Chapter 35

Renee

“Thank you,” I whispered. He took my hand and squeezed gently. Then, he left his bag beside me.

He turned to leave, and I caught Arielle watching him with the kind of interest that made me incredibly nervous.

“Brooding, protective hero, hm? He's perfect for you. Keep your heels and you dress clean. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

She helped me up. Someone else grabbed my bag and she steered me to her car, brushing off the EMTs who had just arrived.

“You’re pathetically late.”

She got me into the back of her car, laid across the backseat, the man with the kit climbed in on the other side and started fussing over me. Arielle slipped in and closed the door beside him. Seconds later, the man dropped the bag and his hands started to glow. I gasped feeling his magic drift through him as Arielle opened her phone.

When the healing was done, the man offered me a package of wet wipes that smelled like they’d come from a spa and let me clean my face in the mirror he held for me. I was trying to find something to say, still reeling from everything that had happened, but Arielle looked completely unfazed, like she just finished a yoga session instead of coming to my rescue.

She was scrolling through her phone with one hand and sipping a sparkling water with the other. She glanced over at me and cocked an eyebrow.

“You’re not drinking?”

I blinked and frowned. She nodded to my left as I sat up and I realized that the medic, healer, had poured me a glass of something and set out snacks. It was... the most bizarre thing, but I picked up the glass and drank.

The taste prodded at my memories and made me almost melt with a deep sense of comfort.

“I was expecting a call,” she said casually, eyes still on her screen.

I blinked. “What?”

“When that idiot kicked you out of Frostborne. I figured the moment your name disappeared from the registry, you’d come running to Mountainhowl.” She finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. “Imagine my surprise to hear your guardianship had been given to Brightclaw of all places?”

I didn’t know what to say. That I’d been confused? Heartbroken? Too busy surviving to reach out? That I hadn’t even thought it was an option? I didn’t have a way to contact her or anyone.

I would have maybe done so ages ago if I had...

“Good thing I didn’t wait. Brilliant move suing Philip. Auntie would be proud.” The name hit me like cold water. Arielle smirked. “You’ve got the whole pack ready to ambush and annex Frostborne, and we haven’t done annexing in centuries.” She laughed. “Grandfather’s absolutely pissed.”

My mouth opened, but I couldn’t find a single response that wouldn’t sound like I had amnesia. Which, I guess, was close enough to the truth.

I tried to sound neutral. “He deserved it.”

Arielle’s grin widened. “That and more, of course.”

She leaned back, tapping her nails on the armrest. “And dodging that whole Tyler mess? I don’t have the details about exactly what went down there, but I know enough about that little gremlin to know he’s an asshole and was never worth your time. A blatant cheater, too. It would have been a waste of your potential to tie yourself to him...”

I gave a weak laugh. “Wish I’d realized that a little sooner.”

“Everyone wishes to avoid the wrong turn. It’s more important that you redirect yourself and learn from it before plummeting to your death off a cliff.”

My heart stuttered for a beat. If only she knew that I very much already had. I shuddered.

“There’s a blanket in the armrest.”

I blinked at her , but sure enough there was. I drew it around myself.

“Lord Blackfang is an interesting character... Handsome, too.”

“Arielle, please...”

She shrugged. “It is a bit soon. I heard that you had feelings for the little coward.... If you’d like I’ll have him held so you can break a few limbs.”

“That... is not necessary.” She sighed, lifting her drink in cheers. “I suppose not every mountain must howl. Very well. In either case, I am proud of you, Renee,” she added, surprisingly soft. “You’ve grown up well.”

I didn’t feel proud. My life was only getting back on track because of Dominic. It was... crazy that in my past life I had never really looked critically at how reliant I was on so many people who could and would betray me.

The growing urge to scrape and clutch on to any bit of independence and security was maddening. My hands shook. I felt like I was walking through a house someone else built with my name on the mailbox waiting for the eviction notice.

“Thanks,” I said anyway.

Arielle reached out and took my hand. “One day you will believe it.” She pat my hand. “Now, when are you coming to Mountainhowl?”

I blinked. “What?”

She shrugged. “You’ve got a place there. You’re one of us. I figure it’s time.”

I stared at her.

This woman—this terrifying, composed, casually violent woman—was offering me a place with Mountainhowl. Had Dominic talked to the alpha already? It didn’t seem like it. A large, terrified part of me wanted to say yes despite knowing that pack didn’t always mean safety.

“You want me to come to Mountainhowl?” I asked slowly, trying not to sound like someone who just got punched in the face… again.

Arielle tilted her head, expression unreadable. “Why do I hear shock in your voice?”

I hesitated. “I didn’t think I was welcome. I mean… I always thought that side of the family didn’t—”

“Let me guess,” she cut in sharply, lips flattening. “Your father made it sound like we wanted nothing to do with you.”

I didn’t say anything. Which was apparently enough of an answer.

Arielle muttered a curse under her breath and pulled her phone out again. “If he weren’t in custody, I’d be breaking his ribs...” She sighed. “The Panel’s laws gave him sole custody after your mother’s death... he all but held you ransom from us, and grandfather had you watched as much as possible.”

I looked down and sipped from my glass, realizing it was some sort of spring water. Her phone buzzed before I could respond. She glanced at it, sighed, and gestured to the driver.

“Duty calls. But I’m serious, Renee. Call me. I mean it.” She tapped something into her phone and a second later, mine buzzed with a new contact. “Whatever you need—money, muscle, advice on who to punch—just ask. I’ve got you. Now, where are you staying?”

The car drifted down the street. “At one of my mom’s properties.... do you… do you know how to drive?”

Arielle smirked, “Anything with wheels or wings. Why?”

Dominic

I adjusted my cufflinks as I walked into my office, still reading over the preliminary roster of incoming spring interns. They hadn’t gotten through the interview process yet, but it was interesting to see who was applying across the system of companies Brightclaw owned and operated. A few names stood out. Some were promising. Some were clearly inserted through strings pulled by prominent packs. I’d be interested to see how many of them would pass.

My assistant, Hunter Cho, was already inside, sipping his usual bitter black coffee and holding an electronic tablet like it was the Testament of the Goddess. He’d been my father’s assistant since after my mother had died. A warm, no-nonsense paternal man with a head for business.

“Good morning, sir,” Hunter said, then gave me a long, unreadable look.

I raised a brow. “What’s that look?”

“It’s time, my alpha,” he said, plainly. “I’m retiring."

“As in... today?”

He chuckled. “You are not that bad... your brother would have garnered such treatment from me.”

I chuckled at that. “I promise not to tell him that whenever he gets back from... wherever he went this time.”

He nodded. “Before the summer. My daughter just had twins. I want to be there before they get old enough to think I’m just the weird guy who smells like peppermint and lectures them about posture.”

I snorted at that. “Somehow, I don’t think you’re the kind of grandpa.” I nodded, already feeling the migraine forming. “So you’re giving me—what—three months?”

“Closer to four. Plenty of time to train someone with a working brain and basic manners.”

“You’re assuming such a person exists.”

He smirked. “Your father had the same attitude and he found me. We’ll find one. I’ll have a short list of preferred qualifications by the end of the week so we can start narrowing it down.” He titled his head. “Though I would have preferred to be training your new wife...”

Renee’s face flashed through my mind. My face heated. My blood boiled and I did my best to scowl at him. We were not having that conversation again. He shrugged. Before I could respond, my private line rang with the Brightclaw territory code.

It was Tyler’s father. “I’m calling about your… pet project. The Caldwell girl. I’m having her arrested for assault of my daughter.”