Page 45 of A Sinful Trap

“Don’t get distracted.” His gaze was quelling. “And yes. I did. It was unfortunate though, since I was fond of his mate and her sister.”

Tension corded Cam’s shoulders. “He abandoned his pack, left his family without protection. Now you’re telling me this place still welcomed him? He found a mate here?”

“Yes, well…” Stax grimaced. “His abilities were impressive, but his actions didn’t serve him well in the end.”

In the end. “He’s dead then.”

“He is.”

Cam was almost relieved. At least he had one answer. “And the sisters from the inn. From the picture. The stories say they were murdered. Was he responsible for that?”

“Not murdered.” Stax got to his feet and started to pace. “And that’s a story for another time. Today we’re discussing your mating with Bailey.”

“Are we?” Cam tried to contain his anger. “Fine. Then get to the part where this has anything to do with Bailey and whether we can be with her or not. Because to be honest, so far all I’m hearing about are failed matings and reasons why it’s still a bad idea.”

Stax spun toward him, hair whipping around his shoulders like black rain. “This has to do with you, Alpha Locke. This is what you came here for. The chapter you felt compelled to close. To prove to yourself once and for all that, despite your instincts and unspoken desires, you were right to dismiss your heritage and drag your pack around the world and back again just to avoid it.”

Cam got to his feet, his anger threatening to boil over. “My heritage? Every person I care about has been abandoned, abused, or excommunicated for who they are. That’s pack heritage. Aaron was nearly dead when we found him. Mohammad and Davide were starving. Bunny didn’t trust anyone and she may never tell us why. That is how my heritage treats the vulnerable and different. Their young.”

He held up his hand when Stax opened his mouth. “My grandfather thought he was better than a small pack in the middle of nowhere. Then he came here, to one of the most powerful places I’ve ever experienced, and according to you, was still incapable of being what everyone proclaimed him to be. Alpha. Leader. Is that what runs through my veins? What I could look forward to if I took up that mantle? I would never leave behind the people who needed me. I would never put my ego before my family. I am a better wolf, a better man because I am nothing like Alpha Locke.”

“I know,” Stax said simply, looking oddly pleased with himself. “That’s why you’re here.”

That made no sense to him, but the steadiness of the man’s gaze brought Cam’s temper back under control. How did he do that?

“Cam?” David touched his back, offering support. “Are you good?”

“He’s fine. The sooner he accepts who he is, the sooner you can have your mate.”

“Was that all it took?” Cam asked sarcastically, rubbing the stiffness from the back of his neck and feeling weary. “Even if it’s possible for us to mark her without it ending in tragedy, even if we wanted to stay and let Bailey work her magic on this town, the pack laws would deny us and put us all in constant danger. Put her in danger.”

Because shifter packs rarely intermingled. Wolf, cat and rabbit shifters, for example. And certain anomalies, like Aaron, who had the capacity to be more than one thing? He wouldn’t be allowed anywhere at all.

“You’re right,” Stax said, surprising him again. “About all of it. And it’s time, I think. Some rules will have to change. You can help me with that.”

“Help you? Because you can do that?” Cam thought he might know what Stax was now, but he didn’t come right out and ask. It didn’t seem like a good idea to push after his outburst.

“We can do that. I’m owed a few favors of my own, Alpha Locke. And once they know who you are, you’ll have a seat at the table. Everyone you care about will be protected.”

Stax started to speak again, then hesitated, concern transforming his features. “I do know what you need to do to successfully join with Bailey, Cameron. It is possible. But we might need to wait on that conversation.”

A sense of foreboding skittered up Cam’s spine. “Why?”

“She was on her way here, I was expecting her, but now she’s turned around. I knew she was overwhelmed by the link and had the wrong idea about your feelings for her, but I was sure she would still…” He shook his head. “You should go.”

Cam was already running toward the door, Davide right behind him. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Weren’t you listening? I just did.”

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