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your mate.
I shivered, unused to such open desire. I couldn t handle the thoughts tumbling through my head
about the future and my place within the village assuming I had one.  What of the battle?
 We held our own and pressed them away from the forest lands. They ll be back with reinforcements,
though, so we must march again.
 But what of the alliance with the villagers? The flicker of emotions rushing across his face
transfixed me.
 A leader of each village has been brought here. They ve been met with by me on the way here and
by my closest council members except Fallon.
I listened, fear pummeling my veins as concern filled his eyes.
 Your father is here.
He d lived. I doubted my father cared whether I d survived the village attack, but I was relieved to
know he d survived the battle.  And my brother?
 I know not of him, but you may see your father on the morrow.
I rested against Stephan and closed my weary eyes. For now, all was right.
44 www.samhainpublishing.com
Chapter Seven
The following evening, the alphas returned from their meeting with the two village leaders. I was
surprised to learn one of them was my father. He d never been a leader of much, except perhaps tempers. It
left me thinking few of my village remained. Why else would he have taken command? His hot-headed
temper and angry ways did naught but destroy. He couldn t be trusted, and I hoped Stephan could sense the
evil within the man who d raised me.
Guilt plagued me at my judgmental thoughts. I had no right to think such things of my stepfather
because he d provided for me as best he could. I knew he deserved my respect, though a part of me refused
to comply. I was relieved his blood didn t surge through my veins. My mother said his heart had blackened
shortly after they d wed, and that thought saddened me as he came from the meeting chamber. His face was
devoid of emotion.
There was no joy or gratitude for my safety, no expression of love or concern for all I d been through.
He headed toward me, his body cold and distant when he hugged me in a half-embrace too reminiscent of
past forced emotional displays in the village for me not to know it was show and naught else.
 My heart rejoices for your return.
My words were forced, and one look at Stephan and his guarded stance signaled he knew all was not
right between my father and me. His alphas stood at attention, their stance the same as his arms at their
sides and their knees unlocked. Many would see the stance as a sign of comfort, but I d seen enough of the
youth practicing the past few days to know it was one of battle. Their bodies hummed with the urge to shift.
I had no idea how I discerned that, but I knew it to be the truth when I saw the crystallized depths of
Stephan s eyes.
 Let us speak alone. I wish to know how you ve fared. My father wrapped his fingers around my
upper arm and began pulling toward the exit blocked with guards.
 We have plenty of private quarters within the palace you may use. Stephan s voice boomed within
the circular room.  I d prefer you take your rest within these walls, where your needs can be met fully.
My father glanced about the room with the half-hooded evil glare I d seen a hundred times. Whatever
thoughts this man had were diabolical and not intended to aid Stephan s war against our enemy. The
unknown man from the other village near mine used an easy stance as he spoke with Xavier. His voice was
filled with awe while he conversed with the alpha shifter.
Cara Carnes
My father s nod was curt. He followed Stephan, who led us to a chamber within a long corridor I d
never been privy to before. My heart raced when I moved into the room and Stephan left me alone with my
father.
Silence engulfed the room before he began pacing, his steps sliding across the room in the half-lazy
manner he d used for years. Step, drag, step. Step, drag, step.
 How is Michael? Mentioning my brother was a risk, but one I had to take. Despite my father s
scorn, my brother still carried a bit of familial love for me. At least he had before marching to war. Had he
been changed by battle as well?
My mother had always excused my father s actions because of the war saying it changed men. After
seeing Stephan and his men, I wondered if that was true. None of those I d spoken to seemed half as
blackened in their souls as my father.
 He s dead.
I swiped the tear which slid down my cheek quickly. But he d already noticed. His sneer made my
blood freeze. I backed up, but said nothing.
 You cry for him? He choked on the words as he moved closer, but I held my ground.  At least I
didn t run like you. I buried him. My own son.
 I m sorry, Father.
 You are sorry. Sorrier than I d imagined. You know what it was like for me to return to the village
and find out from the few who lived that you ran? You ran and didn t even bother to come back and deal
with your own mother. His anger boomed through the room.  I had to bury her myself. Her corpse was
days old. I should make you dig her back up and dig another hole yourself. After all she d done for her
worthless daughter, you turn and prove I was right all along.
I allowed his rage to boil and fester into the angry wounds I d numbed to long ago. Tears slid down
my cheeks, but I allowed them to, knowing he enjoyed seeing my regret and self-loathing run unhindered
like fresh blood.  She made me promise to run as soon as I could. I swore.
 Of course you swore. You worthless slut. His voice made me jump, but I remained calm,
determined to hide the fear trickling to life within me. Would Stephan pick up on my emotions?
I focused on him and what he made me feel. War was upon us, yet I felt safer within Stephan s world
and his embrace than any other time I could remember. My father glared into my eyes.
 Are you even listening to me?
 Of course, Father.
He sneered.  Have you been acting like a slut with one of these men?
I shook my head.  Of course not, Father.
 You better be telling me the truth.
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Wolf
I was. I might ve surrendered to my desire for Stephan, but I was by no means a slut.  I m sure the
king has quarters within the private area for you.
 He d better. It s the least he can do for dragging us here with all of them. His hatred and scorn were
etched within his words, and my blood ran cold.
 Will you have the village men march beside him against the enemy?
He looked at me.  We march on the enemy in the morning, but my wound keeps me from being there.
I d love to see their faces.
A stain coated his tunic.  We should have Nalla take a look at that, Father. She is a skilled healer.
 I don t need any of their help. He bit his lip.  I ll be fine. Show me where I sleep and then work on
getting me some food.
My father was placed in the room across from Fallon s and shared a wall with Stephan s. My body
hummed with the need to spend time with Stephan, but that was not destined to happen until after the
battle.
My father s hateful glare never left me, leaving me no time to spend with Stephan before he and the
alphas moved to engage in war. I longed to be at his side. I prayed he heard my thoughts and knew my
desires before he left. Surely he could still read my mind.
The morning dawn splayed through the glade and into the small window of my father s room as I
made my way in. I smiled, my nerves rattling like the dishes on the platter I carried to him. The smile he
gave me back made my skin crawl with concern, but perhaps I d been too skeptical of him.
 Nalla offered to tend your wound if you d like.
 I want none of their kind around me. They re evil incarnate.
My gasp echoed through the room. I set the tray down, afraid I d drop it from the shock filling me.
 They saved my life.
 Ironic that their trust in you will be their downfall. Without it I would ve never found this place. His
laugh made my heart stop as my mind raced to comprehend what he d said.
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