The sun had set by the time they reached the Winchester pack lands. They would’ve arrived sooner, but Xander had insisted on picking up his SUV, an old Hummer that looked as if it had seen better days. He hadn’t wanted to damage Devin’s vehicle or drag Devin and Lena out here unnecessarily.
Gwen had understood the latter reason for the detour, but not the first. Devin’s SUV, while luxurious, looked as if it could go anywhere. After seeing the remote area she’d soon call home, Xander’s motive made sense, however. Not only was the road narrow, but the longer they drove, the more impassable it became.
They hit another deep pothole. The SUV lurched, and her seat belt locked, tightening over her chest. She stifled a groan. “How much longer?”
“A few minutes.” Xander slid his hand over her thigh, branding her with his touch. “Then I’ll take you up to our bedroom so you can rest.”
Needing to see Vlad’s reaction to the announcement, she flicked her gaze to him. The light from the dashboard cast a soft glow over his face but she couldn’t see his expression from where she sat. His white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel hinted at how he viewed Xander’s proposed sleeping arrangements, however.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She turned to Xander. “Nobody is supposed to know I’m your mate. If one of your pack mates walks in and sees me in your bed, then—”
“They’ll know you’re my lover and not to touch you.”
“Am I supposed to keep my shirt on at all times while you’re…you’re…” She cut another glance toward the front of the vehicle. Dante, who sat in the passenger seat, smirked. He turned on the radio, filling the car with some country song she’d never heard before. The song wouldn’t drown out their conversation, but it gave the illusion of privacy. She’d take that.
Trusting in Vlad’s driving, she popped her seat belt and leaned closer to Xander. His scent filled her lungs, and her body warmed. The instantaneous reaction embarrassed her but didn’t surprise her. He was her mate. Wanting him wasn’t wrong. It was just that sex with him frightened her on some level she couldn’t name. Actually, that wasn’t true. She knew why the thought of being with Xander no longer sounded as appealing as it had yesterday.
Vlad.
She needed to talk to him. There were too many unanswered questions surrounding their connection. That conversation couldn’t happen if Xander was sharing her bed. He’d never let her sneak out of their room in the middle of the night, and she had a feeling he’d make it nearly impossible to get near Vlad during the day too.
She slid her hand to the back of Xander’s head. The silky strands of his hair slipped between her fingers, caressing her sensitized skin. It didn’t take much to imagine how it’d feel to have the ends tickle her chest, her thighs…her back as he took her from behind. She exhaled, pushing those wicked and wanton thoughts aside. “Unless you leave my shirt on while we’re having sex, there’s a chance someone might see my mate bite. At least I’m assuming your pack mates are allowed in your home.”
Xander moved his hand to her waist and flexed his fingers as if fighting the urge to drag her into his lap. “Yes, most alphas have an open-door policy.”
“Then we can’t risk it. I’ll need to sleep in a separate room.”
His deep chuckle slipped through her. Lust surged. “That won’t stop me from coming to you, Gwen. You’ll just have to keep your shirt on as you suggested.”
The music cut off abruptly. The car came to a jerking stop.
“So you don’t plan on waiting until you can claim your mate’s body in the way of an alpha?” Vlad’s voice held derision. “Or are you too embarrassed to risk our pack mates seeing you love Gwen in our sacred circle?”
“It has nothing to do with being embarrassed. We don’t have a sacred circle yet.”
“Right. Because it takes so long to cut a vein and walk a circle.” Sarcasm dripped from Vlad’s words.
“It is not your place to question me. There are many details that need to be worked out before the pack learns about Gwen, or else I’ll be facing a challenge.”
Challenge. The word squeezed her chest, making it hard to breathe. She turned to Xander. “Do you expect to be challenged?” Because if he mentioned Vlad as a possible contender, she might have a breakdown.
Xander stared at her for a long time. Defeat slackened his features. “An alpha lives with the constant assumption he will be challenged at some point. The moment I announce our mating, I fully expect at least some of our pack mates to demand I hand the spirit over. Once I refuse…” He gave a half shrug. “A challenge becomes the next step.”
“Then go to them prepared to knock down their fears. If Gwen can give you an heir, there will be no reason for you to step down or face a challenge.” Dante glanced over his seat. “Unless Vlad is right and you’re too embarrassed by the fact that—”
“Enough.” Xander’s booming voice shook the car.
