Chapter 20
Robert shook his head, a smirk on his lips. Tremaine explained his history with Savon. Robert didn’t mind their past. Now he was amused for a new reason.
“What?”
“Wondering about their families. I know Darron was involved with Draecyn for a number of years. So, him being part of the Branches of Emrys makes sense. But what about Killian Taggert?”
“He’s an old wolf out for himself and no one else. And Ms. Murdock has always cared for Savon. I can see her ensuring Nate becomes Alpha. Question is why. What does she gain from it?”
Preston snorted. “Shit, really think she’d involve herself that much when she didn’t save Liz from Sinclair?”
Tremaine snarled and paced away. “I don’t know what the old bat has up her sleeve. I’ve given up on trying to figure out what she’ll fight for anymore.”
“Think she’ll make her way out?” Robert asked.
“You’re the one who could potentially see that. If you’d give it a try,” Tremaine pointed out. And it was true. He could possibly.
He rubbed at his head. “Easier said than done. I haven’t figured it out.”
“Got to wonder what she’s hiding. Draecyn says she was there, but too busy to talk. Which I call bullshit on,” Preston offered.
“Draecyn’s not talking. Bastard knows what’s going on but isn’t sharing.” Tremaine flopped onto the bed and groaned. “I hate this position. They aren’t willing to tell us much until all of us say yes to the damned Branches of Emrys. And my problem is that they’ve been using me for years, without telling me shit. It’s the same now.”
“Can you blame them? What we know now is probably more than they want anyone who isn’t fully invested,” Robert countered.
“Yeah, but we need to help Savon, so if it means telling her things we shouldn’t, too fucking bad.” Tremaine rubbed a hand over his face. “You don’t have to agree. You both can go back to Edenton. But I’m staying until we have this handled.”
“I’m not going home without you,” Robert assured.
“Yeah, neither am I,” Preston promised. “I have a feeling this could all boil over and the Silver Council will be here anyway. Best if it’s us. And with the Dark Templar in hiding, who knows what they would do about your friend.”
“Yeah, well, she’s been through hell. She deserves a little happiness only Nate can give her.”
Preston snorted. “What is it with you empowering the kids who’ve had shit luck and every reason to break down?”
Tremaine shrugged. “I’ve been there. We all need that person to pull us out of the darkness.”
* * * *
Was it his business? Maybe not.
Didn’t stop Bran from driving to Evangeline’s home and knocking on her door. He wanted to understand.
Had he hated Jay for all the wrong reasons?
Shit, bastard wouldn’t even defend himself, and somehow, that spoke volumes about his character. They’d assumed the worst, and he let them believe, but thinking back, other than killing Killian, he hadn’t done anything truly wrong.
Fuck, Bran hated being wrong.
He knocked again.
Finally, Evangeline greeted him with wary eyes. “What brings you by?”
“What’s your history with Jay?”
“Doesn’t matter,” she hissed, attempting to shut the door.
Bran pushed it open and stepped inside. “Don’t. Seems I may have misjudged Jay, and I want to know your story before I make any final decisions.”
Her crystal green eyes narrowed, her nostrils flaring. “How is that my fault?”
“You hate him. I assumed there was a good reason. But considering he tracked Nate and me down when Savon’s ex showed up and tried to rape her, I’d say he might be an okay guy.”
“He what? Why? What the hell is going on?” Her accent increased with every word.
“Look, you’ve never said a damned word when I’ve gone after Jay for one thing or another. Sure, he killed Killian, but nobody misses that fucker, even if he isn’t really dead.”
“Not dead?” Evangeline sputtered.
“Yeah. Savon makes a great point that he is most likely alive. I mean, why isn’t Jay the Alpha if Killian is dead?”
Evangeline paced away, smoothing her fingers through her hair. “Stop, start at the beginning.”
“No. You start at the beginning. What’s the story with Jay? Why do you hate him so damned much?”
A strangled sound escaped her lips. “He killed my first mate. I’ll never forgive him.”
Bran paused, his brow cranking down. “You were mated?”
