Page 183 of Unforgivable

"You've come to speak with Inuit?"

"Yes," I nod.

The young male who approaches is an alphason. Proud, almost defiantly so. He reminds me of Daan at this age. Dark eyes, slightly slanted at the corners. Lanky, tall, but already showing wiry muscle from working on the ranch, he'll be a beast of a male one day.

Most importantly, there is a deep understanding, a wisdom that only comes to wolves who have suffered, in those dark eyes.

I swallow. Daan had been friends with Cloe at this age. She clung to him. He complained a few times, but Jessi told him to be nice to her. She needed friends. She was sensitive and delicate. Goddess.

"Inuit, are you ready?" I ask.

He nods. "I am Alpha."

"So be it. I will announce it tonight. As the moon rises." He just nods. A pup of few words, this one. "May I speak with your Luna?" I choke out.

Lyri steps out of the house, where she was waiting, hovering just inside the door, protective of her 'little' male, most likely. She will be a good mother... would have been a good mother.

I suck back the tears at the thought of the loss of grandchildren I'll never have, never see.

"Alpha Jax," she says quietly.

---

Lyri

"I'm sorry, Lyri," he says.

It's an apology. A small one, months too late, weak and short.

But it's genuine. He's sorry. He's incredibly sorry. Terribly, horribly, apologetic that he made that rash decision months ago. Horrified at the anger and fury that drove him to punish me so horrifically.

It's a small apology because how do you truly apologize? I could punish him for the rest of his life for one terrible decision he made. I could end his life.

Ironically, I understand. He didn't believe me. He believed his son. I was a liar. I made a Claim on a wolf who wasn't mine. If I had been lying, then he would have been right to punish me. Not with a Shaming, but punishment nonetheless. Pity stirs. A pity I refuse to feel for his son.

"Are you leaving the pack?" I ask him.

"That is no longer my decision," he says.

I nod. "Inuit will choose his own Beta, his own enforcers. For now, those positions will be filled by Rhet and Thjis. I want your Beta family out of the packhouse tonight. No guards. Franco and Elias will guard your son until midnight. Tonight it ends."

He licks his lips. "How?" he asks softly.

I tighten my jaw. "I wasn't just yapping today, Alpha. Daan hurt more wolves than just me. How would you feel if I were your daughter?"

He visibly winces, then nods. "Understood."

"Fine, then Alpha, I will see you tonight."

He smiles faintly. "You don't need to call me Alpha anymore."

I stare at him. This is a hard decision. We've been arguing about since coming home. I won that battle by the slimmest of margins. It's all about Inuit, about cementing his place in this pack. His future. Penny, Tyler, and Sarj's futures. I will not let RustClaw fall apart any more than it already has.

"You will stay," I croak out.

Alpha Jax’s eyes widen, shocked. I rush to explain before I lose my nerves.

"You will remain alpha, in name if not in truth, so that Inuit can reach adulthood without Challenges. I swear," I say furiously, "that if you betray my family, I will rip you apart myself."

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