“Okay. Well, where is your sister then? I’d like to confront her. You don’t treat people like they are trash. Didn’t anyone teach you guys manners?”
Olivia shrunk back at the hardening of Gianna’s features.
“He didn’t tell you yet? Figures. One more asshole man screwing shit up. The packs would be better off with a woman.” Gianna cocked her head. “I don’t think you’re much of a leader though either.” She smirked. “If you want to know about my sister, be my guest and try to find her. She left right after the baby was born. Haven’t seen her since. The baby for her freedom.”
Olivia opened and closed her mouth. “What kind of mom abandons her own child? Who gives the baby to some crazy person like that guy out there?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I don’t know, you stupid beta. I don’t think you understand the gravity of this at all.”
“Ethan, the pretty boy he is, is also the peacekeeper. So he shacks up with Heather thinking if they mated it would bring the clans together and our fathers would get over whatever the hell they were still fighting about. By the time Ethan figured out what the hell Heather was up to, my dad had already challenged his father. Are you following me? Both were the alphas for each pack. I can’t spell this out any clearer.”
Olivia tried to listen. But she didn’t focus well under pressure.
Gianna snapped her fingers. “Try and keep up here, little princess.”
“My name’s Olivia,” she spat.
Gianna waved her off.
“Well Ethan had been sneaking over the border—you know that big ravine you crossed—thinking he and dear sis were going to solve the whole family drama thing. She got pregnant, and in typical Heather fashion, she found a way to use everything to her advantage. She’s my dad through and through. Hates being tied down has everyone fooled until the last second. Long story short, dad goes after Ethan’s dad to challenge him for the right to his pack out of retribution for ruining Heather.”
Olivia knew she was gawking at this point. Poor Ethan. He didn’t seem vulnerable, but this story didn’t sound like the confident man he was around her.
“Believe me, Heather ruined herself long before. Hell, she ran off the second she could give that kid to Ethan. Or rather as soon as she could figure out how to use Pike blood for her own advantage.”
Some crash course. “What’s Pike blood?”
Gianna rolled her eyes and sniffed her. “You’re not from around here, are you? Are you even a born wolf? Pike blood. The Pike Valley pack.”
”Sorry.”
“Yeah. You’re some upgrade from Heather. Whatever. Alphas have to beat the existing Alphato lay claim. His dad lost to my dad, then he beat my dad. The asshole that was in here though?”
“Kurt?”
“Yeah him. He bends the rules. There was no way for him to beat Ethan. So instead of following pack law, Kurt thought he could barter his way into the alpha position. Ethan’s daughter for Kurt to get the Ashburn pack.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
Gianna shrugged. “I’m tired. My father was an abusive asshole and Kurt isn’t any better. Until our alpha steps up, nothing will change. I hate Ethan for walking away, but I hate Kurt even more.”
Ethan might be exactly what she’d thought. He was a good man. A little misguided. A little impulsive, but he was what you saw. He never claimed to be any different.
Once she got out of this, Olivia vowed to let go of the notion that all men would let you down.
“If what all you say is true, why am I here? I haven’t done anything to you. I don’t see why you’re being so rude.” Olivia said, trying to relax her muscles.
Gianna settled in, her torn jean shorts showing a lot of skin, but not nearly as much as Olivia. She eyed Gianna and assumed the woman was one of those natural super-models.“Kurt wasn’t lying. You’re bait. The tent is the best way we could think of to make sure Ethan finds you. Well, the tent was my idea. He wanted to tie you to a tree. I’m at the point that one of them needs to kill the other. I either want to be free from Kurt or at least have him stop acting like we’re fighting a war. Our pack is a bunch of morons, and I’m tired of it.”
“You’re okay with him dying?”
Olivia knew she was poking at Gianna.
“Don’t you ever say that. I take care of mine. Kurt has a vendetta. He wants to be the alpha. I suppose he thinks you are the advantage he needs to beat Ethan. I just want this pack to survive. Kurt couldn’t love anyone if he tried.”
Olivia chewed her lower lip. “Is that how this all works? Kill or be killed? Ethan’s brother said something about how a pack needs balance and I was it. Or they implied that. Can’t someone just balance out Kurt?”
Instant regret had her shying away.
“Two minutes in our world and you think you know it all? Is that what you think mating is? Marriage? Just finding someone?”
“Well, no.”
“Marriage anyone can do at any time to anyone. Marriage is some stupid thing humans do to feel a connection deeper than lust. Mating is what your soul deep need is. The answer to your deepest darkest desires and fears. And you can’t just choose it. Animals know by instinct who they are meant to be with. It’s in our blood, in our souls, an ancient magic to control the rage and passion that fuels us.”
Gianna got up to leave. “You better hope for your sake that this bond is strong and that mate of yours is stronger. Tonight, you walked right in and gave Kurt the opportunity he needed.”
As Gianna walked out, Olivia sat in darkness, a paralyzing regret gnawing at her. What had she done?
Chapter 14
“We have
