Chapter 7 #2
“Without going into too much detail, I said some shit I shouldn’t have.
I was angry. He said some shit he shouldn’t have.
He was angry. But what it came down to was that none of us understand.
We’re all holed up with our mates, and he’s alone.
He said that he lost the woman he loved, lost his mate, and he finally finds someone who cares about him and we ban her from the property.
I told him that we don’t want anything to do with somebody like her.
Told him that I will not tolerate anybody disrespecting a single member of our clan, on our property.
He wants to muddy his life with her, that’s his choice, but we don’t want any part of it and I will not allow her on our land. ”
“She really all that bad?” Avaleigh asked.
“Yeah, she is. I told Tempest that maybe I should have been more accepting, understanding even and given her a chance. She said the girl is a user. That all she wants is more.”
“More what?” Avaleigh asked.
“More of anything she can manage to get from anybody. When the well dries up, she moves on to the next person.”
“I was going to ask you how she knows, but she’s Tempest, that’s how she knows.”
“Yeah,” Brandt said quietly. “I’m sorry.
I really am. I said some shit that there is no excusing.
But no Alpha would put up with everything I have, nor would have exposed his clan to the way he and that girl are behaving.
His behavior is affecting everybody that lives near him, and he’s not even attempting to handle his responsibilities and that’s putting more on the rest of us.
And the few times he has managed to find his way to work, like I said, he’s drunk.
I want you to know that I’m not happy with this.
I was serious when I said that I hope he pulls his head out of his ass and figures out he belongs with us.
Maybe I should have handled it sooner before it blew up, but I kept hoping he’d wake up and fix it himself.
He’s not out for good, he’s out until he can show a little respect and not resent us for having mates when he doesn’t.
Besides, his mate didn’t deny him, he denied her. ”
“More or less,” Daniel said.
“He shouldn’t have let Cristie leave,” Avaleigh said.
“When did y’all have this blowup?” Daniel asked.
“Two days ago.”
“Two days ago?!” Daniel demanded.
“I was hoping he’d come to me by now. It’s pretty obvious, that’s not happening.”
“So, he’s got one more day to fix this?” Daniel asked.
Brandt shook his head. “I’m not holding him to that. He knows the choice he made, whether he goes today or a couple of days from now, it’s all the same.”
Daniel just shook his head and wandered away for a few feet before coming back to him and Avaleigh and just standing there.
“I’m sorry about all this. It’s not what I wanted to happen,” Brandt said.
“What about his house?” Avaleigh asked.
“The agreement is the same that y’all have with Kaid regarding this property.
You can build your house in whatever spot on the property you choose.
But if you ever leave the clan, or decide for whatever reason that you don’t want to be a part of it anymore, I buy it back from you so you’re not out any money.
The house becomes the property of the clan.
The only exception is like Kiernan and his family.
They’re clan, but not family. They rent. ”
“Do me a favor, Brandt. Don’t buy his house back from him. It sounds like he’d just blow the money at this point,” Daniel said.
“Yes! Please don’t. Make up an excuse if he demands it,” Avaleigh agreed. “Just don’t give him any cash.”
“You alright, love?” Daniel asked.
“No, I’m not. I’m worried about our son,” Avaleigh said. “He’s losing everything he’s ever worked for.”
“I’m going to find him,” Daniel said.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Avaleigh said.
Daniel kissed her quickly, then gathered his keys and his wallet and started for the door.
“I can go with you if you want, Uncle Daniel,” Brandt said.
Daniel thought about it, but shook his head. “No, I think it’s best if I go talk to him alone. Any clue where he is?”
“Check his house. Maybe he’s there. I intentionally didn’t check there this morning in an effort not to have things escalate again. If he’s not there, his girlfriend lives out in the neighborhood behind the grocery store. She drives a little white Taurus. All beat up.”
“Gives me a few places to check at least,” Daniel said.
“Let me know,” Avaleigh said unnecessarily. There was no doubt that Daniel would keep her fully apprised of the situation.
“I will. Don’t worry. We’ll figure it all out,” Daniel promised. Moments later they heard his bike crank, and the rumble of its engine as he drove away.
Brandt remained where he was, his hands shoved into his pockets. “I’m really sorry, Aunt Avaleigh. It’s not what I wanted to happen. I just couldn’t allow his behavior anymore. I thought threatening him with putting him out would wake him up. Instead, he chose to leave.”
