“Is the cat sanctuary nearby?” She hoped Erin wouldn’t realize the real reason for the question. “I’d love to see it.”
“We’re eleven miles from the sanctuary, which is twenty-six miles northeast of Denver. Did Jake blindfold you on the way out here?”
Heather felt heat spread across her cheeks. Were all cats this perceptive? “I fell asleep.”
“Well, you’re welcome at the sanctuary anytime. If you want a guided tour, call ahead and I’ll make sure someone is free to show you around.”
They sat on the sofa and Heather pivoted so she could see Erin more easily. It was hard to believe this vivacious woman was Devon’s mother. Erin’s hair was lighter but they had the same rich-green eyes. Erin also had a son, Kyle. Though Heather had heard a lot about him, they had never met.
“First of all, I wanted to update you on Dhane,” Erin began. “He has successfully shifted several times and he’s arguing with Landon. Whenever brothers start snapping at each other, I stop worrying. There doesn’t appear to be any lasting damage from his exposure to the formula.”
“Thank you. I’ve been worried about him.”
“Of course you have. He’s your baby brother. It’s your job to worry about him.”
“Has Landon succeeded in recruiting Dhane or is he still determined to go home?”
Erin’s brows arched and challenge sharpened her gaze. “What makes you think Dhane was determined to go home? I didn’t realize you’d spoken to him since all this happened.”
Heather shifted restlessly on the couch, uncomfortable beneath Erin’s unflinching stare. “Dhane is loyal to pack. He will not betray his alpha.”
“What do Therian wolves do when they disagree with their alpha? Do they have any recourse or is the alpha’s will law?”
“You might not understand our customs but they have served us well for thousands of years. Without pack, we are nothing.” Repeating the familiar words made Heather feel empty and alone. It had been so long since she believed what she’d been taught as a child, it felt hypocritical to defend the concepts.
“If you honestly feel that way, why did you run?”
Emotion burned in Heathers throat and tears filled her eyes. She stubbornly blinked them back, refusing to reveal weakness in front of another cat. “I have always been loyal to pack. I bowed to my alpha’s will and still…” She turned her head, unable to maintain her composure while looking into Erin’s eyes. Heather saw compassion there, but she also saw pity and she did not want pity from anyone. “It was a personal choice, one that had been building for years.”
“If people are content and fulfilled within the traditional structure of pack or feline clan, we encourage them to stay. We are not trying to abolish centuries of Therian tradition. But we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to find happiness and contentment.”
Heather shook her head and corralled her emotions. If Erin wanted a logical debate, Heather would be happy to oblige her. “How can the two coexist when the new concepts countermine the traditions?”
“We are not asking that everyone adopt our ideas and values. We simply want an opportunity to apply a code of conduct to our lives that is less steeped in ritual than the Therian Charter. If people still want to follow the rules laid out in the Charter, that’s entirely up to them.”
“As long as they don’t interfere with your new ‘code of conduct’?”
“Yes. Think about it this way. Laws vary from state to state. At times state laws contradict laws of other states. This doesn’t make either of the laws less valid. They’re just different. That’s what we’re trying to establish. Those who want to continue on beneath the strictures of the Charter can do so. But we want, no, we insist on being allowed to establish a set of rules that makes sense to us.”
Heather said nothing as she considered the concept. Humans had taken advantage of a similar idea for centuries. The political foundations of California and Texas couldn’t be more different and yet they were both part of the same United States. Was that really what the rebels wanted or was this their way of sneaking in and taking over?
“Regardless of how you justify the split, the traditionalists will see it as betrayal.”
Erin reached over and squeezed Heather’s hand. “Your father might see it as betrayal, but what do you gain by remaining loyal to pack? Has your pack protected you from harm? Has your father—”
“Leave my father out of it.” Heather scooted to the edge of the couch. She’d earned the right to second-guess her father’s choices. The cats had not. “I’m here so I obviously disagree with his approach. I don’t want to dissect his leadership style.”