Faegan’s smarmy grin faded.“Growing this pack isallthat matters.And we can’t do that if non-shifters like you waste breeding opportunities with good shifter bitches.I specifically told you that you can have any girl you want in this pack who isn’t a shifter or who comes from non-shifting parents.But your seed willnotbe sullying a proper shifter womb.”
Donnel honestly thought he would be sick.He sobbed as Faegan roughly grabbed her upper arm and dragged her toward the stairs.
“Take him over to the cottage and keep him there until after dawn,” Faegan ordered without looking back.
Hyacinth cried as Faegan dragged her off and she cast one last look over her shoulder at Donnel.
“I love you,” she mouthed as Faegan’s men literally picked Donnel up and carried him out of the house, the two of them far stronger than him.
Decades later…
Donnel kept his hands in his pockets so he didn’t fidget as he watched his brother.Faegan currently sat at his desk with his back to Donnel and stared through the window, which looked out over the house’s spacious gardens.
After an agonizingly long time, Faegan swiveled his chair around to face Donnel.
“You think you can convince him to do it?”Faegan asked.
“I know I can.But he will demand assurances from you.”
Faegan leaned back in the chair and sucked his teeth.You’d never know the man’s two sons died only months ago in the Blitz.He hadn’t reacted with the slightest bit of grief, only irritation—and anger—that now he needed new heirs.
And Hyacinth could no longer bear children.
“But her parents aren’t shifters,” Faegan finally said.
“Her older sister who married a wolf shifter?She gave birth twice, both shifter pups.Check it out for yourself.”
Faegan’s nose wrinkled.“I never should’ve allowed that mating.I had no idea she’d have pups with one ofthem.Much less shifter pups.”
“But she did.And the point I’m making is that his parents weren’t shifters, either.But he is.And, again, their pups are shifters.Even with shifter parents, you can’t guarantee pups will be shifters.Look at me, for instance.”
Faegan arched an eyebrow at him.“Yeess,” he drawled.“Look atyou.Such a waste.”He laced his fingers behind his head.“Why are you so eager to arrange this?I thought you enjoyed that little slut?And here you are, offering her to me?”
Donnel already hated himself enough.He forced his brain to compartmentalize and keep the larger picture in focus.“I wanted to make sure she was loyal to the pack, and she is.”
“But she won’t want me.”
That’s for sure.
But that’s not what Donnel said.
“Callum can guarantee that for you.Who wouldn’t want to be the Pack Alpha’s mate?”
Faegan cocked his head.“And you’rereallyokay with this?”
“You said that night that I could have her back when she couldn’t have more pups.Well, she can’t, and you need new heirs.I’m offering you an even better deal now.”
“And youstillwant her?”Faegan looked genuinely confused.
Donnel dodged that comment.“Allow this, and I will let you buy me out.I will take Hyacinth, leave for America, and we will never return.We will never talk about you.We will create new identities and claim our pack was all killed in the Blitz.You will get a new mate, and Callum can make her forget her past and ensure her obedience.”
“Yes, but what about her family?”
“You can easily take care of them, I’m certain.”
Faegan briefly scowled before cackling.“Oh!That’s cold, even for you!”
He shrugged.“She won’t remember them.And no great loss there, anyway.”Donnel knew her father had made a habit of diddling the young boys he hired to help him on his farm, and her mother actively looked the other way.
