“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice gentle. “What happened?”
“Mom died in a car accident. Her car veered off the road and burst into flames.”
I stroked her back in a soothing caress.
“That must have been traumatic.”
“It was.” She sighed. “I was twelve. At that age, I needed my mom the most, and she was there one day and gone the next.” Her voice cracked at the end.
I lifted her into my arms and carried her to the kitchen. I settled her on the bench top and set the kettle on the stove. After filling two mugs with hot cocoa, I handed one to her.
“Did they ever find out why her car went off the road?”
“No.” Her scarlet lips thinned.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
She sipped the mug. “It was suspicious, but our alpha wouldn’t investigate the car crash. He brushed Mom’s death under the rug and said it was an accident.”
The hackles on my neck rose even when I hadn’t shifted into my wolf form.
“What’s your alpha’s name?”
“Carl Wade.”
“I haven’t heard of him. Where are you from?”
“A long way from here.” She placed the half-empty mug on the counter.
“Kara, tell me.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why? So, you can tell him I’m here?”
“Shouldn’t I?” I raised an eyebrow. “Alphas are responsible for all members of their pack.”
She snorted. “No, you shouldn’t. I won’t stay here if you tell him.”
“Are you trying to blackmail me?” I scowled.
“No. I’m stating a fact. If any of my pack learns I’m here, then I need to leave.”
“Kara, what the hell is going on? What are you so afraid of in your pack?”
“It’s not what. It’s who.”
“Who then?”
She picked up the mug and gulped the warm contents before whispering, “The alpha’s son.”
Chapter Eight
Kara
A shudder wracked my body just thinking of Garth and remembering how he’d choked my dad to death in front of me. The icy chill grew inside me even though the house was toasty warm with the fire. I jumped off the counter and walked to the fireplace, placing my palms open to the roaring flames. Being naked in front of Titus didn’t matter to me now that he’d claimed me, but talking about what I was running from was a different nakedness. My wounds were raw. They hadn’t healed over the years of my running.
Titus followed me. As I knew he would. He draped a fluffy gray blanket around my shoulders. I tugged the corners together as he gave me a moment of staring at the flickering orange flames before demanding more from me.
“What’s his name, and what did he do to hurt you?”