Page 48 of A Little Red
“Some of the kid stuff, yeah,” said Paxton, still refusing to turn around. “But I’m going to need all my stuff once I’m settled. Don’t worry. I’ll send for it as soon as I can and get it out of your hair.”
“What?”
Paxton could hear the edge of anxiety in Aisling’s voice, even though she was trying to mask it.
“Well,” said Paxton, straightening up and staring down into a box of his childhood toys, “since you don’t see fit to let Liam have his mate, and you don’t think having protection against the warlocks is a good idea, I guess I just don’t really feel like this is the pack for me anymore.” He turned around to face his mother. “I’m leaving.”
“You will not,” said Aisling, stepping angrily into the room. “You will not. I will make you stay.”
“Are you going to use the Command on me, Mom? That didn’t work too well with Liam.”
“You have to stay,” she said and this time he really could hear the fear in her voice. He realized now why Liam had always been so patient in his arguments with Aisling.
“Mom,” said Paxton, “if Liam’s not part of the pack then I don’t want to be either.”
“It was his choice!” she snapped. “He pickedherover us!”
“Because you made him,” said Paxton. “What would you have done if someone had made you choose between the pack and Dad?”
“She is human! It isnotthe same!”
“They say we used to be able to mate with humans,” said Paxton. “Maybe Scarlet is a throwback or something. Because I’m telling you Mom… She and Liam…”
“No!” yelled Aisling. “No! That is not what is supposed to happen! I want him to be with Anna Allanach.”
Paxton sighed. “None of this is supposed to happen, Mom. It’s just the way it is.”
“No! I don’t like it! I forbid it! I won’t let it!” yelled Aisling.
Paxton felt his heart break a little and he stepped forward and hugged his mother. She gave an angry growl, thrashing against him and then stopped and collapsed into him with a sob.
“Mom, I miss Dad too, but we can’t stay like this. We need things to change.”
“We don’t need a damn human!” she snarled, stepping back, swiping angrily at her nose.
“No, but Liam does and it is your job to make sure the pack gets what it needs.”
“I… No.” But she didn’t look as certain as she had a moment before.
“Yes,” said Paxton. “Either we go get Liam back or I’m going to finish packing and move out to the city to be with him.”
Aisling stared at him without moving.
“OK,” said Paxton. He could feel himself sweating. He hadn’t really thought his mom would call him on it. He pulled open a drawer and began to pull out his t-shirts. Aisling suddenly gave a fierce snarl and stomped from the room.
“Where you going, Mom?” Paxton called after her.
“To get my damn keys. Shut up and go get in the car.”
In the privacy of his room, Paxton smiled and took out his phone and dashed off a quick text.
Plan in motion. See you soon.
Liam
It was one week before Christmas and Liam was both petrified and electrified by the idea of a holiday without his family. Being packless wasn’t getting better—it was like an empty place in his soul that he hadn’t known was occupied before—but Scarlet was somehow making things easier. He didn’t understand how it was possible, but the longer he was with her the more certain he became that she was his mate. He’d heard other mated wolves say that it was like knowing which way was North—it was just the way it was—and that was how it felt with Scarlet. She was who he wassupposedto be with. He scrubbed the kitchen counter and checked the clock again. Her interview was supposed to have been done by now. He’d had to stay at work for a meeting—he hadn’t even been able to see her off. Knowing how badly she wanted the job made him want it for her. He wanted her to get everything she wished for and not being able to simply give it to her was torturing him. He found himself contemplating murder if the idiots at Kadry Environmental Consultants didn’t give her the position. He scrubbed the counter harder.
When he heard her key in the lock, he flung the sponge at the sink and stepped into the hall.
