Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“Dad, Casey didn’t go looking for a quick fix, okay. What she did was go for a walk and she got distracted, that was all.”
“Distracted enough to end up near Lucinda’s property?”
“It’s not the way it sounds.”
Klaus held his hands up. “You can say and do whatever you want, Dex, but it doesn’t change the fact that she still ended up there. I get that it is completely innocent, but that is also the point. While she was distracted, she gravitated toward Lucinda, and I’ve given her strict instructions that she is not to help Casey.”
Dex sighed and he rubbed at his temples. “What would you do, Dad? If it was Mom?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I know you think it doesn’t, and that is fine, but come on, you and I both know if it was Mom, full moon after full moon, then you wouldn’t just stand idly by and do nothing.”
Klaus sat back, flicking the pen between his fingers without losing control of it once.
“You’re right, I wouldn’t.”
Dex frowned. “Hold on, this is not what I asked you. I wanted to know if you had gotten any messed-up complaints about Casey, and you changed the subject about Lucinda. I’ve seen you do this enough times with Mom, which means you have a complaint. What is it?”
“Do I need to remind you, son, I am still the Alpha, and until I say otherwise, I’m the one in charge.”
Dex sighed.
“You’re eighteen years old, you’re not ready to take over this pack, and until you can learn to deal with things offering up a little diplomacy, you’ve got a long way to go.”
“Is this because I beat the shit out of Buddy Anderson?” he asked.
His father didn’t answer.
“Because if it is, then that is bullshit and you know it. He hurt Casey, and I know the bruises have already faded now, but that is be—”
“What did you say?” Klaus asked, interrupting him.
“Which part, I was kind of saying a lot?”
“About Casey.”
“Buddy and his friends beat her up. I was just paying him back.”
“No, about her bruises.” Klaus put his pen down on the desk.
“They’re healed and nearly all gone.”
Klaus smiled and Dex frowned.
“What?” Dex asked. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
“Think about it, son. Casey was beaten up less than a week ago. If she didn’t have any wolf in her veins, she would still be dealing with the bruises for many weeks after. Humans take a long time to heal. Even from a simple bruise.”
“So, what are you saying?” Dex asked. “That even though Casey hasn’t been able to transition, it doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen?”
“Yes.”
Dex frowned. “You’re distracting me again. You don’t want me to know who has written a complaint about Casey. Who was it?”
Klaus clicked his tongue.
“Come on, Dad, I need to know who did this. I may not be ready to take over today, but one day I will. Do you want me to find out then?”
His father still didn’t move for several seconds, and Dex truly believed he wasn’t going to.
“It was Buddy Anderson’s father,” Klaus said. “He doesn’t believe that having a non-transitioner is good for the other wolves. Also, he doesn’t think it would be ideal for his son to be around someone with such lower blood.”
“That piece of fucking shit.”
“Son, you will not respond to this. I took care of it, and some things are best left alone.”
Dex shook his head.
“Promise me.”
“Damn it, Dad.”
“Now.”
“Fine, fine. I promise I won’t go after Anderson’s father.”
“Or Buddy.”
Dex gritted his teeth as he’d hoped his father wouldn’t see through his attempt to break through the promise.
“Fine, I won’t go after any of them. Not while I’m not Alpha.”
Klaus nodded. “And understand, Casey is safe here. While I am Alpha, and while you are here, nothing bad will happen.”
Dex nodded. “Now can I go?”
“Yes.”
He got to his feet and left his father’s office. Then he left the house and started in the direction of the forest.
Dex felt like someone was watching him, and he turned, catching sight of Buddy Anderson. The other man had stopped in the middle of the street, and Dex caught sight of the anger in the other’s face.
He might have promised his father he wasn’t going to cause trouble, and he wouldn’t, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to respond if Buddy decided to take him on.
****
Casey’s parents had wished her good luck.
Did they even know she still didn’t feel different? There was no magical change within her. Plain and simply nothing.
Heading out to her favorite spot, she usually spent many hours watching the full moon, praying that something—anything—would happen. This time she had brought a blanket to lie on, as well as one to wrap around her. Even though it was still summertime, they were getting toward the end, and that meant it was getting colder, especially at night.