“Whoa, Bel!” Winter started, but it was Wyatt’s restraining hand on his shoulder that brought him to a stop.
“It’s okay, Bel. River and I suspected things would go poorly for our families after we left. We weren’t the only ones who have suffered over the years.”
“But they abandoned you! Family doesn’t do that! Family sticks together. Protects each other. Loves each other no matter what.”
“Not everyone is a Varik,” Rafe growled.
“It’s different for wolves. I’m not excusing it. Just trying to help you understand,” Wyatt continued.
River’s arms wrapped around Bel’s waist. “It’s okay. We have our family now.”
Love, acceptance, and warmth washed through Bel, helping to tamp down the tide of rage.
“She has information that could help us,” Winter said. He edged into the room, moving in front of Casey. “Everyone is going to be civil, and just maybe, we can help each other.”
“Fine,” Bel bit out. He allowed Wyatt and River to usher him to his seat on the couch. Both of his wolves resumed their seats, and Bel was surprised to feel Ethan grab his hand and squeeze it tightly.
Winter disappeared into Bel’s office and returned, rolling the desk chair in front of him. Placing it in the middle of the room, he motioned for Casey to have a seat.
“Ms. Birch, would you like a drink of water?” Philippe politely asked. At least Philippe still had some manners. Bel just couldn’t manage it right now. Not after how Wyatt and River had been treated for the past dozen years.
“No, thank you,” she said softly, her eyes on her hands twisting in her lap.
“How long have you been part of Albert’s pack?” Wyatt asked.
Casey lifted her head, but she looked again at River first, then dragged her eyes to her brother.
“Don’t blame him,” Wyatt commanded, not allowing her to speak. “I knew I was gay long before I ever met River. He didn’t turn me gay, but meeting him was the first truly happy moment in my life.”
She managed a little shake of her head and a sigh. “After you were forced to leave, the family was seen as outcasts. Mom and Dad ended up killing each other. They both blamed one another for how you turned out. The rest of us were forced to scatter or fight for our lives. Matt, Paul, and Johanna are dead. I don’t know where David or Shawn are. Last I heard, Silvia had found a pack down south. People who had no idea who she was or her family.”
Pain lanced through Wyatt so sharply that Bel gasped. Wyatt had spoken so little of his family, but it had always been clear that he loved them and still missed them. He’d never wanted this for them. Bel wanted to send everyone away so he and River could care for their wounded lover, but they still needed more answers.
“I’m sorry you’ve suffered,” Wyatt whispered in a broken voice.
Casey stared at her brother for a moment and nodded. “I’d say you’ve got it worse if you’ve landed with a bunch of vampires.” She paused and the first glimmer of a smirk teased the corner of her mouth. “But it doesn’t look like things are really that bad.”
“It took a long time to get here, but I’m happy. We’re happy. I have a home. That’s all I wanted.”
“This is charming,” Rafe drawled. He shifted in his seat, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees while glaring at Casey. “But it’s not getting us any closer to keeping my brother and his furry little family safe.”
“Rafe!” Bel snapped.
“Are you sure you’re twins?” River asked, tilting his head up to look at him. “Because you’re nothing alike.”
“We’re more alike than you can—”
“Ew, Rafe! Just ewww!” Ethan cried. “Don’t even finish that thought!”
“What?”
Winter groaned loudly and scrubbed a hand over his face. “This is why we can’t have a meeting without Marcus to rein this shit in.”
“Rafe is right,” Wyatt declared loudly, which earned him a somewhat horrified gaze from both Ethan and Bel. “We’re not getting closer to a solution to our problem.”
Bel nodded. As much as he wanted to give Wyatt time to catch up with his sister about the fate of his family, the important thing was learning what they could do to help themselves now. “What can you tell us about Albert’s pack?”
“That’s just it. This isn’t Albert’s pack,” Casey replied sharply, but Bel didn’t get the feeling she was upset with him in particular. “Albert has been the alpha for only six months. He staged a coup and killed Donald Parkland, the real alpha for the pack. He and a bunch of his flunkies slaughtered Parkland’s family in their sleep and then rounded up anyone who was strongly aligned with Parkland. Killed them as well.”
“How many people?”
“At least twenty. Nearly a third of the pack.”
“Oh, God. That’s horrific,” Philippe whispered.
“Forgive me, but I’m new to werewolves. Is this kind of behavior…normal?” Rafe asked. To his credit, it didn’t sound as if Rafe was trying to be insulting, and Bel had to admit he didn’t know if a bloody coup was a normal way of changing leadership. It was how vampires handled things, for the most part.
“No,” River said. “If a wolf thinks he can be a better alpha and offer more protection for the pack than the current alpha, he issues a challenge. They fight in fair combat before the entire pack. It doesn’t have to be to the death, but it often is.”
“Albert’s actions are…they’re absolutely heinous,” Wyatt snarled. “How can the rest of the pack accept him?”
“He claims Donald was robbing the pack. That he was putting us in danger. That he was allowing the vampires to encroach on our land.” Casey shoved one hand through her hair, pushing it back from her face. “I don’t think most pack members believe him, but after so many people were killed, they’re afraid to stand against him. The majority of the people left are either extremely old or parents of young children. They can’t risk confronting him.”
“And you’re happy to help us because…you preferred this Donald gent?” Rafe asked.
Casey shook her head. “I had no problems with Parkland. He was fair. He knew the story of our family and still allowed me into the pack. I even got married a few years ago to a good man. But Albert…” Casey’s voice broke off and she balled her hands into trembling fists. “He…he had me sterilized.”
“What?” Wyatt shouted. Bel could feel the rage flooding through his lover’s veins, so intense that he practically trembled with it.
“He wanted to make sure I could never breed. Was sure I’d infect the pack with a gay child.”
Bel hadn’t thought it possible, but his heart broke for the poor woman as tears streaked down her cheeks. To have that option stolen away for something so…so stupid.
“Now I’m worthless to the pack.”
Wyatt shoved to his feet and crossed over to where Casey sat shaking in her chair. “Casey, I’m so sorry. I never wanted you hurt. You’re not worthless.” He started to reach for her but stopped, his hand hovering just a few inches away from her shoulder.