“More than a hundred years ago. And Jay wasn’t in the wrong. Jasper was the second in Killian’s old pack. Jay and his mate, as well as a few other wolves, moved too close to our territory. Jasper sent the enforcers after them. They raped the women and killed most of his pack. Jay killed the enforcers, but Jasper escaped. I can’t blame him for seeking revenge, and considering what those wolves did to his mate, I expected the same treatment. He didn’t touch me, but I watched in horror while he slaughtered my whole world.”
“Doesn’t sound like Jasper was a good man.” Bran started for the door.
“I was naive. I didn’t know what he was involved in. And when I learned, I was disgusted, but I loved Jasper, stupid as it was.”
“That’s why you don’t want anything to do with me?”
“You’re not the fool Jasper was. But I know what it feels like to lose a mate. I have no intention of going down that road. Find another woman.”
“And Jay, you hold a grudge.”
“It’s why I don’t talk about it. Doesn’t matter who’s right, who’s wrong. It fucking hurts.”
Bran caught her shoulders and told her everything he learned prior to coming. About what Jay did to find both him and Nate and bring Savon help.
“He isn’t the asshole I want to believe he is. But he ripped my heart to shreds.”
“Fuck. Okay. So, I’ve had it out for him without a valid reason.”
“I told you not to hate him on my account,” she snapped back.
“Yeah, well, my stupid heart hasn’t given up on you. I need to go.”
“Why haven’t you given up on me?” she asked softly, vulnerability shining through.
“Because I’ve been drawn to you from the beginning. I wish I hadn’t been, but damn it, I want you. Always have.” He brushed past her, slipped through the door, and left.
* * * *
Jay couldn’t fathom how he’d fucked up.
Killian wasn’t dead.
Though that shit made sense considering he wasn’t Alpha. And why hadn’t he figured that out? Why did Canagan drag his ass out there? Because he had a feeling she knew Killian wasn’t dead. Why keep going after Nate?
And yeah, being Killian’s son was enough to assume Nate would be the same asshole, but after that day, seeing how much he cared for Savon, he no longer believed it.
Sadness filled the void where the deep urge to claim Savon had been. That need evaporated soon after he left Nate’s home. She’d sealed her bond with Nate.
First time in over a hundred years he felt something real for another person, and he was back to emptiness. Somewhere inside there was hope. His wolf was ready to accept a new mate. Maybe he could find another.
That could wait until they dealt with Killian, and apparently Canagan. What had she gotten herself involved in? Revenge he understood. But she’d had eons to get that. Why here and now?
All over some artifact? All that shit went over Jay’s head.
Yet, it made sense. So many wolves came and stayed as if stuck in Silvertail Ridge. Very few managed to leave. They generally wound up coming back, eventually.
He opened a damned bar, for Christ’s sake.
Canagan waltzed up to the counter with a devilish smirk. “I understand you’re now helping Nate.”
“He is not his father,” Jay growled, thankful they weren’t open.
“No, but not many have the stomach for cruelty Killian has. Still, Nate must die. Then, and only then will you become Alpha.”
“What makes you so sure of that?”
“An oracle has ensured that Nate’s death brings a newer better pack. That means his woman must die too.”
“I’m done playing your games, Canagan. You don’t want me to be Alpha. You knew he wasn’t dead. Why kill Nate?”
“You’re done?” she hissed, leaning over the bar.
He stepped out of her reach, but her magic followed. The pull was real, but he resisted thanks to his dual nature. A smile spread across his lips. “I don’t take your orders. Never have. Find someone else.”
“It’s begun. Choose wisely, Jay. If she’s already pulling your strings, it may be too late.”
“Savon hasn’t asked for anything.”
“Not yet. She will. Nate may claim the Alpha title, but Savon will rule you all with an iron fist.”
He hadn’t seen a damned thing to make him believe that. No, Canagan was far more likely to do that. “Get out of here,” Jay growled.
Her eyes widened and she dashed out of the bar, slamming the door.
Jay leaned against the counter. It felt good to tell the bitch no for once. Which lent worry to Savon’s ability to control the wolves, but she was more than a Sylvan Fae. And he didn’t get the sense she wanted to rule a bunch of werewolves.
He didn’t envy Nate. Poor bastard had his hands full with her. Though, he wished she had at least given him a real chance.
Nate had his…but Killian had stood in his way.
Oh, who was he fooling? Savon wasn’t going to choose him. She had history with Nate. And after her story, he couldn’t stand in their way.