“Nobody knows except for Bryce. For obvious reasons, I’ve never told another living soul.”
“Your dad,” I start.
“My mom’s pack killed him after they found out that my mom was pregnant with his baby. They tracked him down.” His jaw flexes. “They kicked my mom out of the pack. She had me and tried to raise me on her own.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Bryce’s dad found out about us and let us come live with their pack. His only rule was that we could never tell anybody what I was. I’ve kept that rule to this day. Bryce found out when his father turned the pack over to him, but no one else has ever known.”
“Your mom?” I ask softly.
“She died when I was a teen. I don’t think she ever really recovered from everything she went through.”
"I’m so sorry.” I don’t say anything for a moment. “Hunter, did your father,” I pause, realizing how awful my question is.
“He didn’t force my mother. She loved him, at least that’s what she told me.”
“I can’t wrap my brain around any of this.” He doesn’t say anything. I finally meet his eyes. “This changes everything.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Vampires and shifters can—”
“No, they can’t. They’re two different species; they can never be together.” His words burn through me; his words feel like a slap in the face. I take a step back. “I shouldn’t exist,” he says.
“And yet you do,” I tell him, seriously questioning everything right now. A terrible thought hits me. “Hunter, Rizo can never know what you are.” His dark gaze meets mine, but he doesn’t say anything. “If he knew that vampires and wolves could procreate?” A sick feeling burns through me. “He can never know.”
The front door opens, and I turn to see Ava and Bryce come in. “Oh, so you’re both alive. Good to know,” Ava says dryly.
Bryce stands beside Ava, and his gaze flicks between the two of us. “You good?” he asks Hunter. I’m suddenly glad Bryce knows. It’s not fair for Hunter to have to carry that secret alone his entire life.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sherese
When Hunter doesn’t say anything, I turn to him. He meets my gaze for just a moment and then turns to Bryce. “Yeah.”
Ava turns on Hunter. “What in the world, Hunter? Were you after a death wish, going against Garrett like that? You’re going to make an enemy of the entire pack.”
“Let it go, Ava,” I tell her in a calm voice.
“You’re defending him?” she asks, eyes wide. “He tried to murder the Northwoods Pack alpha. And may I please remind everybody that he’s literally the alpha of all alphas in the country. You can’t just get angry and snap like that.”
Anger on his behalf courses through me because I’ve been there. I’ve had it happen when you get so mad, you don’t even realize what you’re doing, when the vampire part of you is driving you so hard. “Let it go, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Bryce moves next to Ava, eyes flashing in warning. I feel a presence at my back and know it’s Hunter. I don’t know if he’s defending me or backing Bryce up. “And what happened to you after the fight? Why did Hunter whisk you off like that? We were waiting for you to come back, so we could celebrate with you. And you just disappeared.”
“I couldn’t come over there.”
“Why not?” Ava pushes. “Rose and Samantha flew in just for this fight, and Sage, who never comes to the fights, came. They were all there for you, and you just blew them off. You’re one of us; you should have come over when you got done so we could celebrate with you.”
I snap. “No, I’m not. You keep trying to act like there’s no difference between us. There is, Ava! I’m not one of you. I’ll never be one of you!”
“That’s not true.”
“I’m not human! Stop acting like I am!” She flinches at my words, and Bryce is done. I don’t wait for him to say something; I just walk past both of them and head outside. I stare into the woods in frustration. I wish I didn't have these stupid boots on, so I could just go for a run. The front door opens, and I turn away. I don’t want to deal with anybody right now. I know without looking that it’s Hunter. Knowing what I know now about his heritage, it makes sense why I can always sense him. I don’t say anything because I don’t know what to say. I wish I had a place to escape to; I just want to be alone.
“Here.” I glance at what he’s holding. “Figured you could go for a run.” I take my sneakers from him.