She tightened her grip on his hair, an automatic reaction and one she was starting to really hate. It made her look weak.
“Without knowing the details of how the Kagan alpha impregnated his human mate, I can’t make any assumptions that whatever procedure they used would work for a Royal. Our breeding rates have always been poor.” Xander took Gwen’s hand in his and caressed her knuckles with his thumb. “Besides, I don’t know if Gwen would want my child. I won’t force her to bear an heir if that’s not what she wants.”
“Well? Do you, Gwen?” Vlad gripped the edge of the passenger seat and leaned partially between the front bucket seats. “Do you want to carry Xander’s babies?”
Gwen swallowed past the lump in her throat. The thoughts she’d had while talking with Hannah returned. Gwen would like to be a mom someday, but with Vlad’s accusatory stare focused on her, she couldn’t admit that. Doing so felt like a betrayal to Vlad. Ugh…she hated this. She hadn’t even gotten the chance to talk to Vlad to see if his claim to be her true mate had any truth to it or if it was merely his possessiveness driving him to own her too.
She shook her head. “I—”
Xander squeezed her hand slightly. “Do not put my mate on the spot. This is a conversation we’ll have sometime in the future.”
“It’s one we’d better have before the full moon. With the way you look at Gwen, you’ll never make it until next month and—”
“If Gwen wants me to love her for the first time in the sacred circle”—Xander cut Vlad off—“then I will walk the circle tonight.”
“Won’t your pack assume I’m your mate, then? You said you didn’t want anyone to know yet.” The hint of desperation in her voice annoyed her too. She wasn’t doing a very good job of convincing Xander she was worthy of being an alpha female.
“They’ll assume you’re a female he wants to own for the rest of your life. It fits his past actions too. He claimed you once already that way.” Dante supplied the explanation in an amused tone that tore a growl from Xander.
“When I was Elizabeth.” He’d married her then too. Why hadn’t he mated her? Darn it. She needed to know what had happened to ruin things.
“Yes.” Vlad bit out the word. “When your soul inhabited Elizabeth’s body, Xander made sure she wouldn’t desire—”
“Well, Gwen? Shall we love each other in the circle or not?” Xander’s harsh tone demanded an answer.
All eyes turned to her. She wanted to crouch in her seat and hide from their probing gazes, but she forced herself to sit taller. Xander had unknowingly given her the reprieve she’d hoped for by asking for a separate bedroom. The full moon was days away. Surely, that would give her enough time to get her answers from Vlad and figure out what, if anything, his responses meant for their future. Or if she wanted one with him.
“I want that, Xander. For you to make love to me for the first time in your sacred circle.” The words rushed out. Her cheeks warmed at what she’d agreed to do.
“Are you sure?” Xander turned her face to his. “I don’t have to announce our loving to anyone. Nor do we have to wait until the full moon, but if word gets out, the pack will come.”
So much for buying her time to figure things out. She’d get a day at most. Maybe. And when Xander did love her… Oh, geez. They’d have an audience. His entire pack would watch while she lost her virginity.
Her pulse sped. She licked her suddenly dry lips. Backing out now wasn’t an option either. Then, she’d appear wishy-washy. “I’m sure. If they come, you’ll keep my complete focus. I won’t even know we’re being watched.” She hoped.
The interior light turned on. Vlad got out, then opened Xander’s door. “Then let’s go walk our pack’s sacred circle. Dante can stay with Gwen until we get back.”
“Yeah. It’ll give us a chance to bond.” Dante snorted. “Or something.”
Xander stared at her a long moment. The look on his face was clear. He didn’t want to leave her. Whether that was because he wanted to stay by her side or avoid being alone with Vlad, she couldn’t tell.
“Go.” She sat back, breaking their connection. “Dante will take care of me.”
Xander nodded, but reluctance showed in his expression. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Okay.” She opened her door. Dante was there waiting for her. He took her arm and led her across the darkened yard to a huge log cabin home tucked among the trees.
She stopped and stared at the house in awe. Although she couldn’t see many details, the stonework on the front and the large wraparound porch were breathtaking. She could easily imagine herself sitting out here in the morning drinking coffee and listening to the birds.
“Nice, isn’t it?” Dante’s voice broke through her fantasy.
