Page 79 of Wolf's Redemption

Taylor had a different attitude than I remembered. He was colder, his words were measured, and he made no more expressions than necessary to speak.

"My Alpha asks for the border region and the southern area of your territory, as well as the packs that inhabit those regions and any companies and properties you have there," he said as if it was no big deal.

"No way, it's too much," I said. "Besides, I'm not part of the pack anymore. I don't owe the Sith pack anything."

"Easy, dear," Lydia said, putting her hand on my leg. "Let the men negotiate the terms."

"There is nothing to negotiate. I support Cathy's decision. The answer is no," Eric said without letting his father speak.

"What's your name?" asked Patric to the messenger.

"It's Taylor Pons, Sir," he replied.

"Very well, Taylor, could you leave us alone for a moment to discuss your proposal, and then we'll give you our answer," Patric said formally and led the way to the exit.

He waited for Taylor to come out and gave Eric a hard look. "You can't just refuse terms like that. Understand this is an excessive request, but we still have to negotiate to have a win-win situation," the Alpha of the Night Pack said. "Wars between our kind have been started over the least of things, and you don't want to start a war, do you?"

Eric took a deep breath and looked at me. And I knew what he wanted, so I nodded.

"There is something you don't know yet, and I tried not to involve you, but I think it's inevitable now," Eric said, having his parents' full attention.

Eric told them about how our first encounter was six years ago, the way my father tried to force us together. He also told them about the mistreatment I received while I was in the pack, how I fled for fear, they would use my son against the Night Pack, and all about the aconite poisoning to keep me from developing my wolf.

Lydia's and Patric's expressions turned somber, and they looked at me, not daring to say a word.

"Taylor," Patric used his Alpha voice, making the scream echo in our heads, and as soon as Taylor entered, Patric stepped in front of him to prevent him from advancing any further. "Tell your Alpha we will not accept his terms, and he will not be welcome at the wedding." He was firm and didn't wait for Taylor to respond.

The messenger turned and walked away, but I felt that something was wrong. I had one of those hunches that things were about to get worse.

"Are you okay?" Eric asked me.

"Yes, it's just that seeing him made me remember things from the past," I answered.

"You have nothing to be afraid of, Cathy," Patric said. "None of them will ever hurt you again. You are one of us now."

I felt surrounded by a real pack, one that cared about me and would never turn its back on me.

Cathy, we know about your son, your business, and even the house you live in. We have never taken our eyes off you.I heard Taylor's voice echoing in my head. I'll wait for you at the edge of the property, in the pine forest. You will come alone and listen to what I have to say, or else we will search for your son, and you will never see him again.

My whole body shuddered, my breathing stopped, and I had to put my hands in my pockets so they wouldn't notice I was shaking.

"I don't feel well. I'll go lie down for a while," I said.

"Do you want me to come with you?" asked Eric.

"No, please keep listening to the wedding preparations so you can let me know later," I said, controlling my voice.

"Are you sure?" Lydia said. "You look pale."

"Yes, please continue without me."

I got up from the chair, feeling their stares on my back, walked down the hallway, and made sure they couldn't see me. I walked to the back door and headed toward the property lines knowing it was a bad idea, but I still feared for my son's life because I knew what my father was capable of.

"This way," Taylor stepped out from behind the trunk of a pine tree. "You're a very wise woman, after all."

I walked into the woods with him to a clearing. "What do you want?" I asked. "I never thought you'd become a bootlicker for my father."

Taylor tensed his jaw and clenched his fists. "You have no idea what you have caused since you left, do you?" he mumbled. "Morgan was killed because of you, and she was blamed for letting you escape."