The Vow (Black Arrowhead #1) - Dannika Dark Page 0,18
“You can leave off the formal title. Most people call me Father or Chief, and I am neither to you.”
“I’m Melody.”
He chuckled and looked at my hair. “Of course you are. And tell me about your family, Melody…”
“Cole. Melody Cole. I’m recently independent, but I grew up in the Weston pack. My uncle’s the Packmaster, and his brother is the beta. We’re a tight family. My brothers are both alphas,” I added, hoping that would impress him.
“Twin alphas,” he said, connecting the dots. “Very uncommon.” Shikoba hooked his finger on the bowl and dragged it toward him. “You come from a good family that sticks together. Many brothers separate because of pride.”
“All of my uncles live in the same pack.”
“I heard about your troubles when the war broke out. Austin Cole carries a solid reputation with the Iwa tribe. It’s a shame he doesn’t hold the daughters of his pack closer. Our women stay unless they choose to mate someone from another tribe.”
“So they’re just waiting around to get mated?” I grimaced, realizing the moment the remark flew out of my mouth that it sounded like an insult.
Shikoba plucked another blackberry from the bowl and slowly chewed on it. “Our women hunt, fish, garden, build, and help the men with teaching the children. If they choose not to mate, they will still have a place in my home. They are equals in this house. Are they not in yours?”
“We believe it causes issues if the children don’t leave the home when they come of age.”
His eyebrows arched knowingly. “Those issues can be easily resolved. I would much rather see the men leave my pack than the women. They are the foundation this tribe is built upon. If two men cannot resolve their differences because of their affections for the same woman, then one of them must go.” His eyes flashed down to my turquoise necklace, and he admired it. “Do you know what that necklace means?”
I furrowed my brow and lifted the turtle-shaped pendant encased in silver. “Hope made it.”
He picked a seed from between his teeth. “Everything we make with our hands tells a story, and if it doesn’t, it’s not worth having. Every small detail, every bend of the metal, every color of the stone, every imperfection—it is like reading a book. You should ask your friend someday the story that goes with that necklace you wear so frivolously around your neck. She chose a cracked stone for the body, and that is very unusual.”
I hadn’t realized I was touching my bracelet until his gaze skated down.
“Sister,” he read off the metal. “Perhaps you don’t need to ask after all. I wonder if your spirit animals knew each other in another life.”
I nodded. Who am I to argue? “We heard you’re one of the best and distribute top-quality stones.”
“It’s unfortunate for you.”
“Why’s that?” I asked, reaching in my purse for the notebook with our sales figures and projected earnings for the year.
“I don’t deal with whiteskins.”
My hopes were dashed, but I didn’t have the sense he was trying to be offensive. Perhaps I just needed to win him over. Undeterred, I held a neutral expression and set the notebook on the table between us. “These are the numbers we’ve done so far this year. I have a monthly calculation of our profit increase as well as new-customer growth. I’m sure Hope filled you in that we’re opening a store soon. We’re already backed up with preorders and need to stock up our inventory.”
He pushed the notebook away. “Numbers aren’t important to me.”
“Then what is?”
He rested his arms on the table and gave me a dispassionate look. “What do you think my people value above all else?”
Without hesitation, I answered, “Family. Loyalty.”
Shikoba nodded. “Unless you have ancient tribal blood flowing in your veins, I cannot trust you. No white man has ever made a deal with my people that wasn’t to benefit himself.”
“I’m not those men,” I said sharply, holding my ground. “I’m a wolf, and that should be trust enough. Our cultures are different, but your family’s not so different from mine. We bleed for each other and fight to protect what’s ours. I know the value of trust, and that’s what I’m offering you.”
“And what of your last supplier?” he asked, leaning back in his chair, arms folded. “Why are you in need of a replacement so close to the opening of your store?”
I mulled the question over. “He raised his prices,” I said truthfully.