His grandfather continued to glare at him for several more moments before letting out a beleaguered sigh. “If that’s the way you feel, then I doubt there’s anything I can say to change your mind. Fine, be with her if you feel like you need her around. Who knows, maybe she’ll make you a better leader. But she has to be at the bottom of the hierarchy. There are many other women on the list I gave you who are better suited for the top spots.”
Temper flaring anew, he looked away, trying to get it under control. Even the monster inside him, who hadn’t before cared about how many women Cody took on, found offense to his grandfather’s words.
“Pops,” Lindsey said quietly, speaking for the first time since he came in the room. “Cody has said many times that he doesn’t have any interest in having more than one woman. He meant it then, and he means it now when he says he only wants Olivia. Can’t we just leave him be to live his own life the way he sees fit?”
Pops sent her a disdainful look. “You’re a woman, Lindsey, with a woman’s soft sensibilities. You can’t be trusted to make a rational decisions, and you have no place in this discussion. But if you must butt in where you’re not welcome, then I’ll tell you that Cody doesn’t know what’s good for him. He doesn’t know what’s good for our people. It’s my job to guide him, and it’s my job to make those decisions for him if he can’t make them for himself.”
The leash on his temper he’d been just barely holding onto snapped when Pops talked to Lindsey like she was nothing, like she didn’t matter. His grandfather had never given her feelings and opinions much weight, but he’d never spoken to her like this.
Hell, he treated his dog with more respect than he did his own granddaughter.
“You will not speak to her like that,” he spat, the anger in his blood and the heavy weight of his beast flaring hotter. “Talk to me how you want, but she’s to be treated with the upmost respect at all times.”
“And just where is your respect for your elders, boy?”
“You’ll get that when you earn it, old man, and not a moment sooner. And you’re delusional if you ever think you can make me do your bidding. You tried to force my father into that, and look what happened. He’s dead because of you. My mother’s dead because of you. Your so-called superior decisions bring nothing but death and destruction upon this family, and it ends with me, do you understand?”
Chest heaving, he glanced at where his sister was staring with wide eyes. “I can’t stand to be in this house another minute. I suggest you leave, too. Spend the night at a friend’s house or something. Just get away from this conniving bastard. I’d rather you not be here while I’m gone.”
Lindsey nodded swiftly, rushing out of the room and up the stairs. Ignoring his grandfather, he slammed his water glass in the sink, not caring when it shattered into a thousand glistening shards. Leaving it there, he stalked out of the front door, letting it slam behind him.
He wouldn’t leave until his sister was on her way out too, but he couldn’t stand still, so he paced in front of his truck. Most of what his grandfather said was nothing he hadn’t heard before, in one variation or another. He always either ignored it or reiterated that he had no interest in multiple lovers, but this time, it’d been different.
This time, Pops attacked not only Olivia, but his sister, too. And it pissed him off to no end, because neither deserved it.
Lindsey flew out of the house with a bag hooked over her shoulder. Coming to a stop in front of him, she kissed his cheek. “Thank you for sticking up for me. I really appreciate it, more than you know, but don’t do it if it makes things worse for you. We both know his opinions on women. We’ve known since we were little. I’m not the one with a battle on my hands with him. You are.”
Her smile was encouraging and sad, all at once, as she walked to her car and slipped inside. Starting it up, she gave him a wave and then backed quickly out of the driveway.
Cody stared after her, long after her car disappeared, but he could feel eyes on him. Deciding the people watching had seen—or even heard—enough of a show already, he climbed in his truck and followed his sister out of the driveway.
He still had time before he was due at Olivia’s, so he drove aimlessly for a while, his mind a jumbled mess of thoughts and emotions.
He was still furious as fuck at his grandfather—both for the words he spoke about Olivia and Lindsey, but also at the way he was trying to force him into something he didn’t want. He’d always kept his cool with Pops, respecting his position in their family, and how much wisdom and life experience he could pass down.
And since his father was gone, Cody had craved guidance from a male figure who’d gone through the same things he was.
So what if they disagreed on a subject that became a major point of contention between them. That didn’t mean he couldn’t still learn from him.
But he knew the truth now. Anything Pops could teach him was everything Cody wanted to stay away from. He didn’t want to learn how to treat women like they were less than men, and he sure as fuck didn’t want to be forced down the same path his father had taken.
Like him, his dad hadn’t wanted anything more than one woman in his life. But he let Pops talk him into following the old ways, let him guilt him into it.
And look what happened to both of Cody’s parents because of that.
Cody wasn’t any of the things his grandfather accused his father of being. He wasn’t rebellious, weak, delusional, and he didn’t think he was better than his ancestors, or look down on them, because he wanted something different for himself.
His dad hadn’t been any of those things either—the difference was, Cody refused to break like his dad did.
He didn’t blame him for that, necessarily. He’d been the first of their people to buck tradition—or at least try to. He’d had no example to follow, or hell, even anyone to talk to about it who would understand his needs.
His father had been an amazing man in most respects, but in that, Cody had no intention on following in his footsteps.
And yes, maybe there were still things to be learned about leading a group of people like his. Centuries ago, two beasts blended together and created monsters in their wake, and while he felt like he knew enough to lead, he’d never been completely sure of his ability to do so.
Because while he was a monster just as they were, his beast wasn’t even remotely the same as his peoples’. He barely understood himself most days, and that left him unsure of his ability to understand the others.
But he had himself under control. He had no worries there. If he could do that, he could be the leader he was born to be.