about that, and Jak suddenly felt even more out of place. Be still, don’t move. Don’t become prey. He knew that wasn’t the right word, but it was the best one he had. Animals smelled confusion, and fear, and they took advantage of it. Humans did the same, he knew, but they couldn’t smell it. They used their eyes and their brains instead.
He didn’t yet know if the grandfather was good or bad, and he hoped he was good, but until he knew for sure, he would watch him. This house made him feel funny with its big, cold walls, and its beautiful caged birds, and the people who made strange looks and said things that made him think they were saying other things underneath if he knew how to listen right.
“Speaking of your father, Jak, his downfall began because of a woman.” He seemed angry. “I would hate to see the same thing happen to you.”
Jak sat back, staring at the old man. Harper. He was talking about Harper. A sharp prick of anger made his chest tight. “The woman you brought here today, she’s obviously not of our ilk.”
Jak had some idea what the man was saying, but stayed quiet. Waiting for all the words so he could put them together in his mind. Understand. “The name Fairbanks comes with much privilege, but it also comes with its share of difficulty. Namely, others will want to use you for what you can do for them. It’s why your father ended up on the path he did.” The grandfather gave him a stare and then sighed. “Do you know what a gold digger is, Jak?”
Gold digger. Someone who digs for gold? But he didn’t think the grandfather meant that. He shook his head slowly.
“It’s a woman who wants you for your money, son.”
“I don’t have any money,” he said slowly.
“You didn’t have any money. But you’re a Fairbanks now. All of this”—he waved his hand in the air—“is at your fingertips.”
“What?”
“What is at your fingertips? Why, this house, the opportunities the Fairbanks name opens up for you, perhaps the Fairbanks estate someday, Jak.” He leaned forward, looking thoughtful. “I’ll teach you the basics.” He raised an eyebrow. “And someday maybe . . . you can hire good people to deal with the business specifics.” He sat straighter, looking more . . . hopeful. “Someday you’ll have a son of your own and then all of this will go to him. It’s the way estates work, Jak. It’s the way a family name goes on and on.”
Jak ran everything the grandfather had told him through his mind. The grandfather believed his mother had ruined his father’s life. He thought Harper would ruin Jak’s life too. That she was a gold digger who wanted him for his money. But Harper, she had kissed him before she knew he had anything. Before she even knew he was a Fairbanks. Before he had a last name at all.
Plus, he trusted her. She was honest, and sweet, and she’d cried for Pup because Jak had loved him. And even more than that, he’d scented her. She was his mate. That was all.
The grandfather stood. “In any case, you must be tired. We can talk about this another time.” He looked at the watch on his wrist. “I’ve got to get going. Let me show you to your room. I took the liberty of having our housekeeper, Bernadette, pick up some clothing and whatnot for you.” Jak stood too. He followed him when he left the room, leading him to a staircase so big and wide, he could have lived right there.
His room was down a long hallway with carpet so soft it felt like springtime grass under his feet, even through his shoes. He hopped on it lightly as he walked and the grandfather gave him a look that made him stop. “I hope you’ll be comfortable here, Jak,” the grandfather said as Jak followed him into a large room with a huge bed in the middle with not just one blanket, not just three like Harper’s bed, but so many it looked like Jak would be sleeping on a cloud.
Jak stepped slowly inside. “The bathroom’s behind that door. Your new clothes are in the closet. Just leave your old ones on the floor and the maid will . . . take care of them.” Jak turned back to the grandfather, whose face looked like he’d eaten something bad, but then he changed it