“What’d they do, try to tell someone about how you were abusive? That why you killed them?”
His ruddy skin paled slightly, but he didn’t seem surprised by my harsh words.
“Come inside. That’s a cold wind.”
I didn’t feel it. I didn’t feel much of anything but my hatred for him. The one who made me. Whose blood flowed through my veins.
Fuck me, it was the blood I’d pass down to any pups we had with Rachel. Because the we in that thought was me. Cord couldn’t have kids. Only I could. How did I tell Rachel I didn’t want to pass on any of my messed up DNA?
He turned and strode toward the house, expecting me to follow. His dog stayed and growled at me, but Harlan snapped, “Come, Dolly.” She immediately stood and raced to his side.
Fuck.
Well, I’d come this far. I wasn’t going to leave now. He knew that.
I entered his house, the wood-burning stove heating the main room. The furniture was old, but well-maintained. It was clear he lived alone. There were no photos on the walls. No mementos. From where I stood, I could see into the dated kitchen, and a hint of a bathroom off to the right. There was a short hallway where I assumed the bedroom was. I doubted there was a basement, and no stairs led to a second floor.
Harlan grabbed a log from the small pile in the corner, opened the door to the stove, and tossed it in. It crackled and the scent of wood filled the room. There was no TV but a book was on the table, as well as a pair of reading glasses. Shelves lining the wall were filled with paperbacks.
Funny, I wouldn’t have guessed a violent wolf shifter would be a reader.
“What’s your name?” Harlan asked, moving around the sofa and to a recliner. He dropped into it and held out a hand for me to take a seat.
I set my hat on the coffee table and settled on the far side of the couch.
“Nash.”
“You look just like me.” He couldn’t stop staring.
I could only nod.
“What made you come now, after all this time?” he asked.
“All this time? I didn’t fucking know you existed until a few days ago. Hell, I didn’t even know I was from Two Marks,” I replied, meaning the pack.
“Where have you been?”
“Montana. With my grandparents.”
“Cathryn’s parents? All this time? Fates—” His eyes widened and he went white. “Were you in the car?” he choked. “How did you survive the crash?”
My eyes narrowed to slits. I dragged short breaths through my flared nostrils. “So you were there,” I said. I wanted to yell at him. Beat him up. Kill him for harming my parents. But no. That aggression was his aggression. I couldn’t feed it. I didn’t want to become him.
Harlan still looked pale, like he was going to be sick. “Yeah, I was there.” His voice cracked.
I huffed. My blood boiled, and I struggled to sit still. “Were you trying to kill me, too?”
“I didn’t mean to kill anyone!” he shouted, his eyes flashing silver.
I felt my wolf answer his, my vision sharpening and doming as my eyes probably changed to the same exact color. I could tear him limb from limb right now at the slightest provocation. Or shift, and tear his throat out with my fangs.
Except Harlan’s eyes had already flashed back to blue, and I realized what I saw on his face wasn’t rage or violence.
It looked more like anguish.
“I didn’t know you existed, son.”
“Don’t call me son,” I gritted, my hands curled into fists. “My mother hid my existence from you. When you came to Wolf Ranch, she probably gave me to my grandparents to hide from you. Whatever you did, she clearly didn’t want you to be my father, and that sure as hell won’t change now.”
“I hurt her, it’s true.” Harlan appeared haunted. “I hurt them both. But I didn’t mean to.”
“What did you do?” In an effort to keep control, I lowered my voice to barely more than a harsh whisper.
Harlan stared at me for a long moment. Then he said, “You stink of a human female.”
At the mention of my mate, I wanted to tear his head off. I surged to my feet. “You’ll speak with respect about my mate, or I’ll break every bone in your body.”
Harlan also rose, but he appeared more alarmed than ready to war with me. “Your mate is human?” That haunted look returned to his face. “Fuck. And you haven’t marked her yet, have you?”
My sight sharpened to wolf vision again. “Shut your fucking mouth about my mate!” My wolf was barely in check, the need to protect my mate was so strong. Thank Fate I refused to let Rachel come along today, or Harlan would already be dead.