Chapter 1 #2
Galen and Julian hadn’t grown up together.
They’d recently taken DNA tests to prove that the whispers were true.
Julian’s mother had mated with Galen’s father — something people had gossiped about for decades — but Julian had been raised with another pack leader as his father and Galen had always believed he was an only child.
Both shifters were still coming to grips with the revelation.
“Don’t you want me to call him your brother?” I asked when he didn’t immediately respond.
“I don’t know.” Galen’s expression had turned pensive and I hated that I’d ruined our good time. “He is my brother. It’s just … weird.”
“I thought you liked Julian.”
He lifted one shoulder. “I like him well enough. I mean, I have no reason not to like him. He’s been forthcoming with his plans. The pack needs new leadership and he would be a step into this century for them.”
“But?”
“I grew up an only child. That’s the life I know. I was always somewhat removed from the pack because my mother believed we were above them.” He fell silent, searching for the right words. “Don’t you think I’m a bit old to have a new brother?”
“Not if you want a brother,” I said. “Julian could be good for you. You’re kind of spoiled and set in your ways. So is he. You’ll both have to learn to compromise to get along with one another.”
“I am not spoiled.”
I laughed at his outrage. “I can’t help but notice that you’re not arguing about being set in your ways.”
“Being stubborn is different.” His eyes moved up and he brushed a flyaway strand of my black hair from my face. “You’re spoiled.”
“I’m a little spoiled,” I said. “I’m not a brat or anything.”
He arched an eyebrow.
“I am not a brat,” I insisted, my voice ratcheting up a notch.
“See, it’s not fun to be called spoiled, is it?” His eyes gleamed with amusement and he leaned in for another kiss. This time, he rested his forehead against mine. “I like spoiling you,” he said in a low voice.
“I like when you spoil me.” I wanted to comfort him. He’d been tightlipped about the Julian situation since it had been confirmed two weeks ago. “Have you talked to your mother?”
Galen pulled back and stared at me in abject horror. “You did not just bring up my mother as I was trying to be sweet and romantic.”
Here’s the thing about me: I speak before I think. Not occasionally, almost always. I can’t seem to help myself. If there’s a situation I can make worse by saying the exact wrong thing, that’s what I’ll say. It’s part of my charm.
Galen’s relationship with his mother Marjory Blackwood was a mess. She’d fought Galen and Julian taking the DNA test because she already knew the truth. Once Galen had told his mother he was taking the test, she’d ceased speaking with him.
She wasn’t talking to me either, which made things really difficult because she served as my office manager in the mayor’s office. She put messages from constituents on my desk and informed me in clipped tones when someone wanted a meeting. Other than that, she was completely quiet.
“Sorry.” I offered him a sheepish smile. “I didn’t mean to ruin your mojo.”
“Nothing ruins my mojo.” He was deadly serious. “I could do it in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.”
“You should put that on your resumé.”
He smirked, then sighed. “Things with my mother are … not great.”
That was the understatement of the year.
“She is purposely difficult. I refuse to apologize. It’s a stalemate.”
“So the first who gives in loses,” I said.
He shifted uncomfortably.
“You’re both stubborn,” I added. “If one of you gives in, the other will have power for the foreseeable future.”
“Do you really think I’m that petty?”
He didn’t really want me to answer that, did he? I stared him down.
He held my gaze for an extended beat, considering, then growled. “Fine. I’m not losing. You caught me. I’ll die before I lose.”
I had to bite back a laugh.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he said. “You think I’m juvenile. Well, I don’t care. She’s far more juvenile.”
I didn’t point out that an argument over who was more juvenile was pretty much as juvenile as it gets.
“You’ll know when you’re ready to make up with your mother.” I took his hand and traced my fingers over his palm. “I have faith that you’ll do the right thing.”
“Oh, don’t phrase it like that.” Galen looked pained. “I have to work this out with my mother on my own time, Hadley. She and I have had a difficult relationship my entire life. I can’t let her have her way on this. Not this time.”
“Because you’re worried what she will do to get rid of Julian?” I asked, curiosity winning out over tact.
Galen’s eyes flew toward mine. “I hadn’t even considered that, but you’re right. She’ll start underhanded machinations to get rid of him. In her mind, if he’s gone everyone will forget him.”
This was a tricky situation. “What do you want?” I asked.
His expression was blank. “What do you mean?”
“What do you want?” I repeated. “Do you want a brother? Do you want an acquaintance? You get to decide. Julian will follow your lead.”
“If I tell you I don’t know what I want yet, will you think less of me?”
“Of course not. That’s a very human reaction. I would want time to figure it out too.”
“Here’s the thing.” He licked his lips. “I think it’s going to be easier to figure out what I want if I don’t have my mother breathing down my neck with her demands.”
“Your mother doesn’t get to decide the pace,” I said. “I’m with you no matter what.”
“And that’s why I love you.” He gave me a hard kiss. “And you love me because I’m far better looking than Booker, right?”
All I could do was laugh. “Something like that.”