VINCENT
“You haven’t touched your food.” Mom’s voice carried the same unyielding tone from my younger days. The one saying if I didn’t eat, I’d be forbidden to hunt. But no matter how much I pushed the diced deer meat through the cream sauce, I couldn’t take another bite.
“I’m not hungry.” Across the oak table, my parents sat and reminded me of grinning gnomes with silvery hair and red cheeks. For those few seconds, I’d walked back in time to my childhood during the festive season. The three of us enjoying breakfast. The aroma of gingerbread wafting through the house. Tinsel, walnuts, and unlit candles decorated the fresh Christmas tree at the entrance. Near the evergreen stood the family Yule goat carved out of wood. I used to ride him as a child, which explained the missing horn. Behind him, an army of wooden animals half his size, from elephants and panthers to bears, were scattered on the floor. At the age of eight, I had asked Dad to carve them for me so I could pretend they were my pack, tracking behind me as I rode the goat.
On this day, I stared out the window at the fat snowflakes, the woods that were my wonderland as a kid. They were memories I’d never give up . . . I wished every wulfkin had the chance to experience similar happy times.
Wulfkin didn’t celebrate Christmas, but the pack in Susi did. The tradition was maintained for the children since we lived so close to the North Pole. It was one of the many things I loved and missed about Susi while living in Hungary. Before pursuing my Varlac status, I’d intended to raise kids in the town. And with that, my thoughts shifted to Cacey and how content she was in a small pack, raising Tianna. What was she doing right now?
“Go to her and stop moping around.” Mom collected the plates and hobbled into the kitchen.
“It’s called relaxing. Guys don’t mope.” Though my insides were the complete opposite. My wolf and heart skipped a beat, demanding we pay Cacey a visit. What if Daan hadn’t kept his word? What if he returned? The idea irked me to no end, and while my first instinct had been to rip his head off, I’d toned it back for Tianna. No child should ever witness his or her father being harmed.
My place belonged alongside Cacey, to protect her and the daughter she loved. But my head disagreed. What could I offer a wulfkin like Cacey? Hungary was my home now. I’d trained my whole life to keep all wulfkin safe. Cacey had made her opinion about the Varlac crystal clear. Besides, she’d admitted to wanting a simple life. The life of a Varlac was anything but easy or straightforward.
If it hadn’t been for that magical hot chocolate, would we have ended up in each other’s arms? Stop fooling yourself. We found Tianna. That mattered. Not my emotions or any other brooding thoughts.
“Cacey is such a nice girl. You can’t be alone forever, Vin. Your fighting accolades won’t keep you company when you’re old. Why don’t you ask her over for dinner?”
I released a deep exhale and listened to the clanking of dishes from the kitchen. “With the whole family?”
Mom stuck her head around the corner. She wore a stern expression, but the loose bun on top of her head with the silver strands framing her face softened her expression. “What’s wrong with that?”
Mom never relinquished an argument until she got her way.
Dad reached across the table and patted my hand and signaled with a flick of his other hand that we should move outside to chat.
I climbed out of my seat and strolled to the door. “Be right back, Mom, getting fresh air.”
We headed to the back of the house. In the distance, the slanted wooden shed wore a pointy snow hat. Dad had spent many days and nights in there working on projects.
“What’s going on?” I stepped over a young fallen pine tree.
“Vin, a few things have changed at home.”
I stopped in my tracks and twisted around. “Like what?”
“Your mom’s been losing patches of her memory, reverting to her younger days.” He dusted the snow off his blue vest. “A few months ago, she wept when she couldn’t find you in the house. She insisted someone had kidnapped you.”
A chill wrapped around my heart. “Alzheimer’s?”
“Cacey’s been caring for her and suspects it might be the case. Definitely some form of dementia. She advised I spend more time with your mom; watch over her. But your visit is a good thing. She’s missed you. We both have.”
Every thought faded away except the vision of her fearing for my life. How could I focus on protecting the world when the most important person, my mom, faced such a demon? “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shook his head, sending loose snow in every direction. “Didn’t want to bother you, and I kept telling myself it would go away.” His eyes glistened, rousing a prickle at the back of my throat. “But when she wandered out of the house at night to hunt in the middle of a storm, I realized I had a problem.”
Unable to take another breath, I pushed past the ache beneath my breastbone, beat back the tears, and shoved through the fog in my head. I should have come home sooner, should have kept in closer contact.
I cleared my throat.
Dad stared at me with the hopefulness he’d always used when facing life—the corners of his mouth lifted, his shoulders squared, and his chin high. Seeing him battle through this with his resilience crumbled my insides.
Something in my peripheral vision caught my attention. Mom waved at us. “Vin, Manu is here.”
The alpha must have finally heard I was in town.
