Wanda, stately as always, dressed in a red cowl-neck sweater and black trousers, ironed to within an inch of their life, held up her hand, as always, the calm in their crazy storm. “Nina, I’ll say this once.” She snapped her fingers under Nina’s nose. “Shut it.”
When Keegan’s secretary had called Mara up to his office, she hadn’t thought much of it until she’d gotten a slew of texts, one after the other, from Marty, Nina, and Wanda, all with the ominous words, “He knows.”
Apparently, Keegan had received an anonymous tip earlier this afternoon from someone who had details of Harry’s turn. Details she’d thought only the group knew about.
Whoever this person was, they knew everything about the night Harry had been accidentally accosted by Mara’s serum. The revelation left Mara not only stunned but petrified this same person was responsible for taking the children and Carl.
According to Keegan, “Anonymous” promised to reveal to the council what happened that night in the lab if he didn’t do it first.
Cue spooky organ music.
So with shaky words and trembling limbs, she’d confessed everything in the hopes that even if she went to pack prison, Keegan would be able to protect Carl, Harry, and the kids.
Marty sat at the edge of Keegan’s desk, her eyes filled with concern. She took a deep breath and addressed both Harry and Mara. “So like Nina said, we have trouble.”
Mara watched Harry stiffen, still so solid, still trying to keep their secret. “I don’t know what you mean,” he said, moving to stand behind Mara, placing a hand at her waist.
But he sucked at subterfuge as much as she did. His lie was written all over his adorable face. Mara put her hand at his wrist, fighting the possessive pride filling her heart. “It’s okay. Keegan knows about you, Harry. He knows I’m responsible for what happened to you.”
Harry looked at Keegan, his gaze direct. “It’s my understanding you’re the alpha male of your pack. What kind of action do you plan to take? Because while I don’t want to be disrespectful, or cross any employer-employee boundaries, I’m not letting you punish her for something that was an accident. You know what those are like. That’s how you ended up with Marty as your wife.”
Mara’s heart shifted and fluttered at Harry’s noble gesture. He might not always be terribly coordinated, but he was nothing if he wasn’t all about doing the right thing. She turned to him and patted his warm chest, ignoring the tear in his white shirt. “Harry? Someone tipped Keegan off anonymously. It’s not his fault he has to do what he has to do.”
Keegan, despite his anger, stuck out his hand. “We’ve met, Harry, on several occasions.”
Harry nodded, shaking Keegan’s hand before placing it back on Mara’s waist in a protective gesture. “We have.”
Keegan nodded, his head full of thick, dark hair. “You have children, right?”
Harry’s answer was guarded. “I do.”
“So then you know they’re always protected within the confines of the pack, correct?”
“It’s what I’ve been told, yes.”
“Then for the moment, I don’t want you to worry about their safety. It will be handled. We have other things to focus on.”
Harry stayed silent, really taking Nina’s “less is more” lecture to heart.
Keegan waved his finger at Mara with a shake of his dark head. His smile could have been tagged as ironic if his eyes weren’t filled with what smacked of betrayal. “You and that brain of yours.”
Yeah. Her and her big, big, brain with the big, big ideas.
She let her eyes fall to the floor, but her words were fierce. “I’ll just say this—I won’t apologize for wanting a family of my own. I won’t. I want children. So, so much,” her voice hitched, going gravelly and full of the emotion she’d tried too hard to keep to herself, before she cleared her throat and let her eyes meet Keegan’s. “The pack says I have to mate with my own kind if at all possible. But none of my kind was all that interested, and there weren’t many I was interested in either. So I took matters into my own hands. The only thing I regret is involving Harry and his children. But I’ll never regret making a choice that might not have been with my head, but was definitely with my heart.” End impassioned plea. She wouldn’t say she was sorry for something she was only half sorry for.
Keegan crossed the room, dragging her into a hug, making her eyes sting with tears. “Jesus, kiddo. What the hell am I supposed to do?”
She heard how torn he was, listened to the ragged release of his breath. Struggling out of his strong embrace, she cupped his jaw and patted it. “You’re supposed to treat me just like everyone else, Keegan. It’s the only way to keep the respect you’ve earned. Just because I’m the alpha’s sister doesn’t mean I get special treatment.”