“Very, but it’s not what I was expecting.”
“What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know, exactly.” She stepped back and studied the home. Darkness hid most details, but the light of the moon allowed her to see enough to know the place was huge. “But I wasn’t expecting something so…” She shrugged. “Extravagant.”
“As in large or fancy?” Dante laid his hand on her arm and urged her to the house.
She fell into step with him, trusting him to lead her around anything she might trip over. “Both, I guess.”
“As alpha, Xander’s expected to have a large home. Not all his pack mates live in West Virginia. Like Vlad, they’re scattered throughout the world, and Xander needs to offer them a room in his home when they visit. He’s also expected to have several children. The space is necessary.”
Although she wasn’t ready for kids, the idea of being a mother excited her. She only hoped it was possible. Gwen slipped her hand into her jacket pocket. Her fingers brushed the piece of paper with Hannah’s number on it. Hopefully, Hannah would have the answer to whether or not that’d be possible.
An inside female source into the shifter world Gwen had been tossed into would prove invaluable. Yes, she had Lena, but wolf and feline culture were different. There was also the risk that Lena might withhold information she thought would hurt Gwen. Heaven forbid she learn some dirty secret.
“As for the richness of the place?” Dante ran his fingertips over the hand-carved runes decorating the front door. “Xander loves being one with nature, but he also enjoys beauty and the comforts of this modern world. When electricity was invented, he was like a kid in a candy store. He could read at all hours and filled his homes with as many books as he could fit inside them.”
Dante opened the unlocked door and motioned her inside. “He was known as a patron of the arts back when his pack lived in Europe. Many of the pieces you’ll see on display in this place were made by the same famous artists you’ll find in museums.”
“Really? I never would’ve guessed that.”
“You haven’t gotten the chance to get to know him.” Dante closed the door behind them and flicked the switch, bathing the entryway and stairs in warm light. Paintings of wolves and a full-length silver mirror decorated the space. “Same for him. He’s still trying to understand you, and I can tell he’s unsure what to make of this version of his true mate.”
Dante’s words intrigued her, but so did the first glimpse into Xander’s personal space. She faced the room to the right of the main hallway. Modern leather furniture dominated the large, high-ceilinged room. Not the fancy furnishings expected in a high-end apartment, but the worn and rugged kind meant for relaxing.
Hints of Xander’s love for electronics were scattered about—the sleek television on the wall and several different gaming systems on a glass-door shelved cart below the big screen.
She scanned the room once more, noting the paintings and sculptures, then faced Dante. “He’s told you that?”
“No, but I can see it in his expression. It’s easy to read when he’s around you. He doesn’t hide his feelings. Around his pack and other shifters, he wears a stony, indecipherable mask.”
The scene in the parking lot supported Dante’s assessment. His words toward her while talking to Hannah had been as cold as his hard-cut features. If he hadn’t prepped her with the warning that she had to keep their mating secret, she would’ve been hurt.
“He doesn’t hide behind his alpha mask around you or Vlad.”
“No.” Dante headed down the hallway and pushed open the door at the end. She followed him into a modern yet country-themed kitchen. “But that’s because we’re like brothers to him.”
Using his foot, Dante slid a stool out. “Sit. You still look pale, weak. I’ll get you some OJ and food. It’ll help. Xane had the place stocked in anticipation of Xander’s arrival.”
She felt weak too, and that annoyed her, but at least she’d managed to stay upright since leaving the pizza place. That was a plus. “That was nice of him.”
“Xander’s alpha. His pack loves him, so they do stuff like that. Clean his house. Do his laundry. I don’t think he’s ever had to cook his own meals either. The pack females usually stop over with plates or will come in and make something special just for him. Freakin’ spoil him. Of course, that was before he up and left with only a note telling them he was going to help Vlad look for his beloved human.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. Had Vlad and Xander not come after her, she’d still be in the compound with Killer. That was what she’d originally wanted. She couldn’t help him if she didn’t know where he was being kept, but the foolishness of her plan had been made crystal clear. Too bad it took almost dying to realize that.
At least Xander and Vlad hadn’t held her naivety over her head. Of course, she hadn’t brought the subject up again. Their tune might change once she announced she was going to visit Shifter Affairs tomorrow, along with seeing Hannah.
