Read Heir To The Pack (The Cursed Pack Book 1) for Free Online Page B

still staring out
the window, said, “The timing fits, but I don’t know how.”
    Elaine pursed her lips a
tiny bit, the downward curve in her mouth provoking dimples under her apple
cheeks. Annie had never seen a more textbook grandmother figure. She could be
in Hallmark commercials.
    “Mama, look! A bone! A
dog’s bone!” Jack trotted over from the corner where he’d been playing, hefting
a large, slightly grimy cow’s femur.
    Annie’s inner
overprotective mother freaked out. She twitched toward him, ready to snatch it
from his hands.
    “Dash always loved bones
when he was young,” Elaine said. “So good for the jaw muscles.”
    Annie froze, her
outstretched hand inches from the bone.
    “Would you like me to get
him a fresh one?” Marjie asked.
    Annie couldn’t tell if she
was serious. Her horror must have showed, because Elaine gently exchanged
Jack’s bone for a cookie. He trotted back over to the windows.
    Clearly she needed more
sleep, because this discussion was getting increasingly surreal.
    “My dear,” Elaine said, “Dash
told us your boy isn’t well.”
    Tears welled up in Annie’s
eyes, and she bit down on her lip to stifle a sob. This was all too much. It
had been an incredibly long day. Week. Month. Her child was sick, people were
trying to kidnap him, and no one could tell her why any of these things were
happening. Her resolve collapsed, and she had to swipe at her eyes to see the
room.
    “We need to go over a few
things with you,” Elaine continued, handing her a tissue as if nothing unusual
had occurred. Clearing her throat, delicately, Elaine said, “It may well be
that Jack’s illness is a side effect of his breeding.”
    “What are you implying?”
Annie was suddenly uncomfortable. “There’s nothing wrong with me. Or my genes.”
    “It could be the
combination of the two. I hear you’re a biologist. Surely you know about
recessive genes.”
    Annie gave a tight nod. Now
she was on firmer ground. She began to breathe again. “I’d like Dash to get
tested.”
    The older woman gave a
half-sigh. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
    The beginnings of calm
fled and she had to fight not to snarl. “Why not?”
    Dash groaned and covered
his face with a hand. His voice came out muffled. “We don’t use modern
medicine. I’m sorry.”
    The hackles stood up on
the back of Annie’s neck. “How ridiculous. You realize we’re talking about the
life of your son?”
    Elaine pressed her lips
together. “We have agreed to tell you the truth. Dash?”
    Dash dropped his hand,
turned his gaze from the windows, and looked Annie in the face. That steady pale
blue gaze pinned her in her seat, and she shifted her weight.
    They didn't use modern
medicine. Dash had enemies, enemies who had tried to abduct Jack. They gave
their children bones to play with. There was something very, very wrong here.
    “Yes, Dash,” she said. “Why
don't you tell me the truth?”
    He paused, then said,
quietly, “We’re not human. We're werewolves. I’m a werewolf.”
    The words could have been
in ancient Greek. She struggled to form the sounds into something that made
sense. Shaking her head, she said, “What did you just say?”
    Dash leaned toward her. “Annie.
I'm a werewolf. I have two souls, and only one of them is human.”
    “No. No, no, no.” She
stood up, her knees trembling. Daisy cleared her throat and Annie shot her a
look. Her mother's face was pale, and she looked far too excited by this
ridiculous development. She turned her back on her, turned to face Dash. He
watched her. Her body went cold, hot, numb, tingling. She didn't know what she
felt, what to say, or what to do. All she knew was that it couldn't be true. “No.
This can't be happening. Why would you even say such a thing? Couldn't you come
up with some better excuse to avoid being a father?”
    Dash's face hardened. “It's
not an excuse. I'm telling you the truth. I wouldn't lie to you.” His hands
went to the hem of