Page 100 of Forsaken Devotion: Part 2
Bruno had just finished filling me in on all the pack disputes brought to him.
Alex sat on his other side, sulking.
I hadn’t addressed him since he’d shown up. As moronic as it was, I hated the softness Josephine showed toward him.
Just the thought of her caring about anyone other than me, drove me mad.
Each time I thought about her leaving me, I gritted my teeth, stopping that thought in its tracks.
My jealous, invasive thoughts also served as a lesson. Josephine had to live with the knowledge and memory of my indiscretions. It made me wish I’d been born to a pack where they revered the old ways. Where they didn’t touch any but their mate, saving themselves for their fated.
Elain strode toward the table, her expression set in a disapproving mask. Now what was she going to complain about?
“Where is your father?” she spat.
“Hello, Mother,” Alex muttered.
“I’m still not talking to you,” she huffed. “How dare you tie yourself to thathuman?”
Alex stiffened, and he visibly looked like he wanted to choke her out. I was impressed; he didn’t tend to get angry with her.
“You.” She turned her focus to me. “Where is your father?”
“I asked him to come.” I shrugged. “He wanted to spend the Blood Moon alone.”
Elain’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened and closed. Some couples chose to stay in their own places as they aged. It was always that way with my parents, but I was beginning to get the hint that they never spent it together, even when I believed they were.
“Where is that mate of yours?”
I didn’t miss the derision in her tone.
I narrowed my eyes, and her lips stiffened. “Where is Henry staying?”
“Leave him be.” I put force behind the command. Henry had always drowned himself in running the pack. When that wasn’t there to distract him, he’d drink, a lot. Which was why I’d had to take over as soon as I could.
As useless as he’d become, I understood—now. Though, that wasn’t always the case.
“Fine,” she gritted out. “I’ll go spend the Blood Moon in the comfort of my home.” She lifted her nose and strode away.
I shook my head, watching her retreat. She could go wallow in her self-pity.
Her manipulation tactics with my father had always been clear, but it’d never bothered me until now.
She’d never been a soft mother, often leaving me to my own devices. When Alex came along, she liked to attempt to pit us against each other. It had only succeeded in our avoiding each other. With the gap in our ages, I had other interests anyway.
“WhereisJoey?”
I whipped my head toward Alex, a growl building in my gut. “I mean that as her brother.”
He could mean it as he wished, but I didn’t like her name on his tongue. He turned pale and scooted his chair back.
“I-I have to find Verity.” He rushed away from the table.
Bruno chortled.
“Make sure you keep him busy,” I ordered.
“Yes, Alpha,” he murmured.