“I understand, Brandt. I do. I’m upset, but I know as Alpha, there are lines you have to draw that the rest of us don’t. And it sounds like if he keeps on with his behavior, he’s on a terrible path anyway.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Why don’t you come in the kitchen and let me feed you real quick?” she asked.
“No, thank you. I have to go talk to my own clan. I haven’t really spoken to anybody about it but Tempest. I wanted to tell you first.”
“I appreciate that,” Avaleigh said.
He hugged Avaleigh. “I love you, Aunt Avaleigh. And I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for doing what an Alpha does. Maybe he’ll come around rather than leave.”
“I hope so. I’ve always looked up to Remi. I don’t want him to have to leave, but I can’t have the behavior he’s been conducting either.”
“I know, baby. We love you, too. You take care, you hear,” she said.
“I will. I’ll let you know if I see him or hear from him. I’d appreciate you letting me know if Uncle Daniel finds him and what he says.”
“I will. And let me know when Tempest goes into labor.”
Brandt nodded and gave her a sad smile before he let himself out.
Avaleigh sat down on the sofa and let herself cry. With no one there to see it, she allowed herself to sob freely, but it did nothing to release the worry she carried for her son.
~~~
Brandt paced back and forth across his porch as he waited for all of his clan to assemble in one way or another, while Tempest reclined on a glider rocker just a couple of feet away, gently swaying the rocker back and forth with one foot.
Havoc and Analise, Hellen and Lucien, Kiernan, Abby, and their kids, and Shaun were all there sitting round the outdoor breakfast table.
Barron and Emmalyn were there, though Emmalyn was lying in a lounger a few feet from everybody else with a cool wash cloth across her eyes,and Barron was leaning with his back to the railing and chatting with everybody.
Havoc was talking to Ronan on his phone, while Brandt was holding his phone in his hand, and glancing at it from time to time.
Suddenly Brandt’s phone rang, and he almost dropped it, bobbling it from one hand to the next while trying to answer it. “Christian?” he said into the phone.
“Hey. Sorry we’re a few minutes late calling. I got in from the hospital a couple of hours ago and just passed out. But we’re both awake and here now, though,” Christian said.
“Hi!” Addie said.
“Hey, Addie. Thanks for calling in, I know how important grabbing some sleep while you can is, but this really couldn’t wait.
We’ll be quick, though. I’m going to put y’all on speaker so you don’t miss anything,” Brandt said.
He set his phone down on the table, then looked at Havoc and gestured toward Havoc’s phone.
“I got Ronan on my phone. He’s going on speaker, too,” Havoc said. He swiped the necessary buttons on his screen then set the phone down near Brandt’s. “You hear me, Ronan?”
“Loud and clear. I’m in my dorm while everybody else is at class, so no distractions,” Ronan said.
“We didn’t make you miss class, huh?” Brandt asked.
“No, I always schedule a couple of my classes in the evenings instead of the middle of the day. That gives me a few hours of peace and quiet while everybody else is in class,” Ronan said.
“Smart,” Havoc said.
“Alright, well, let’s get started,” Brandt said.
“What about Remi and Angelle?” Analise asked. “They’re still not here.”
“I’m pretty sure Angelle already knows, and I know she hates these get togethers anyway, so I didn’t make her come,” Brandt said. “Remi, is why we’re all here.”
Everyone focused on Brandt.
“Let me first say, this isn’t something I’m happy about.
But it played out this way, and unfortunately, it’s just the way things are.
The reason I waited so long to tell you, is that I was hoping this would all be cleared up.
That’s not happened, so, here we are. Remi is no longer a member of this clan. ”
Shock, surprise. Questions, and concern came from everyone gathered there.
“I know that you all love him. I love him, too. I’ve always admired Remi and looked up to him, but his recent behavior is not secret.
If you don’t know, you’ve intentionally ignored all the signs.
Unfortunately, my attempts to rein him back in and get him thinking straight backfired.
I told him to get his shit together or he was out of the clan.
He said he didn’t want to be a part of it anyway, and was out.
I gave him three days to get off our land.
That was two days ago. I don’t want this, but he apparently does. ”
“Tell them what caused the break,” Tempest said softly.