Page 17 of Fractured Fang: Omega

But then I realized that turning down his simple request wasn’t something I was willing to do. I signed that I would bring him over to see it and then took the phone over. I showed him everything, wishing I could both type or sign what he was seeing as I shared it, but I couldn’t. When I was done, I set the phone down to chat with him about the mural, but he was already being called for a snack.

“I will see you later. I promise to send you pictures of the mural as I go.”

He waved, and off he went. It wasn’t enough time with him. This being away sucked. It felt like I was abandoning him, even though I knew things had to be done this way. He was safe where he was. No one could show up there and decide he belonged with someone else, that I had him without due process.

Here at Fractured Fang, that was another story. The council could show up and decide I wasn’t the one who got custody. They weren’t hidden and protected the way Asilo was. And while they would try and help me, it might not be something they could do. No, this was what I had to do. It just sucked that we had to be apart. He’d had enough bullshit in his life without feeling abandoned, even if only for a second here or there when he remembered I wasn’t there, but before he remembered why.

I needed to figure this shit out and stat.

Chapter 9

Macs

Iwasouttendingto the fence line to make sure that all the cattle stayed within their enclosure when it felt like an invisible rope that tied me to the center of the territory snapped in place and pulled me back. I hadn’t even felt this way when the fire broke out. Sure, I always felt connected to my territory, but this was like a cry for help. Something was happening there that I needed to be there for.

For the safety of the cows, I finished mending the section I was on as quickly as possible, thinking it would go away. It didn’t, instead getting stronger by the second. Unable to take it any longer, I put down my tools and left them out in the open. That was something I’d never consider doing normally. They were one of the most valuable assets of the pack. They allowed us to make repairs and create things when needed.

Go.

Run.

Go.

My wolf was determined. I was not able to take off my clothing before he took his fur, leaving my clothes in a pile as he ran to the pavilion. Instinct told him to go there, or perhaps it was because that was the last place we’d seen my mate, and he was our top priority.

My mate, Jacob, and Jasmine, all sat at one of the picnic tables underneath the pavilion. Gabe had made significant progress on the mural, and it was looking fantastic. I could see the shape of the house taking place and the landscape behind it. He had captured the backlands beautifully. I couldn’t wait to see the finished product.

I shifted to my human skin, ignoring my nakedness. At first, the witches were put off by it. They hadn’t grown up the way shifters did with the whole naked thing being normal. But now they were both used to and fine with it, so I generally didn’t think twice about it. Of course, I wasn’t usually naked around my mate, so time would tell if I’d made a mistake or not.

“Everything all right?” I asked, and I took a tentative step toward my mate.

He lifted his head. Tears pooled in his eyes, and he blinked rapidly to clear them, but more came. He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s fine, same old, same old, really. I don’t know why I let it get to me or why I thought this time might be different.”

I didn’t have to ask who or what he was talking about. It was his parents treating him as less than the magnificent wolf he was. If they kept this up, I’d have no choice but to leave with my mate. I refused to let him be treated like this. Maybe the Greycoast or Northbay would let us in. If not, to the human world it would be because it was most definitely not going to be my mate crying every day.

Jacob put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Give them time. I think they’ll come around.” I wasn’t sure if Jacob believed his words or if he just wished them to be true. Regardless, I was glad that my mate had him in his life.

Jasmine looked at me. “Phillip was concerned about why Gabe was working on the mural rather than helping with chores this morning.”

By concerns, she meant he was being a complete dick about it.

“I didn’t need help. I had already talked to him,” I assured them, in case they didn’t already know.

“We know that, but my dad wouldn’t listen,” Jacob said.

“He never listens to anything I have to say. If I’m not actively contributing to something with physical labor, then it’s useless to him.” My mate threw his hand in the air and tossed a paintbrush at the wall, splattering a bit of paint on the mural. It stung as if he had slapped me.

“Give them—” Jacob was cut off mid-sentence, as he should be. Phillip had had years to accept his son and what his gifts and talents were. He didn’t need more time. He needed to decide that his son was valuable just the way he was.

“If they knew anything about what I had been through the past four years, they might just be thankful that I’m here at all instead of—” He clamped his mouth shut.

Gabe had been honest with me from the beginning, letting me know he hadn’t been ready to share everything yet. I accepted that, but hearing the despair in his voice broke my heart.

“I’m not sure I can do this, Macs. I’m sorry,” he said and then ran off.

I wanted to follow him, but in doing so, I would probably give away more than he wanted, even though he had spoken directly to me and not them. It was such a fine line, and I had no idea how not to tumble off it.

My wolf urged me to move, but I stood firmly in place. It seemed as if my mate needed time, and I wanted to give that to him. Or at least not make things worse, which was a real possibility given this entire fiasco. I hoped I wouldn’t regret my choice later.

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