“Yes, well. Wow. I don’t know what to say.”
“I get it. You weren’t ready to have kids.”
Much to her surprise, Malcolm laughed.
“Come here and sit down so we can talk. I’m going to tell you the truth about what I was doing out there on the road when I found you.”
Autumn looked at him, puzzled, but followed him to the sofa and sat listening quietly as he told her about trying to find a mate to have a litter with to become the new Alpha.
“Then I met you and everything changed. It no longer seems so important to be Alpha. All I’ve been able to think about since I met you is what sort of life we could have together.”
“But is that possible?”
“I don’t know. We can try. Can’t we?”
“I just don’t want to be a burden to you, and this thing, this situation with you needing to find an Omega to reproduce with, is shot if you bring home a bear.”
“Perhaps, but I am willing to give that up for you. I don’t care if you are an Alpha and a bear.”
“I’m not an Alpha. I am an Omega, just not a wolf Omega.”
Malcolm looked at her, seeming to digest all of this for a moment. Finally, he spoke again, maintaining eye contact as he did so.
“Then we will go and see if my pack is willing to accept a bear Omega in their midst, even if they do deny me the position as Alpha.”
“And if they say no?”
“Then we will go wherever we have to go to keep you and whatever children we have from your clan.”
“That’s the other thing. What sort of children will we have, Malcolm? You’re a wolf and I’m a bear. What if they are some sort of...? I don’t know—freaks?”
“I’m sure they won’t be. Surely, we can’t be the only cross-species shifters in the history of our kind. We’ll ask the elders. They’ll help us.”
“I hope you’re right. They could just as easily shun us.”
“Then they shun us. As long as they give us the answers we need first. I’ve been a loyal member of my pack for all my life. They owe me at least that much.”
“Okay. Let’s do this, then.”
The two of them loaded up the car and headed out for Malcolm’s house. Once they were situated inside, Malcolm had an idea.
“Call your mom and see what she knows about all this. We might learn something we need to know.”
“Good idea.”
Autumn dialed her mother’s number and listened as the call rang on the other end. There was a good chance her father was home, but she wasn’t sure she cared anymore. He had let men who meat to rape and kill her come there. What sort of man was he, really?
“Hello?” her mother said quietly into the phone.
“Mom, can you talk?”
“Yes, for a few minutes. Your father is talking to the Alpha.”
“In his element,” Autumn replied sarcastically.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine, Mom. Have you heard anything else about me from Trevor?”
“Trevor? Oh, no. He told everyone you are dead, killed on your brother’s bike. He told them that he had you cremated and spread across the water per your wishes.”
“And they bought that?”
“Maybe. Who knows, but they aren’t going to cross him.”
“So, no one is looking for me anymore?”
“No, honey. Why would they be? Trevor and a couple of his boys left, but they were headed out to Ontario to meet up with some rival clan. They are hoping to reach peace with them.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s all the talk of the clan. They’re glad to see pack leaders trying to make some peace with our enemies. Since they think you’re dead, they’ve already betrothed Trevor to that Becky Bradley. I don’t think she’s any happier about it than you were.”
“I bet she isn’t,” Autumn said.
Little did Becky know just how lucky she was. She would now be the bride to be that was left behind. She would be able to marry whomever she chose without reservation, but only after waiting the appropriate period of time. It was good news for Becky, who was barely eighteen herself. She’d be able to use the time to go to school or whatever she chose, and since Trevor was never coming back, she’d move on with her life however she wished.
“I wish you could come home, honey. Maybe when all this is settled into the dust, I can find a way to come see you without anyone knowing.”
“I’d like that, Mom. I’d really like that. I have to go. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she replied.
Autumn ended the call and lay the phone down on a nearby table, looking up at Malcolm.
“I think it’s over.”
“How so?”
“It seems Trevor lied to the clan. He told them he was headed east to Ontario to talk peace talks with a rival clan; I’m guessing the White Claws.”