Page 4 of Wanted

“I will,” I say, stepping away from my mother. “I swear it.”

Father doesn’t speak. He folds his arms over his massive chest as if telling me to prove myself. Not with words but with action.

I nod, a silent vow that I will do just that. I head toward the training area that we’ve set up. If I am going to overcome my defect, I must get strong.

My father doesn’t stop me as I walk past him.

I take a handful of steps before a tug on my arm stops me. It’s my mother. She’s looking down at me with tears in her eyes, but a smile on her face.

“It’s late. Almost time for dinner. You can go train in the morning, if that’s what you want,” she says slowly enough so that I can read every word.

I shake my head.

“And after dinner, I can wash your hair. The traditional way that you always like.” She moves her hand from my arm to my long braid that falls over my shoulder. “You love it when I wash and braid your hair.”

Warmth spreads through me, remembering how much I love it when she runs her fingers through my hair. From scalp to tip, taking time to nourish every strand on my head with the cleaning solution, and then tenderly running a brush through it before braiding it. My Apache grandmother had taught her exactly how to care for Chael’s and my hair.

And then Christophe’s when he came along.

I want to say yes. To go back to the times of sitting between her knees as she told me stories or hummed a song from my ancestors while doing my hair.

Movement out of the corner of my eye makes me look over my shoulder. My father’s glaring at me. I’m instantly reminded of my promise.

“No.”

Her face drops the moment I pull away from her.

I look away.

“I’ll have dinner after I train.” She tries to reach for me, but I start off toward the training area. A look over my shouldershows my father holding her back. He tells her something that I’m too far away to read. I turn away from the scene.

The pain in my mother’s eyes almost causes me to stumble from weakness in my knees. But I keep on. I might be defective now, but I won’t be weak. I will be the best beta the Nightwolves have ever known. I won’t make my father regret having me. Nor will I make my brother ashamed to have me by his side as he rules the pack when his time comes.

This is the silent vow I make as I trudge through the snow toward the training area.

CHAPTER 2

Chance

Brother,a voice calls.

I’m startled back to reality. It’s the one voice besides my own that I’d know anywhere. Chael’s voice, besides my own and my wolf’s, is the only voice that I’ve heard since I lost my sense of hearing. The only sound that can penetrate my broken shifter ears are my brothers’ words. Due to our bond as blood brothers. Along with being the natural alpha and beta of the pack.

Brother?Chael’s voice again penetrates my mind.

I look over my shoulder to find Chael staring at me. Concern etched in the wrinkle of his forehead.

His lips don’t move but I hear, “Are you alright?”

I swallow and give a short nod. I got lost in my memories as I stared out at the sun setting over the mountains. I should pay better attention to my surroundings. The safety of our pack is my only concern.

I will do another check around the premises. I tell Chael through our bond. But he stops me.

Alone?He narrows his eyes at me before saying,You know you don’t have to do everything on your own.

It’s my turn to narrow my eyes at him.This is my job,I remind him.

Yes, well you can take a few hours off. Besides…“The premises are secure,” he says with his mouth. He’s likely speaking out loud for the benefit of his wife, who’s at his side. When he looks down at her, his face splits wide open from the smile he grants her.