Free Fangs by Kassanna

I’ll let Matos know.”
    “Wait, Dad. I need to tell you I mated Tee.”
    The line was quiet for a second. “Fantastic news, son, but that was a given. I have to go. We’ll celebrate when I get to Volkshire.”
    Myka ended the call and turned to reenter the building. Keen sat on the stoop with a few of his playmates. All of them wore frowns. Myka’s steps faltered. “Hey, Keen, why the long face?
    “I don’t want to go back home yet.” Keen lifted his chin to look at Myka through big puppy eyes.
    “Oh.” Myka crouched to meet Keen at eye level. “I can’t stay. Tee and I have to get back home.”
    Keen’s little friend stuck out his lip. “We can ask Mama if Keen can stay. She won’t say no.”
    Myka pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. “Why don’t we do that? If Sint says he can stay and it’s okay with Percel, we’ll let Keen stay.”
    The boys whooped and spoke in unison. “Okay!” They scrambled to their feet and took off running into the building. Myka strolled behind them. Well, that was easy.

Chapter Eight
     
    Heinrich watched the door, waiting for Colin to make his entrance. His exit was an Oscar-worthy performance. He stood abruptly, sending his chair toppling over, when his phone rang. A quick glance at Matos and a mumbled, “Excuse me” and Colin dashed from the room talking quietly in the mouthpiece. In the wake of his sudden departure, Matos called a break after tempers flared regarding Jamison’s nomination. At least his supporters were making the snake’s recommendation to the Council a bitch to pass. Heinrich rubbed the back of his neck. Something was up and there was only one person he could ask. Unfortunately his sister wasn’t returning his calls and he was guessing blind as to what was going on in Volkshire.
    He’d arranged for his sister to infiltrate the Blaidd compound over a year ago, yet she fed him very little information. Didn’t she realize he was taking down Volkshire for her benefit as well as his own? Those damn wolves were a blight on the shifter society. For a few months their mother, Greta, was Ian Blaidd’s mistress. Colin’s father was the Alpha of the Volkshire pack and head of Council at the time. His mother waited in vain for Ian to claim her, even giving him a bastard son. She died blaming Heinrich until the end that Ian, her great love, had rejected her because of him.
    To his knowledge his mother had been Ian’s secretary and when Ian’s wife died in childbirth, his mother became Ian Blaidd’s solace for a brief span of time. It wasn’t short enough considering his conception. For the duration of his life with Greta all he heard was it was his fault Ian never claimed her.
    He swallowed the rage that threatened to overtake him. The day he’d discovered Ian Blaidd was his father was etched deeply on his mind. One day out of the blue, his mother told him they were taking a short trip and it was a surprise. Heinrich snorted. He’d been so happy and for once his mother was being nice. He was eight and it was his first time to the Council building. That building was currently under renovations to update it. Matos’s office had also been Ian’s and when his plan was complete it would be his workplace.
    Heinrich focused on the seat Colin had left empty seeing his past in vivid color. Up until his mother had taken him to the organization, he’d only imagined what the shifter administrative center looked like. The sights, sounds, and smells of that day assaulted him. Not bothering to hide her impatience, his mother had tapped her shoe on the marble floor of the lobby while they waited for the elevator. She’d dragged him by the arm down a hallway that stunk of old paper so fast he had to run to keep up. He had no clue where she was taking him but to be around shifters that were warriors was a dream come true. These men were his heroes. The tales of how they lived and their battles were spoken in hushed tones with unmitigated reverence. When