Page 105 of Unforgivable

---

When I get home, my paws slow, my wolf letting out a low warning growl.

My heart sinks when I see the black pick-up parked in front of the house. It's fucking official-looking, but none of the high-ranked wolves drive trucks. Only the Gamma, Brett, bothers to drive a vehicle that actually works.

Ezra comes out to greet me.

I frown, "I thought you were in town?"

"Got back twenty minutes ago," he says. He's pale, his mouth tight, but grimly smirking.

"Is it about that dick, Todd?" I ask him lowly.

Ezra grins more fully, clapping me on the back. "He can't walk. Docs say he's paralyzed. Tell me to stop smiling before the Gamma sees."

"I'll take a whipping, but I'm not being locked up," I tell him.

His smile falls away, "Yeah, that worked to kill the joy in my heart, dumbass. You really think Rhet will let them punish you? It was a fair fight... mostly," he adds. His eyes flash dangerously, "we have more important shit to worry about."

I nod grimly. We do.

I walk inside, only grabbing a pair of worn jeans in the mudroom before stepping into the kitchen where my family sits around the table with Gamma Brett. I wash my hands in the sink and dry them on a towel before greeting the male.

"Gamma," I nod my head.

"Thjis," he returns the greeting solemnly. "I'm here about Todd. I assume you've heard?"

I shake my head, playing dumb.

"He's paralyzed from the waist down. His left arm is also showing signs of paralysis, though the doctors don't know if he'll recover from that."

I grunt non committedly.

Rhet speaks up, "So, are there any accusations against my brother?"

"Not yet," Gamma Brett says. "Just the usual inquiry. Lots of witnesses to the fight say you struck the first blow," he says to me.

"He threatened my female," I manage to say.

"I felt scared," Lyri chimes in, "Thjis was protecting me." She comes to stand in front of me, her back to my front. Her head doesn't even come up to my chin, but when I wrap my arms around her waist, I take comfort in her presence.

Brett looks at Lyri calmly and nods. "I believe that there is a history there to back up your feelings?"

"He was there the night of my Shaming," she says softly. "He was especially vicious and brutal. I think his wolf is unhinged, to tell the truth."

I squeeze her gently, my chest expanding. I'm so proud of her and so horrified for her at the same time.

"Cut to the chase, Brett," my older brother snaps. "What is the bottom line here? Do I have to protect my brother from some shit coming down the pike?"

Gamma Brett sighs, sitting back in the chair, "you think I give a shit that Todd is maimed for life? He can't fucking rape another female. That's golden as far as I'm concerned." He rubs his hand over his mouth.

"Look, I came away from a pack that let terrible fucking things happen. It was... cleansed, for lack of a better term. Too many deaths, too much blood. I don't want that to happen here. Keep it tight, guys. Don't let this blow out of proportion."

"Out of proportion?" Rhet asks in a dangerously low voice. "You think what happened to our female wasn't out of mother-fucking proportion?"

Gamma Brett looks at him steadily, without flinching. "Yes, it was, but," his eyes flash to me, "you have the upper hand. Lyri Song is slowly turning from pariah to victim. Lot of wolves like your female," he tells Rhet. "The Alpha intends on having his son come back by MayDay. That is six weeks from now. What happens then?"

I feel Lyri stiffen in my arms. My poor baby.

---