When I get downstairs, I set the uneaten food on the kitchen counter and look out the window to the vineyards. My mother’s red truck is parked down the road, and I can see her walking around, inspecting the vines with my father. It’s something they’ve always done and probably will do until the day they die. My parents love their traditions.
If there’s anyone who can help me with Kara, it’s my mother. I should’ve gotten her involved from the beginning, but I was afraid. Of what, I don’t know. I’m never scared of anything, but I’ve intentionally kept my mother away from Kara. She has a gift of seeing the light in people. My grandmother has the skill, and my great-grandmother had it, and so on, dating back hundreds of years. I have no doubt that’s why the Timberwolf pack has never had issues with loyalty. The women in my family could snuff out a traitor just by being in the same room. I believe there’s something good in Kara; I just didn’t want my mother proving me wrong.
Kara’s breathing is still slow and steady, so I walk outside and down to the vineyards. The moonlight gives me all the light I need. When I get to my parents’ truck, my father walks up and holds out his arms. He’s one hundred and fifty-eight years old, but the man doesn’t look a day over thirty-five. Most people think we’re brothers, but that’s the way it is in the shifter world. We age at meager rates. When we converse with humans, most of us keep our personal lives to ourselves. No one would believe a man who looks the same age as me is my father.
I know he loved being alpha of the Timberwolves, but I knew he was tired. That’s why I stepped up and asked to take over. Luckily, no one in the pack disputed. The Maheegans have been the alphas ever since the Timberwolf pack began.
My father closes the distance and pulls me in for a hug. “Your mother had a feeling you’d be coming down here tonight.” I can still smell the salt from the ocean in his ash-colored hair from his morning surf.
“She did, huh?” I hug him and then let go. My mother’s intuition never fails her. It’s like she knows someone needs help before they even ask for it.
He nods. “Go on. I think she wants to talk to you.”
My father stays at the truck while I trek through the vineyard with only the moonlight to guide me. I can see my mother straight ahead, inspecting the vines as she slowly strolls past them. She knows I’m there, but she doesn’t meet my gaze.
“How are you, son?” she asks, still studying the vines. She’s always been a perfectionist; I inherited the trait from her. I’ve walked through the vineyards over a million times, so I know she’s not going to find anything wrong.
“I’m fine,” I reply.
Her lips pull back, and she chuckles lightly. “You and I both know that’s not true.” Then, crossing her arms over her chest, she turns to me. “I know there’s something on your mind. Every time I’ve seen you the past couple of weeks, I’ve felt a weight bearing you down.” She steps closer. “Is it Kara?”
“What have you heard?” Our pack isn’t huge, so I’m sure word has spread about what’s happened at the restaurant.
Her lips press in a firm line. “Oh, the parts where your wolves made it a game to torment her.” I can hear the disappointment in her voice and see it on her face.
I hold up a hand. “I didn’t find out until this morning. That’s why I didn’t make Kara work today.”
The lines on her face soften. “Good. I didn’t raise you to do things like that.”
“I know,” I agree. “Kara’s stubborn as hell, and believe me, I’ve said things to her I probably shouldn’t have, but she just infuriates me. I know she’s angry, but she’s also sad.”
My mother nods. “Of course she is. She’s alone. She just lost the last member of her family, a man who would’ve had no qualms in killing her.”
Turning my attention to the sky, I breathe in the crisp night air and focus on the moon. It’s only a sliver of light tonight, but it’s unusually bright. “Do you think people can change? I’ve been around Kara many times over the years. Yes, she can be a bitch, but she has a passion inside of her I’ve never seen with any other woman. She can’t be all bad.” I meet my mother’s gaze. “Right?”
A small smile spreads across her face. “Anyone can change, son. Kara’s been bitter for two centuries. That kind of pain festers and builds until it completely takes over. Kara has to find a new path in life.” She places a hand on my cheek. “She has to want to change.”
“Do you think the Royal pack will forgive her?”
She pats my cheek and shrugs. “That’s up to Kara.”
Lifting on her toes, she kisses my cheek and starts toward the truck. Kara is too headstrong to want to change. She’d kept her royal power hidden when I met her, but she’s always had the ‘I’m too good for you’ mentality. I still feel bad for what I said to her that night a couple of weeks ago about how no one wants her. The look in her eyes has haunted me ever since.
“You know,” my mother calls out, turning to face me and grinning, “I thought when you came down here it was going to be to ask me for a certain favor.” Cocking her head to the side, she narrows her gaze. “I get the feeling you’re on the fence about it.”
She always has a way of reading me. “A little. And yes, I’ve thought about you using your ability on Kara, but …” I’ve been too afraid to find out the truth.
My mother waves me off. “I get it. You always see the best in people. It’s one of your many redeeming qualities.” Her grin broadens. “How about this … why don’t you let Kara spend Tuesday with me? I have to drop off some goodies at the farmers’ market. It’ll give me a chance to speak with her and see what we’re dealing with.”
“She’s not talking to anyone right now,” I state.
“I’m sure you can get her to. All you have to do is be your charming self. The ladies have never been able to resist you.”
I burst out laughing. “Kara’s turned me down more times than I can count. My charm doesn’t work on her.”
My mother shrugs. “Try again. I have faith in you.”
She winks and turns away to join my dad at the truck. They drive away, and I walk back up the hill to my house. When I get inside, I head straight for the stairs, but then stop halfway up. Kara’s in her room, but it doesn’t feel like the right time to approach her. There’s a feeling in my gut telling me to back off.
Slowly, I step down and retreat to my study. Kara will come out when she’s ready.
8
KARA
There hasn’t been a time in my life when I’ve dreaded waking up in the morning until now. For the first time ever, I don’t have control. I don’t know what’s going to happen anymore. All I know is the past two weeks have been torture, not only physically but mentally. I feel like I’m at a breaking point, but there’s nothing I can do. If I go on the attack, I’ll lose. When I get back to normal, Sierra will be the first person I go after. I’ve never been so humiliated or degraded in my life by another female. There is still a slight bruise on my cheek from where I fell on my face after she tripped me. Did I want to kill her after that? More than anything, but I brushed myself off and got back to work. Over and over in my mind, I’ve repeated the words, Bide your time. Being in California is temporary. Soon, I’ll be free.