<b>Chapter </b>171


    Conrad POV


    I wake in the morning still on the ridge and ince’s form. I was awakened by the sunriseing over theke. Even though the sight brought the promise of a new day, it was a day I was dreading. I don’t think I can fix everything in a day, But I have to do something.


    I reach around the pack’s mind–link to check on everything. Moonlight has shut me outpletely. Liam has kept his restricted, but it’s the same as it has been for a few weeks. Mary’s is fully open, but I blocked mine from her.


    I reach out to the only person close to Lewana who might actually talk to me.


    Arthur, you up yet?“.


    “Yeah son, I’m up.


    “How is she?“.


    He takes a deep sigh. “Devastated. She refused to leave the kitchen after you left, and all the girls slept in Michelle’s roomst night. Honestly, what the fuck were you thinking?“.


    I snap back at him. “Clearly, I wasn’t. Any idea how I get out of the proverbial dog house?“.


    Heughs. “You slept in the forestst night. You have to grovel your way up to the dog house“.


    He pauses and thinks for a moment. “During her rant yesterday, she mentioned Serena has been craving me that’s <b>how </b>she knew the trick with the steak. It’s not just Lewana who’s pregnant, it’s Serena too. M


    <b>bring </b>her one back, she won’t kill you on sight“.


    bbit. Mary told


    if Jace can


    <b>burrows</b><b>, </b>


    It only takes <b>us </b>about thirty minutes, but we get one. We head back to the pack house to go to the back door that leads into the kitchen.


    We scent who is inside and everyone is in there. Great, now this was going to be a whole show.


    Jace starts scratching and whimpering at the door, and everyone freezes.


    Mary <bes</b>, opens the door, and Jace walks inside. He ces the rabbit at the end of the table so his mate can see.


    Lewana is cuddled up to Arthur, her eyes fed and puffy from crying. Her eyes go wide when she sees the rabbit, then she


    turns on Arthur.


    “You told <b>him</b>“,


    “Of course I did. You’re both my girls and Alpha. What you want, you get. Putting him to work was just a bonus as I got to spend time with you“.


    She grumbles but goes back to cuddling him while staring at the rabbit.


    Maryes over. I’ll just butcher this for her. With great skill, she cuts it apart and hands it to Lewana on a te to go with her fruit.


    I try toe forward a little, but she must have noticed my eyes changing.


    “Don’t you even think about it.


    Jace forces me back immediately. He goes over and tries to ce his head on herp by nuzzling at her arm.


    “It’s not you, Jace. We just know he’s in there, and we’re not ready for that.


    He just sits stoically beside her while she eats her rabbit.


    Liam gets up to leave, and Jace barks at him. Then nods his head to sit back down.


    He rolls his eyes. “You really want to do this now?“.


    Jace just nods.


    Fine. But I’m getting you some clothes first cause we are not having that chat while you’re naked“.


    All the girls mumble about having something to do and leave quickly as well.


    “Come on, Jellybean. How about we go to the medical centre, and you can do some work as a distraction. Brianna is nearly 8 months pregnant and hasn’t been checked on a while“. Arthur takes her by the waist and leads he out, and she leaves


    without looking back at us.


    Just as they are leaving, Liames back in and hurls clothes at me.


    Mary mumbles under her breath. “I’ll just go and leave you two to talk“.


    I quickly <b>shift </b>back and call after her. “Don’t. I need to talk to you to“.


    I’ve <b>only </b><b>just </b>managed to pull my <b>track </b>pants up before shees over and bear hugs me. She starts gently crying against my chest.


    I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I had to keep it from you. I had no choice“.


    I slowly open my bond to her, and I’m instantly weighed down by her crushing guilt. I just rub her back as I try to hold back my own tears, and Liam res at me. I know this is all my fault, and I know only I can fix it.


    Jace told me something about the shadows. He said something about even though they possessed me, they only exacerbated my feelings“.


    Mary stops crying long enough to look at me with tear–filled eyes and a quivering lip as she tries to hold back another


    wave of subs.


    “So you’ve always hated me, then‘,


    No, of course not, I take a deep breath and brace myself for the words I never wanted to say.


    “I know you have always hidden the truth from me. I knew my Grandmother was dying when we escaped. I knew about the


    deal you made with the Alpha to keep me safe in the pack. I know it wasn’t an ident we ended up at that military recruitment stand. I know it was your life savings that were the first investment in our first business. I’ve always known. I never understood why, but to find out, it was because you were told to by a secret order, just reinforced that I was always a job to you and that we were never really family.


    She wraps her arms around me tightly and gently cries against my chest.


    I will always consider you as my pup. I did all those things because I believed in you, because I wanted to guide you and give you opportunities to be the man I knew you could be. Yes, being a mother is a job, but you are my family“.


    I hold her tight, and I look at Liam as I know there is more to this.


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