FOUR THINGS happened during my fifteenth year.
Four things that would forever change the way I saw the world.
THE FIRST thing.
Thomas called me into his office. Elizabeth was sleeping upstairs. Mark was… I didn’t know where Mark was. Probably with Bethany. Osmond and the wolves from back East had been gone for days. The house was quiet, just the way I liked it.
So when Thomas called me into his office, I wasn’t expecting anything serious.
He motioned for me to close the door behind me. I did, and took a seat across from where he sat at his father’s desk.
“Gordo,” he said warmly. “How are you?”
“Fine,” I said. “But maybe cut the bullshit.”
He arched an eyebrow at me.
I shrugged.
“Remember when you were scared of me?” He flashed his eyes and snapped his teeth.
I laughed. “I was just a kid.”
“You’re still a kid.”
“I’m fifteen,” I said, puffing out my chest just a little.
“You are. And a pain in my ass.”
“You love me.”
“I do,” he said, and even though I wouldn’t say it, his words filled me with such a sense of pride that it almost took my breath away. He smiled, though, because he knew. He always knew. “Which is why I’ve brought you here. We need to talk. Man-to-man.”
That sounded good to me. I nodded. “I agree. Time to talk man-to-man.”
“I’m glad to hear that. What are your intentions with my brother?”
The sound I made would haunt me for years to come. Added to the fact that I started sputtering and that spittle shot out onto his desk, I was surprised he didn’t kick me out of his pack right then and there.
He didn’t, though. He just sat there, letting me drown, looking amused.
“What are you talking about?” I managed to say.
“My brother,” he said slowly, as if I was an idiot. Which, to be fair, I was offering no evidence to the contrary. “What are your intentions?”
“My intentions? What are you—oh my god, you can’t just—Thomas.”
“How curious your reactions are at the mere mention of Mark.”
“Not mentioning. Asking my intentions.”
“Right,” he said easily. “My apologies.”
“Damn right I get your apologies! What were you thinking?”
“That you’re his mate. And that you’ve kissed him. Twice.”
“That asshole!” I bellowed. “Where does he get off telling you—”