Page 70 of Untamed

Her lip lifts in a snarl.Shane is stupid.

That doesn’t make him any less my biological father.

Our silent conversation works. She’s backing down just as Johnathan thought she would.

“We can forget this all right now,” Johnathan negotiates, voice strained. “No one will know what happened. Keeping this secret is in the interest of both parties, Lydia. All you have to do is tell the Council that the DNA test was wrong. This won’t have been the first time that the Greystones have done something to save each other.”

A warning hum emanates from Lydia’s chest. I can hear the threat in her tone, but I also understand her because the same blood runs through our veins. My stomach flips over in disgust, but in essence, that fact may have just saved me. She knows who I am. She can’t deny me because she feels it as I do. We may both resent it, but it doesn’t make it any less true.

She shifts, her wolf’s back arching before landing on all fours, and I see way more of Lydia Greystone than I ever wanted. “To be clear, you are no family of mine. You’re an abomination.”

The once subdued Jonah growls, and his father returns the sentiment.

“However,” she says, speaking over them. “Keeping this secret does seem to be in everyone’s best interest. During my meeting with the Council, I will be telling them that the initial tests were wrong. As long as you keep your story to yourself, I will keep mine.”

I want to shift and talk to her but being completely naked in front of my mate’s father is not on my list of things to do today. She shifted on purpose so she could get the last word. Thankfully, Johnathan speaks up. “You have their word as long as you keep yours. Nothing will happen to the Walkers, and they will be cleared of all charges. Nothing will happen to them in the future either. Put this to bed for good, Lydia.”

She nods once. “And Kinsey will never try to gain any sort of importance from the Greystone line.”

My wolf growls, the sound ripping from her throat.I don’t want anything to do with the fucking Greystones!

Johnathan speaks for me. “I assure you, she has no interest in becoming a member of your family.”

Lydia narrows her gaze as if she doesn’t believe him. Let her believe what she wants. Through my eyes, her family is what’s wrong with wolf society. I have no desire to be family with someone who thinks there should be a pack hierarchy, who keeps wolves locked away in the Rejected Mates Academy every day because they believe they know better than fate.

No, despite what I fantasized when I was little, I have no intention of becoming a Greystone.

“Kinsey,” Johnathan calls for me.

My wolf peers over at him, zeroing in on his torn shirt and bloody scratches.

“Come to Jonah so he will calm down. Please.”

She moves toward him, giving Lydia a wide berth as if she still might try to take us out.

Johnathan strokes his son’s fur. “See that, she’s not even limping.” Interestingly enough, he’s correct. Johnathan smiles at my wolf as she gets closer. “Must be the Greystone blood.”

Lydia scoffs, but fuck her. I don’t like the idea either.

When my wolf is within reach of Jonah’s, he nuzzles her. She returns the sentiment, and Johnathan whispers for us to leave. He keeps a secure hold on his son as he opens the secret door and then nudges us both out. Jonah turns around once we’re in the tunnel, and Johnathan, standing there in a ripped shirt with healing injuries, nods.

Jonah whines. The light in the tunnel fades as his father closes the door on us. My wolf’s superior vision kicks in, allowing me to see. He places his paw over my wolf’s shoulder, sniffing her. He nudges the leg she got shot twice in, but she barely feels anything except a numb sort of pain. It’s a nuisance more than anything else.

We amble toward the exit. Slowly but surely, light from the entrance comes into view. My wolf follows his out, and he shifts into his human form so he can close the door, locking away the Council and Lydia Greystone.

Finally, I can breathe easier.

* * *

I makeJonah wait with me by the Council building until my parents are released. Once we physically see them leave with Johnathan Livestrong, I truly let reality sink in. Everything actually turned out the way it should have. My parents will no longer be targeted as the “evidence” came back in their favor, the Council now has no reason to stop me from leaving Greystone Academy, and Jonah and I can finally start our lives together.

Jonah nuzzles me, and we start toward my parents’ house, following the black SUV carrying them inside. The weight lifted off my shoulders practically makes me fly all the way there. Jonah is hot on my heels, nipping and swatting at me playfully.

Maybe it isn’t so bad being a Lunar Pack shifter.

30

The echoing footsteps of Ms. Ebon’s heels off the academy’s floor reminds me of my first night here. Suddenly, I wish I’d allowed Jonah to come in with me, but when she stepped out of the front doors when we arrived, lifting an arched brow as we sat in his idling car, I knew this was something I had to do alone.

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