She pushed those thoughts aside. Best she deal with their arguments when and if they came. She turned her attention to the dual-fueled stove and the massive side-by-side refrigerator. A minor panic attack threatened to quicken her pulse. She knew how to make boxed macaroni and cheese and heat canned soup.
Creating a gourmet meal? Not her forte.
Wonderful. Not only was she physically weak, she was lacking in the domestics department. As old as Xander was, he’d expect a woman to act like a woman, in all things.
“What about now that I’m in the picture? Will they still cook for him?” And save her from the humiliation of trying to fumble her way through prepping a gourmet dish.
“Sure. Won’t make a difference, even if they knew you were Xander’s mate. They’d still pamper him, but wolves are weird like that. Their sense of community and its power structure is full of hierarchy. If you’re on the top, you’re treated like royalty. If you’re considered weak, they look down on you.” Dante poured a tall glass of orange juice and set it in front of her.
“Don’t get me wrong. They won’t hurt those on the bottom rungs or let them suffer. They’ll just…” He shrugged. “Pity them, I guess you might say. And being pitied is probably the worst thing that can happen to a wolf shifter.”
Dante plopped a blueberry muffin on a dish and slid it toward her. “Felines aren’t like that. There’s the pride leader, and there are the pride members. No special treatment or ‘top dominant’ labels. No protectors. No betas. Just the group of people who loosely align themselves with the pride leader, but heaven help anyone who tries to hurt one of them. Then blood flies. Felines are wickedly possessive and protective of their loved ones.”
She separated the muffin top from the bottom and broke a piece of the top section off. The moist, flavorful bite was the best thing she’d eaten in months. She closed her eyes and savored the taste of real food but pushed the dish aside in the next moment. Her time alone with Dante was limited. She needed to get as much information out of him before Xander and Vlad returned. Dante’s honest assessment of the pack was invaluable.
“And then there’s you. A lone cat but an honorary member of the Winchester pack.”
“Yep. I’m a special case. I’m one of those people the Winchester pack pitied and took in.”
“You?” She couldn’t keep the shock out of her voice. The tall, built man looked as if he could snap a man’s neck with ease and not bat an eye over the death. “They pitied you?”
He slid the dish back to her and waited until she took another bite before dragging a stool out and sitting next to her. “Yeah, me. At least they did until I matured. After that, they steered clear of me whenever possible, but they couldn’t get rid of me. I’d been accepted by the Winchester spirit during one of their monthly ritual things.”
“It must’ve considered you worthy.” From what Killer had said, the pack’s spirit was connected to their goddess and the founding father of the pack. It was wise, cunning, and could foresee the future.
“Suppose.” He laughed, an amused but condescending sound that matched the shake of his head. “Still freakin’ odd and unconventional. It’s not something I go around telling people about either.”
Yet he was telling her. She studied him. There was a depth to the man she suspected few people knew. Much like Killer. He’d proved himself a valuable ally. She suspected Dante would too. She’d be the same for him as she was to Killer, a friend who wouldn’t judge. “Why keep it a secret? I’d think it would be an honor.”
He picked up the napkin and unfolded the square before refolding it and placing it under the glass of juice. His movements struck her as controlled and deliberate, the kind her sister would’ve taken if she was trying to soften the blow about something or lie without making it sound like a fib.
“If you’d rather not say why you want to keep it a secret, I understand.” Though it’d disappoint her. She needed as many friends among the wolves as she could find.
“It’s not that.” He moved the glass and napkin a couple of inches closer to her. “It’s just not something I ever voiced before.” He tapped his chest with a balled fist. “I feel them. Xander’s pack. It’s like they’re a part of me, like they’re my pack.” He dropped his hand. “It’s unsettling at times. They’re an emotional lot, not like felines. It takes a lot to fire us up. Them?” He shook his head. “Everything sets them off. They’re always at each other’s throats. It irritates me.”
Gwen handed the bottom portion of her muffin to Dante. “So you grew up with Xander’s pack, right? How did that come about?”
He took her offering and ate it in two bites. “Xander and his little brother stumbled on my father beating me when I was a kid. After that, Xander took me home with him, and I grew up a Winchester.”
“What happened? Were your families neighbors or something?” She couldn’t imagine how else Xander would’ve been there to save Dante.
