“What about the bonded mates?”
“When one gets tired of waiting for their Fated Mate, or they fall in love with someone…”
“Like my mother did.”
“Yes…then a bonding ceremony is performed.”
“But my father didn’t bond with my mother, right?”
“No, Josiah bonded with Elenor.”
“The woman he chose over my mother wasn’t his Fated Mate?”
“No…”
“That son-of-a-bitch!”
“Yes…well, I think that’s what hurt your mother the most.”
Anger coursed through Tristan. “It’s a good thing my father is dead, or I’d kill him for treating my mother that way.”
“I felt the same emotions when your mother left, but Kathy talked me out of doing something rash…she said our daughter needed me.”
“Did you meet my father’s bonded mate?”
“Elenor?”
Tristan nodded.
“Briefly at the celebration Josiah held when Kahn was born. After that, she was kept busy raising him and his two sisters.”
“What did you think of her?”
“Elenor had a backbone but usually kept it hidden. She did Josiah’s bidding, but occasionally he found she could be a real steel magnolia,” Pete said, chuckling.
“Do you think she’s angry I accepted the Alpha position?”
“I don’t know…and I doubt anyone in the pack would know. Elenor was a loner…she didn’t have much to do with the pack as an Alpha Mate normally would. Why all the questions about her?”
“Before I accepted the Alpha job, I spoke to Kahn on the phone. Even though Reeve had assured me Kahn wasn’t interested in it, I just wanted to make sure,” Tristan said.
“From what I heard, Kahn left the pack and moved to the city,” Pete said.
“Yeah, to paint…at least that’s what Reeve said.”
“That sounds about right. That boy was always busy drawing.”
“He wants to meet me,” Tristan mumbled.
“You sound hesitant…why?” asked Pete. “I thought you wanted to see him and your half-sisters.”
“Kahn invited me to dinner at his mother’s. He said she was very keen to get to know me.”
“I see. Did you accept?”
“Nooo, not yet.”
“Hmm…”
