Echoes of Fire (The Mercury Pack #4)(35)

“Deadly cute rages,” said Roni.

“It’s not even a berserk rage, which I could at least admire.” Kathy put her hands on her hips. “They’re just downright mean.”

Roni raised a finger. “Adorably mean.”

Once again, Kathy rounded on her daughter. “God, will you stop?”

“No, you stop,” snapped Shaya, firm. “This is Bracken’s mate we’re talking about here, Kathy. He can’t change what she is, and he wouldn’t want to. Whining about Madisyn being a pallas cat is just dumb. Accept it, and move on with your day.”

Kathy flushed. “And when her animal takes a bite out of your ass, literally, then what?”

Roni gaped at her mother. “The pallas cat you fought took an honest-to-God bite out of your ass? Seriously?”

Kathy’s nostrils flared. “We’re not talking about me.” Turning to Bracken, she lifted her chin and seemed about to speak.

“I don’t want to hear it,” said Bracken. “The situation is what it is. Like Shaya said, I can’t change what Madisyn is. Wouldn’t if I could. You don’t have to like her kind—quite frankly, I don’t think she’ll care either way. But out of respect for me, if nothing else, I’m hoping you won’t take out your dislike of her kind on Madisyn. If you do, you and I are going to have big problems. You’re my pack mate, and I respect you. But she’s my true mate, and that makes her a billion times more important to me than you.”

Face red, eyes glittering, Kathy stared at him a moment. He thought she’d argue. Instead, she flounced off in a huff just as Nick came strolling inside with the pups.

Willow curled herself around Bracken’s leg. “I want a monster truck.”

He felt his mouth curve. “I see. Well, maybe your dad will buy you one for your eighteenth birthday.”

Her little button nose wrinkled. “That’s ages away.”

Cassidy, a one-time resident of the shelter who was also a Seer, said, “Maybe your true mate will have one. Then he can give you a ride in it.”

Nick winced, and Bracken knew the Alpha didn’t want to think of his little girl all grown up, dating boys.

Willow cocked her head. “Bracken, did you know that Cassidy’s a virgin?”

Bracken stiffened. “Um . . .” He looked at the others for guidance, but they were all staring at Willow with a kind of horrified amusement.

Cassidy rolled her eyes. “It’s ‘Virgo,’ Willow. ‘Virgo.’”

“Oh.” Willow frowned. “Then what’s a ‘virgin’? Daddy, do you know what it is?”

Eyes wide, mouth bobbing open and closed, Nick thrust a hand through his hair. “It’s, um, a business. It has airlines and other stuff.”

“Oh,” both girls said in unison.

As the two pups joined Caleb and Kent on the rug, Nick blew out a breath like he’d dodged a bullet. He glared at his laughing mate. “That wasn’t funny.”

Shaya flicked away a tear. “No, it was freaking hilarious.”

Shaking his head, Nick turned to Bracken. “On to a different subject . . . I’m guessing my mother didn’t take it well that Madisyn is a pallas cat.”

Marcus shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Something tells me that Madisyn has dealt with way worse than Kathy Axton in her life.”

Roni frowned at her mate. “That doesn’t mean she should have to deal with my mother. I’m sorry she’s being such a pain in the ass, Bracken.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Nick assured him. “I can’t say I’m positive that it’ll achieve anything, but I’ll give it a shot.”

Shaya clasped her hands together. “So when is Madisyn moving here?”

“Not sure yet,” said Bracken. “It won’t be easy to get her to leave her home, especially when it would mean exchanging peace and privacy for pack-life. She’s also unsure how she’ll handle answering to people. I don’t think Madisyn has really recognized many people as actual authority figures, no matter how dominant they are.”

Shaya’s smile slipped away. “Oh, I don’t want her to be leery of joining. We should throw a welcome party.”

Harley’s face scrunched up. “I don’t think she’d appreciate a gathering that’s centered around her.”

“We could throw a barbecue,” suggested Ally. “We could invite Dawn and the Phoenix Pack so that the gathering isn’t so small that it’s too intimate, which would stop Madisyn from feeling awkward. It could be a subtle gesture of welcome.”

While the females started planning the barbecue, Nick strode over to Bracken. “Did Madisyn tell you about the sows?”

“Yes,” replied Bracken. “She couldn’t before because it was shelter business.”

Nick nodded. “Dawn called me last night and explained everything. I had Donovan look into the Maverick Clan. I’d heard a little about them, so I knew they were involved in drugs. It gets worse. There isn’t a lot these bears haven’t dabbled in. Extortion, theft, arson, money laundering, assault—the list goes on. But that doesn’t surprise me, considering they also snatch females from other clans. I mean, what the fuck is that?”

“Something a real Alpha would never do,” said Bracken.