“No. It was at a meeting of the Shifter Council. Back then, those meetings were a huge event. It was the only time our kind got together and shared information. The heads of families would bring their sons or daughters they wanted to mate off. It’s all socializing and nonsense.” He took a sip of her OJ, then pushed the glass at her and waited until she drank before continuing. “I was seventeen, and it was my first time there. My father was presenting me as his next-in-line, but I mucked up his glory.”
“How?”
“I stood in front of the Council and told them I would be ashamed to lead a pride whose greatest accomplishment was in sacrificing Devin to appease the Council’s distorted views of the law, and once I took over, I’d get revenge for my brother.” He made a disgusted sound. “The elders kindly suggested to my father to bed my mother in hopes of birthing a proper son and do what it took to ensure I never accepted our family’s spirit.”
“Lena’s Devin?” Gwen gripped Dante’s forearm. “What did they do to him?”
“Tortured him. Did their best to make him feral.” Dante turned his head slowly, snagging her gaze. Respect showed in his expression. “But they didn’t break him. They just screwed him over good as an example to all those who thought to fight their rule. Your sister fixed him, though. Toughest, bravest woman I’ve ever seen.”
Questions surfaced. She wanted to know more, but set those aside. Lena should be the one to answer them. Gwen’s goal was to uncover more about Xander. Learning about his relationship with Dante would help her. “And that’s why your father beat you?”
“Yeah. Probably would’ve killed me too.” His brows pinched. “You know that, right? A Royal can shift almost immediately, but our immortality doesn’t kick in until maturity. I was a few years short of that.”
She nodded. Killer had told her that one night when he explained why he didn’t have a twin. His died in childbirth. “And Xander stopped your father?”
“Yeah. They fought. Got pretty nasty too. A big-ass tiger going after a wolf.” Dante flexed his hands, then splayed them on the table. “Xander held his own against my dad. Better, actually. Xander was fast. Kept landing blows that ripped my dad’s flank open. I just sat there in my jaguar form, bleeding and feeling pathetic, until this little freckle-faced kid who couldn’t have been more than five shifted into a red wolf and jumped into the fight.”
She covered her mouth, fear for this unknown boy gripping her. “Did he get hurt?”
“Hurt?” Dante grinned. “Sure. But he didn’t die. He went after my dad with a ferocity I swear I’ve never seen in a cub before or after that day. I joined in then too. Couldn’t sit back while this kid fought my battle. Good thing I did. I saved him from getting his throat ripped out by my dad. A few of the other wolf alphas jumped in then and forced my dad back. He shifted into his human form and banished me from the pride, saying if I wanted to return, I’d have to beg his forgiveness.”
“I’m guessing you never did.”
“Nope. Never left Winchester pack lands until after we moved to America and Eli went missing during the Civil War. Then I started working as an undercover agent and assassin, following any lead I could, but I never found Eli.” Frustration tightened Dante’s voice. Or maybe pain. Either way, Eli’s loss bothered Dante. She could see that in his eyes. No longer cold and indifferent, they burned.
“I’m sorry. Was Eli another member of the Winchester pack or a friend of yours?”
Dante shoved from his stool, knocking it over in the process, and walked toward a writing desk tucked into an alcove next to a breakfast nook. He opened the drawers and searched through them, obviously looking for something. “He was the redheaded kid who attacked my dad. Eli and I were inseparable after that day. I hate that I failed him, that he’s out there somewhere suffering.”
“Are you sure he’s still alive?”
“Yes. Xander would’ve felt his death. And sometimes when he and his pack gather for their monthly full moon celebration, he’ll get glimpses of him. We know Eli’s being held in a cage somewhere, living like an animal.” Dante pulled a metal box off the built-in bookshelf next to the desk. “Ah-ha. There’s got to be a picture in here. When photography was first invented, Xander went nuts taking pictures of everything.”
She ate the last of her muffin top and drank the orange juice while Dante sorted through the pile of loose photos, then walked over to him. Most of the pictures were faded and curled at the edges. She picked up an old black-and-white one of Xander and Vlad leaning against a bar with beer bottles in their hands and a dark-haired, exotic young woman between them.
Although the sight of the woman with an arm around their waists stirred Gwen’s irritation, she focused on the two men. No sign of the animosity she’d witnessed these last couple of days showed on their faces. They were smiling and completely focused on the girl in their arms.
