Oath Sworn - K.N. Banet Page 0,86
up. I was in werecat form and she…ended up having to pull the bullet out of me.”
He froze, his eyes going wide. “My daughter…had to treat your wounds?”
“It was silver. I couldn’t Change back and there was no one I could call,” I explained.
“God damn it.” That made him lean over, groaning. Again, I saw the immensely worried father and not the steel-spined Alpha. “How did she do?”
“Well enough for an eleven-year-old digging around in my shoulder with tongs.” I was able to summon a weak smile. “You remind me of each other.”
“She got my eyes,” he said, going back to cleaning the stitched gun shot on my gut.
“More than that. You both have steel in you that the world can see, but then you have these…flashes of vulnerability. Well, maybe that’s not the right word for it. You cope and hide things until something reminds you of it, and then it shows up for just a second, whatever you’re feeling underneath those defenses.” I sighed. “There were moments where I could get her to smile and laugh, playing video games and keeping her busy, unable to dwell on everything going on. Then something…we would get talking and the tears would come. They would end soon enough, but I had to always remember that a fragile, scared girl was hiding underneath a veneer of strength. Her daddy taught her to be strong, and she knew how wolf packs worked. It didn’t make it hurt less.”
He blatantly stared at me, sorrowful eyes boring into my damn soul. “I couldn’t let her grow up ignorant to the world her brothers and I are a part of.”
“Of course not,” I agreed. “Tell me about your sons while we’re here, if you refuse to give me an update on what’s going on. I want to hear about the brothers who always cheated to beat her in video games.”
Heath laughed roughly, nodding. “They’re both old wolves as well, so modern technology…we don’t always get along. She’s got great hand-eye coordination on top of it. She beats all of us. The boys tickle her to cheat.”
“Oh, I heard. I finally gave up trying to beat her and did the same thing.”
He continued to laugh. “Ah…Richard. He’s my oldest, I think I’ve told you. My son from when I was still human. He’s been a constant companion and family since the day he was born. Except for when I was fighting for America’s freedom.”
“A real patriot, aren’t you?” I chuckled.
“I like to think I was one of the first,” he said, the smile sticking now. I was grateful, because I didn’t want any more of that damn intense stare. “Landon was born during the Civil War. Here’s a picture of us all together, actually.” He pulled out his cellphone and flicked his finger and tapped until he turned it for me to see. He pointed to the man who looked damn near exactly like him. “That’s Richard.” He pointed to a mixed young man who looked very little like the rest of the family. “That’s Landon. Landon’s mother was an escaped werewolf slave. Oh yeah, supernaturals had a problem with slavery too, especially being enslaved to humans, and she was a person of color so she got it from all sides. She and I met while I was fighting with the Union, knowing if we could end it, then wolves and humans like her would be able to walk free.” He trailed off for a moment and sighed. “She died helping others escape about three years after Landon was born. Richard didn’t fight, opting to take care of his new baby brother for me.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” Then I couldn’t resist just a touch of humor. “Three children with three different mothers,” I noted, raising an eyebrow. “Woah there, stud.”
“You think I’m a stud?” He looked as shocked as I felt.
“You’re…an attractive man,” I finally said as my face heated. “I was trying to make fun of you.”
“Of course you were, but you called me a stud, and there’s nothing insulting about that. Honestly, thank God someone finds me a catch. Three children and all of this? Ha. I can’t get a date to save my life.”
“I can’t help you with that,” I said blandly, trying to play off my own embarrassment. “And I never said you were a catch. A stud, for most animals, is just very good at getting others pregnant.”
“Hm, but certain things are required to get women pregnant, and isn’t a stud