Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
They kept moving until they got back to his parents’ house. His father closed the door, and then he rounded on him.
“What the fuck was that, Dad?” he asked.
William looked at him.
Joe stared down at his hands.
“Explain to me what happened,” William ordered.
In the past when his father had given him an order, he followed, no questions asked. He didn’t debate it or wait to follow the order. This was different, though, and he knew that.
“Wade and Ryan were just being themselves and then they started to talk shit about Darcy, and I lost it. They insulted her, and…”
“You reacted.” William nodded. “Well, that does make me feel a little better.”
“It does?”
“Yes, you were provoked. You had a reason. Admittedly, the pack is probably thinking you’re a little unstable because none of them know about you and Darcy.”
Joe sighed. “We’re going to have to tell them, aren’t we?” he asked.
“I’m afraid so.”
“And son, you did show alpha today.”
“Do you need me to leave?” Joe asked.
“No, I don’t need you to leave. Do you think you’re going to be the first man to show leadership? Your grandfather taught me, and I will teach you. The only mistake you made today was you didn’t control it. When you don’t, you make mistakes.”
Joe didn’t like this feeling. “Darcy saw me. What if I scared her?”
“You go and see her first, tell her the problem, and then you deal with Wade and Ryan. Once that’s all done, we’ll address the pack, and I’ll handle the rest.”
This didn’t make Joe feel any better. He loved his time with Darcy. Once the pack knew, he didn’t know what would change, and he didn’t like it.
****
“Thank you, Darcy. This is really sweet of you.”
“I know Andrew loves his brownies,” Darcy said, handing over the baked goods. Kelly looked exhausted. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just trying to help Andrew.”
“Is he up in his room?”
Kelly nodded. “He doesn’t like that he wasn’t strong.”
Darcy reached out and placed a hand on Kelly’s arm. “You know it’s always hard the first time.”
“I know but his dad…” Kelly stopped and took a breath. “His dad was supposed to be there with him, you know.”
“Did he even know?” Darcy asked.
“Yeah, he knew, and he couldn’t make it.” Kelly shook her head and Darcy saw the tears fill her eyes.
She pulled Kelly in for a hug, holding onto her. “I’ve got you.”
“I don’t want to cry. I don’t want to cry.” But it was already too late. Kelly burst into tears and held onto Darcy.
She didn’t let go. She had a feeling Kelly needed someone to hold, to comfort her, and she did the best she could.
“This is so bad.” Kelly pulled away.
Darcy had a wet patch on her shirt but she didn’t care. Looking at Kelly, she saw the tissues, and held them up to the other woman.
“I thought I had shed all the tears I could, but I find over the years there are still tears left to cry.”
“It will be okay,” she said.
Kelly laughed. “Yeah, it will, I know it will, but apart from my kids, I wish I did what you did.”
Darcy frowned.
Kelly sighed. “I don’t mean to offend or upset you.”
She smiled at the other woman. “I’m not upset or offended.”
“You … didn’t fall in love with a guy. You waited and you … I know what they say about you. How you’re boring and you live a boring life, but trust me, Darcy, you did the right thing. I love my kids. They are everything to me, but I can’t change the fact that this is hard. My son is upstairs hating himself, and it’s all because of his dad. He thinks he’s weak and that he’s a failure.”
There was a knock at the door and Kelly groaned.
“Would you like me to get it?” Darcy asked.
“Would you mind?”
“Of course not.” She got to her feet and went to the door, surprised to find Joe on the other side. “Joe?”
“I, ugh, I wanted to apologize to you and we really need to talk. I wouldn’t have interrupted your trip—”
Darcy took his hand. “You don’t need to apologize, but I do need you to do something for me.” She pulled him into the house.
“Darcy?”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “Kelly’s son went through his first transition last night and it was bad. His dad was supposed to come and help guide him but he didn’t turn up, and it looks like he won’t.”
“That’s shit.”
“You had a bad time. Could you go and talk to him?” she asked.
Joe looked toward the staircase. “This is kind of alpha territory.”
“You’re young,” Darcy said. “And you’ve been through it and you’re the alpha’s son. He needs this and so does Kelly.”
They heard her sobbing.
Joe looked toward the stairs and then to her. “I’ll do it, but you have to come with me.”