Page 23

The door banged open.

Eira burst in, her cheeks flushed, eyes bright with fury. Bowen followed more quietly, a half-step behind her, brown-eyed and cautious, always his sister's protector.

"It's good she's gone," Eira said defiantly.

Blaidd blinked as if unable to believe what he was hearing.

"What did you say?"

"She wanted us out," Eira went on, voice rising now that she had begun. "She asked us to get out of our own house. And now she's gone, her tail tucked between her legs. Good riddance."

Maxen could feel the anger building at the audacity of this young pup. His wolf was close to the surface, wanting to grab her by the scuff of her neck and give her a good shake.

Blaidd stared at her like he couldn’t believe his ears. "You think this is a good thing? That it is good that she left me?"

"Yes," Eira snapped. "You never stayed home because of her. You were always leaving, always finding excuses to stay away. Everyone in the pack knows you can't stand her. And then she would be there with her annoying hovering, like she was waiting. Hmph!"

"Waiting for what?" Blaidd asked flatly.

"To take over," Eira shot back. "Like she could take Mom's place. At least now that she is gone, Rowena has a chance. I have seen how you look at her."

Bowen's gaze flicked to her and back to Blaidd.

"The way I look at Rowena?" Blaidd parroted.

Eira's mouth twisted. "At least she's honest. She looks so much like Mom, and she is so nice. You brought her in because of that. You want her—why else would you let her stay with us?"

Maxen looked at Blaidd, disbelief plain on his face.

"Am I hearing this right?" Maxen asked , his brows rising with disbelief.

Eira folded her arms, oblivious to the undercurrents. "Don't pretend you don't know…it's so obvious. Now that she is gone, maybe you both can be together."

Blaidd let out a short, incredulous breath.

"You think," he said slowly, "that I could want another woman while my moon-blessed lifemate still lived?"

Eira hesitated for a moment, as if sensing the danger in those words. But stupidity took over again. "Rowena said that some do…" she muttered.

"No," Blaidd said, his voice low and dangerous in its calm. "They don't."

Maxen spoke like he was talking to a toddler, "That's not how it works, Eira, not for wolves. We are not humans."

"You don't replace your lifemate," Blaidd continued, every word deliberate. "You don't choose another. You don't want anyone else. The bond doesn't allow it. And I don’t want anyone else."

Eira's confidence faltered, confusion flickering across her face. "Then why—"

"You will understand soon enough," Blaidd cut in. "But there is someone who deserves to hear my explanation first."

Bowen finally spoke, closing a hand over Eira's arm to stop her from talking. "Eira..."

She shook her head, suddenly defensive. "She is not our mom."

"No, she is not," Blaidd said sharply. "But she has done her best to be a mom to both of you. She stayed when I couldn't, and she gave you what I could not offer."

"She is the reason my mother is dead," Eira snapped. "She made Mother open the bunker—"

"Say that again," growled Blaidd.