“And what did my parents say?” I asked, already knowing what the answer would have been.
“No.” Darrell laughed harshly. “Not only did your dad say no, he smacked that pup a good one for even thinking about forcing you into a mating you didn’t want. He said forced matings were outlawed centuries ago and threatened to go to the Tribunal if the Kirkpatricks didn’t let the matter drop.”
“And why did they come to you?” I asked.
Darrell’s eyes lifted to mine, the malevolence in them making my flesh prickle. “They knew I wanted the pack,” he replied with a shrug. “It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. When your parents were out of the way, Brayden could make you his mate without worrying about retribution and I would have the pack.”
Gram stepped forward, drawing even with the chair at my side. “Did they just assume I wouldn’t notice there was an problem?”
Darrell laughed again, the sound rough and devoid of amusement. “Brayden was convinced that he could force Chloe to play along. Otherwise, he intended to do to you what we did to your son and his mate.”
My grandmother’s growl rolled through the room, deep and intimidating. Even I slouched a little in my seat beneath the dominance she projected toward Darrell.
“You’re a disgusting excuse for a wolf, Darrell Whelby,” she said, her voice deeper than usual. I knew she was holding on to her control by a thread.
His expression said he knew it, but it also showed that he didn’t give a damn.
“How did you find us?” I asked Darrell suddenly.
Confused by my change of subject, he blinked as he turned toward me. “What?”
“How did you find Lachlan and me after we left your cabin?”
He smirked. “I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t gone grocery shopping in town.” He tapped his temple. “People owe me favors all over the state. They pay attention when I ask them to.”
I glanced at my grandmother and knew she was thinking the same thing I was. We needed to find out exactly who his contacts were and take care of them.
I rose to my feet, done with this conversation and with Darrell. “Enjoy Hell, Darrell. Be sure to give Brayden my regards.”
I left the room, feeling his eyes on me the entire time. Gram followed me, her expression forbidding and cold.
“We will mete out his punishment as soon as you’re well,” she promised.
I shook my head. “Do it tonight. Or even now. He doesn’t deserve to breathe another minute for what he did.”
“But you’re still weak,” she argued.
I shook my head. “I killed the man responsible for the murder of Mom and Dad, Gram. Even if he didn’t do it himself, he set the plan in motion. I’ll leave Darrell to you and Brian Kirkpatrick to the Tribunal.” I cleared my throat. “But I do have one request.”
She looked at me, waiting.
“Allow the she-wolves he abused a chance to get their pound of flesh,” I stated.
A slow, frightening smile crossed her face. “Why, that sounds like a fantastic idea,” she drawled.
I shivered, uncertain what might be in store for Darrell, but whatever it was, I hoped it was excruciating and it lasted for days or even weeks. It was no less than he deserved.
“I’m tired and I’d like to go back to the house and take a nap. I believe my grandmother would insist on it,” I said.
Her eyes moved over my shoulder and an unreadable expression crossed her face.
“You’re right, I do insist. Unfortunately, I have some things to discuss with Carter. You’ll have to get a ride back with someone else.”
“I’ll take her,” a quiet voice offered behind me.
I twisted around, already knowing who would be standing there by his scent. I’d smelled him as soon as we exited the holding room, but he hadn’t been in sight.
Lachlan was a few feet away, his eyes glued to me, moving from my ponytail down to the slip-on sneakers I’d shoved on my feet earlier.
