut off the truck.

The hum of angry voices rolled through the night like a low snarl, sharp and bitter.

Cory stood stiff in the center of the drive, shoulders squared, his jaw tight as some of the elders of the pack pressed in around him.

They weren’t attacking, but they weren’t far from it either.

The air was thick, hostile, pulsing with barely checked aggression.

“Tell us the truth, Cory,” one of the older wolves snapped, his eyes glowing faintly in the shadows. “Is it true? She’s back?”

Before Cory could answer, another shouted from the back. “The Alpha cannot mate with a human.”

A middle-aged male shoved forward, his lip curling. “A human? He’s planning to mate with a human, bring her into our world? You can’t expect us to stand by and let that happen.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, growing sharp and cruel.

“She’ll destroy us. We’ll be vulnerable.” Another male shouted, his voice as angry as the others. “If our Alpha cares more about a human, he isn’t worthy of the title.”

“Careful what you say about my brother.” Cory’s voice lowered in a threatening growl. “About your Alpha.”

Gravel crunched under Talon’s boots as he crossed the yard, every step slow and deliberate. His presence alone made the air thicken, but the low murmur of voices didn’t stop. The pack, his pack, clustered together, their hostility so sharp it cut through the night.

One voice carried above the others, dripping with venom. “Arthur would’ve ripped her throat out by now.”

Talon froze mid-step, his wolf clawing beneath his skin. The fury that ripped through him was instant, white-hot. He turned his head, eyes glowing like embers, and pinned the speaker with a look so lethal the man flinched but didn’t back down.

In a blur, Talon moved, his hand fisting in the front of the male’s shirt, slamming him against the side of a truck hard enough to rattle metal. The pack jolted, but no one dared intervene.

“You dare speak his name to me?” Talon’s voice was a low, dangerous growl, his beard brushing the wolf’s cheek as he leaned in.

“My father was a tyrant. He ruled through fear, through hate, and you all lapped it up like starving dogs. I am not him. I will never be him. And if any of you think for one second I’ll let his poison dictate my future, you are sadly mistaken. ”

The man tried to look away, but Talon yanked him back, eyes blazing.

“She’s mine. Human or not, Willow belongs here because I say she does. And if any of you so much as whisper about spilling her blood, you’ll answer to me before meeting my father in Hell.” Talon snarled, his wolf close to the surface.

Talon released him suddenly, shoving him so hard the man stumbled to the ground. The rest of the pack stood frozen, the weight of Talon’s dominance pressing into their bones. The name of the old Alpha died in every throat, buried under the fire of their new leader.

Talon straightened, his chest rising and falling with the effort of control. His wolf prowled inside, restless and eager for someone’s blood. But Talon made his point for tonight. Tomorrow, he knew, the war for Willow would start all over again.

The crowd dispersed in a slow, muttering shuffle, glances thrown back over shoulders like Talon might sprout horns and drag them all to hell for daring to question him. He caught fragments of whispered slurs—human, weakness, mistake—and each word landed like a stone in his gut.

When the last man vanished into the tree line, Cory stayed put, arms folded, his mouth already curved into that sarcastic grin.

“Well,” Cory drawled, “looks like the flock is nervous. I swear, they get more dramatic over stupid shit. You’d think you brought home a vampire stripper instead of a human woman.”

Talon blew out a rough breath, shaking his head.

Cory didn’t stop. “Funny thing, though...every single one of them bows and scrapes like Dad’s ghost is still calling the shots.

That bastard hated humans, hated women who didn’t bow, hated most of them assholes, hell—he hated us.

And now they’re all clutching their pearls like you’re breaking some holy commandment he left behind. ”

Talon’s jaw tightened, but Cory barreled on, still smirking. “If Dad were alive, he’d be raising all kinds of hell knowing Willow was back in town. But guess what? He’s dead. Buried. Rotting. And honestly, that’s the best thing he ever did for this pack.”