Dad patted my back. “I’m looking into alternatives and making preparation to care for her, but don’t tell your mother I told you as she’ll worry.”
“Of course.” We both trekked back to the house. When I reached Mom, I embraced her and tucked her head under my chin. She used to do the same with me whenever I’d gotten scared as a child, or when I stubbed my toe, or when I had a nightmare. And it took every morsel of strength to not collapse into the heap of emotions bubbling up in the back of my throat.
“What’s that for?”
I broke our hug. “Because I forgot to tell you how thankful I am for everything you’ve done for me. Love you, Mom.”
• • •
“Vin.” Manu, the pack alpha of Susi, greeted me at the door. He took me into his arms, a hand thumping my back, his beard scratching my cheek. If a wulfkin were to ever resemble Santa Claus, Manu was the guy. Barrel-chested with a round belly. He’d play Santa Claus at this year’s Christmas party, guaranteed.
“Our own Varlac. Still can’t believe it.” He retreated toward the fireplace, rubbing his hands together. “Is Marcin here?” His gaze shot over my shoulder to the closed door behind me.
Straight to business. My alpha back in Hungary gave his blessing for me to handle the situation as I saw fit, and that was my intention. “Marcin sends his apologies. You’re stuck with me.”
“It’s best I speak to you anyway.”
I sat on the couch, waiting for him to spill.
When he turned to face me, tightness gripped his expression. Manu had been an alpha for more than fifty years. The biggest dangers he’d faced were wild animals attacking locals or log cabins buried under snow. So, the grim mask he wore concerned me.
“I hate to burden you, but I have no one else to turn to. My pack falls into two categories. Elderly or young.”
The hairs on the nape of my neck rose. “Okay.”
“And I’m getting old.” He slouched next to me, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening. “I plan to retire.”
“Fantastic. You’ve got every right.” Did he tell me this because he wanted me to weigh in on his choices for his replacement?
“Except with no children of my own to pass the ownership on to, I have limited options. I’ve been speaking with other alphas nearby for possible integration.”
“Fair enough. So, you’re seeking the Varlac’s consent to hand over your pack?” The Varlac often stepped in and helped assure the best fit. Relief coursed through me. I’d be able to have a say on behalf of Cacey and Tianna. Ensure that both of them would be safe even after I left. Still, the idea of not seeing Cacey’s bright eyes or hearing her voice brought a tightening vice to my chest.
With a great huff, Manu studied me for a long pause, his brow creased. “Here’s the issue. The Denmark alpha said he wants it. He—”
My muscles stiffened. Fuckin’ Daan. “He’s totally unsuitable. I’ve met him. Why did you approach him of all people?”
Manu held his hands up, palms facing me. “I didn’t. He must have found out from someone else.” Manu nodded thoughtfully. “Rumors paint him as uncaring and impatient. I heard he came and studied our pack from afar without even asking for my consent.”
Was that how he’d tracked down Cacey? “Yeah, well, I chatted with him two days ago and told him to keep his distance.”
Manu cut me a dark glare. “He called me this morning, saying he’s taking the pack, by force if needed. He’s coming here in three days.”
What the fuck? “On Christmas?” I should have ripped the bastard to pieces. I shifted in my seat as a volcano erupted through my veins. By Varlac law, Daan had every right to challenge an existing leader for their territories. Daan knew Manu was old, not a fighter. Most members of this pack weren’t. He’d sweep in, kill Manu, and take his spot. The bastard had only one intention—get to Cacey. My threat to remove him from alpha status back in Santa’s Village was a bluff. Per Wulfkin law, a Varlac couldn’t stand in his way if he intended to claim more territory. Not without him breaking our laws, and as far as I knew, he hadn’t. Being a dickwad wasn’t against the rules.
I rubbed my lips. “My pack and I will fight with you.” I’d put everything in order before I returned to Hungary, and if that included flattening Daan, then I’d gladly accept the job.
Manu grunted. “You know that goes against the law. Besides, I don’t want World War III on my doorstep or anyone getting hurt.” He dropped his head into his hands, accompanied by a deep sigh.
My mind spun with anxiety. If Daan took over this pack, it wasn’t just Manu’s life he’d be destroying. It was Cacey’s and Tianna’s, my parents’, and the whole Susi pack’s.
Anything I did to fix the situation would be temporary and leave Daan in power. And that just wouldn’t do. This wasn’t a quick fix. I had to address this to ensure the safety of everyone in Susi as well as protect the wulfkin in Denmark under Daan’s pack. To stop him meant I’d need to return to Hungary and speak with my alpha, the Varlac of all wulfkin in Europe. Of course it came with the risk of Marcin insisting I stayed in Hungary while he sent someone else to fix the problem, or that he didn’t see an issue. So it was up to me to do whatever it took to convince him Daan had to go. Even if it meant defying my alpha and friend.