Page 61 of Ravenous

“I won’t have myshifterdaughtertaintedby ahuman.What is she going to teach her? How is she going to help her grow into a strong and powerful shifter female?”

His gaze flicked to mine then out the door to Remy.

I did the same, staring between the two.

“How haveyoubeen teaching her anything these past four years?” he countered.

“I’m starting now.”

“You’renottaking her.”

“You’re shacking up with ahuman. Iamtaking her. I already have the council behind me. I’m the mother, and it’s agreed Remington isn’t in an environment where she can thrive.”

Wes' eyes widened, and he tugged at his hair. He spun in a circle and stopped right in front of the back door, so he could stare at his child.

This was heartbreaking to watch. To hear someone ready to rip Wes' daughter from him. God, he’d told me last night that losing Remy was his biggest fear.

I couldn’t let that happen.

“I’ll be there tomorrow morning at ten. Someone from the council will be with me to ensure you comply.”

With that, the call ended.

Wes threw his phone onto the granite counter, and it skidded across the surface with a clatter.

Soraya was a bitch. I didn’t like to use that term too often, but like the swearing, this was the appropriate time. The reason swear-words existed was for the purpose of catharsis. I never expected everyone to be my friend. That was fine. But she hated me. I’d said only a few sentences with her, and with one sniff, she hated my guts.

She was forcing Wes to choose between me and his daughter.

It was horrible.

I was afraid to touch him; he seemed like he was ready to erupt. As if his wolf needed to come out and run or fight or something.

“Can she do this?” I whispered.

He stared at Remy, scrubbing a hand across his red beard. “Yes,” he spat. “If she really has the council involved.”

“Whatisthe council?” I wondered, my shaky fingers going to my lips.

“It’s like a governing body. Judges, with members from the biggest packs in the region. They hear intra-pack issues or things that affect our kind as a whole. Their rulings hold. Punishment is dealt with by council enforcers. One of our pack members serves the council as an enforcer–Johnny.”

“Johnny?” I asked, stunned. “He’s like… twenty-two.”

Wes nodded. “It was Clint before him, but he gave up the role after Lily was born.”

“So if she’s bringing a council person with her, then–”

“Then it won’t be Johnny. It will be someone who can speak for the council and whose ruling holds. It means she’s taking Remy, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

“Take her. Run!” I suggested, starting to panic for them. No way was he letting her go with that psycho bitch.

“Rob would have to send Johnny after me. He’d have to” –Wes swallowed hard– “kill me, and he’d be forced to take Remy to Soraya.”

“What? All of this because ofme?”

Wes’ face contorted into a dangerous scowl. “Not you.Her.”

“Then I’ll go. We break up. If I’m the problem, we eliminate me from the equation. If we’re no longer together, then there’s no reason for Soraya to give to the council to take Remy away.”

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