A harsh laugh tore out of Talon despite the tension riding him.

Cory clapped him on the back, eyes gleaming with wicked humor. “So, let’s not waste tears over the old man’s fan club. You want the girl, you take her. Screw the rest. If they don’t like it…” He shrugged with mock solemnity. “…they can go dig him up and ask his opinion. See how far that gets them.”

Talon finally spoke, his voice low, rough. “It was him. Dad. He’s the reason Willow left back then.”

Cory’s smirk dropped, his brows lifting. “I fucking knew it. Should’ve put money on it. Our old man couldn’t stand anyone he couldn’t break.” He gave a sharp laugh, devoid of humor.

Talon dragged a hand over his face, guilt eating at him. “I should’ve seen it. Should’ve known. Instead, I blamed her. Thought she didn’t want me.”

“Yeah, well,” Cory said, stepping closer, his tone biting but not at Talon. “You were too busy surviving the bastard to notice what games he was playing. Don’t beat yourself up for not catching on. He fooled everyone—hell, he ruled by fear, not brains.”

Talon’s fists clenched at his sides. “He hated her just for being human. He hated me for loving her.”

Cory snorted, dark humor flashing back in his eyes. “Of course he did. The old man hated sunshine, puppies, and laughter too. If it wasn’t miserable, he didn’t trust it.” He shook his head.

Talon’s chest eased, just a fraction, at his brother’s words. “Yeah,” Talon ran his hand through his thick hair. “I can’t even imagine what he put her through.”

“Can I ask you a question?” Cory said thoughtfully. “If you don’t want to answer, fine, tell me to mind my own fucking business.”

“What?” Talon replied, curious to know what Cory wanted to ask. Usually, his brother would just shoot off at the mouth with whatever came to mind. For him to ask if he could ask a question was new, which made him edgy about what he was about to ask.”

“Why didn’t she tell the asshole to fuck off?” Cory looked from where the pack had disappeared, then back to Talon. “Willow is a strong ass woman who knows how you felt about him. Why not come to you?”

Talon snorted, shaking his head. “Yeah, I asked her the same thing.” The old rage for his father began to coil inside him, sharp and poisonous.

“She said he threatened to take her grandfather’s land.

Said she couldn’t ruin his life—or mine.

He boxed her in, Cory. The bastard gave her no choice, and you and I both know he would’ve followed through. ”

Cory’s jaw flexed, his voice tight with venom. “I know you’re not supposed to speak ill of the dead, but I hope that son of a bitch is burning in Hell.”

“Yeah.” Talon’s reply was angry. His stomach knotted at the thought of what Willow had endured, the scars he couldn’t see. The weight of it nearly brought him to his knees.

Cory’s hand landed on his shoulder, a steadying anchor.

“So here it is, brother...she’s back, Dad’s dead, and you’re the Alpha now.

Most of the pack already knows you’ll lead with strength and fairness.

The only ones you’ll have trouble with are the jackasses Dad brainwashed.

But if you love her, fight for her. And if she’s your Mate, die for her.

” His words were razor-sharp, no-nonsense, like always.

“I would fight and die for her.” Talon’s vow was raw, scraped straight from his soul, as they climbed the porch steps.

“Damn right,” Cory said, nodding. His grin tugged back into place. “Now, since your love drama cost me my dinner, you’re making me something to eat.”

“Watch how you talk to your Alpha.” Talon shoved him through the doorway, rolling his eyes. “You’re the one who belongs in front of the stove serving me, asshole.”

Cory stumbled, then glanced back over his shoulder, smirk widening. “Please. I once saw you squatting behind a tree, taking a shit, and grunting like a constipated bear, so chill on the Alpha bullshit with me, bro.”

The sound that tore out of Talon was half growl, half laugh. For the first time that night, the weight pressing on his chest cracked apart. He shook his head, muttering, “You’re an idiot,” but his lips curved as they stepped inside.