Dante tapped the picture. “That’s you. Well, Tabitha. The three of you met at a rock concert. Xander got called away on pack business, and Tabitha ended up in Vlad’s bed. Ticked Xander off big-time. He ordered Vlad to follow up on a lead on Eli that turned out to be a dead end. While he was gone, Xander seduced Tabitha. Vlad showed up while they were in bed together. They fought, and Tabitha ran. Poor girl got picked up by a trafficking group and died.”
Gwen traced the woman’s features, but no sense of recognition flared. She couldn’t remember that life any more than she could Elizabeth’s. “I don’t remember being her.”
“Why would you? From what I understand, memories get wiped clean each time you die. Of course, the single shifters say each life’s experiences leave their mark on a soul, and deep emotional ties, whether based on love, friendship, or hatred, will carry over into other lifetimes.”
Dante grabbed another stack of photos and started going through them, discarding them one by one in the box he’d pulled them from. “The witches call it soul-imprinting and say human souls experience the phenomena too. Many of our elders don’t believe them, but I do. Seen too many crazy things in my life.”
“I can imagine.” Xander and Vlad would likely have experienced much in their long lifetimes too.
“So even though your mind might not retain the memories, your soul does. You just need to listen to it and…” Dante picked up a picture and stared at it for a long moment before dropping it over Tabitha’s. “That’s—”
“Killer.” Heart beating wildly, she snatched the photo. “That’s Killer.”
Dante lifted her chin, forcing her gaze away from the faded black-and-white picture of the man who’d saved her life. “The shifter who protected you? Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She’d know his face anywhere. “I’ve never seen him happy, but this is Killer. I swear it. The freckles. His eyes. The scar over his lips. It’s him.”
Dante’s mouth curved into a smile, but his cold, dark eyes held no warmth. “You’re going to help me find him, little sister.”
“Of course. I’ll do anything to bring him home. I wouldn’t be here without him.”
“Then prepare to tick off your mates. They’re not going to like you getting involved.”
She inhaled sharply at the confirmation. “Xander and Vlad? It’s true, then? They’re both mine.”
“I’m guessing. I bet they are too, especially now that the singles proved it’s possible, but don’t expect it’ll be easy. The Winchesters have a long history of mating for power, not love. And you”—Dante tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear—“are the epitome of softness.”
“Weak, you mean.”
Dante handed her the pictures of Tabitha and Eli and dumped the rest in the box. “Strength comes in many forms. Remember what I said about your big sister.”
“Lena’s tough.” Gwen tapped her chest with her free hand. “Here. I’m not.”
Dante leaned against the bookcase and crossed his arms over his chest. “If you weren’t what Xander and Vlad need, the Winchesters’ goddess wouldn’t keep dropping you into their lives. Trust me on that. She wants her descendants to thrive, and the Winchester pack is her only tie to the human world.”
“He’s alpha.”
“And?” Dante cocked a brow.
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to be the alpha female.” She shook her head. Voicing her doubts proved harder than she’d like. “I know it’s possible, but I don’t know if it’d be the best thing. Xander said he’d punish anyone who hurt me, even if it’s only my feelings that get crushed. That’ll cause more harm than good. Maybe he should give up the pack.” Then he wouldn’t face a challenge either.
“No.” Dante’s harsh word dropped between them. “If he does, he’ll blame you for eternity. He’s alpha. He’ll always be alpha, even if he gave the pack spirit to someone else. He just wouldn’t be able to act as one, and that’ll leave him bitter.”
She rubbed at her achy eyes. Dante was right. Eternity was a long time to hold on to resentment.
Dante awkwardly patted her back. “Look, I don’t have an answer for you. I’ve never been in a relationship, and I avoid taking lovers unless it’s for a job. My hand is good enough for me.”
She scrunched her nose at the vulgar reference, and Dante laughed. He grabbed her upper arm and led her to the staircase. “Come on, little sister. You should get some rest. You’ve got the fight of your life ahead of you.”
No truer words had been said. She had to find Eli, figure out how to be an alpha female, discover the truth about her past with Xander and Vlad, and decide if their unusual relationship was worth fighting for.
The biggest obstacle of all, however, would be hers alone to overcome. Until she learned all the details being kept from her, she’d never be able to let the hurt of the past go. The unknown would feed her resentment, turning her bitter and angry, and that would destroy everything.