Free Fangs by Kassanna Page A

he read the name on the door where she stopped, he was giddy with excitement. Ian Blaidd, the Great White Wolf.
     Ian was a legend in shifter circles, a large and imposing man with a mane of pure white hair. Greta urged him through the door. Even then, as he stood in front of Ian it felt like he waited for a judgment from God. Heinrich rubbed his chest over his heart, lost in the memories. Ian had looked down at him and smiled inquiring who he was. Greta insisted he was Ian’s son and he should be publicly acknowledged as such. She shoved him before Ian and grabbed his small chin demanding that Ian look at him.
    Hot tears had run down his face from her harsh treatment as she jerked him about. In that moment the great wolf became his savior, tugging her off him and moving her to the side. Ian then took out his billfold and pulled out a few dollars. He pushed them in his hand and gently urged him out the office, telling him to go downstairs to the café. Heinrich snorted. He’d never been so glad to get away from his mother, and he practically ran from the room. 
    His mother found him in the small restaurant, sipping on his second milkshake. Black smudges circled her eyes while white streaks trailed her cheeks. She said nothing, yanked him from the seat, and marched him through the rotating glass doors. After that she took to her bed, leaving him to fend for himself. When she finally emerged from the bedroom, it was to tell him he was the reason Ian Blaidd never wanted to see her again. That if she’d been able, she would have terminated the pregnancy since he didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as his father. Right then he made the connection and it hit him like a thunderbolt of understanding.
     He was Ian Blaidd’s son and the Great White Wolf wanted nothing to do with him. It shouldn’t have surprised him, after all neither did his mother. She ignored him after that and married a coyote. He wasn’t an Alpha but he treated her well and actually tried to be a father to him. The man even adopted him so that they shared the same last name. His mother’s indifference and the way she doted on his half siblings hardened his resolve to wipe the Blaidd line out by any means necessary. The only sibling he had a relationship with was his sister Amelia. The others took their cues from their mother, treating him with disdain.
     Amelia, she’d given the only unconditional love he’d ever had or known. As a pup, she followed him around, ignoring their mother’s constant put-downs. Lately, she’d been avoiding him. Fear lifted its ugly head and yawned into a bottomless abyss, cutting through him like a sharp blade. Was it possible he was losing the only constant in his life to that shit pack in Volkshire? 
    It had taken him some time but it looked like his plan was finally coming to fruition. He needed to get Amelia back on board and inform Seri of his next step. He watched as the committee members started to take their seats. Heinrich sat down and half listened to the murmurs of his kindred clans. Colin made his entrance, a huge smile on his face.
    Heinrich narrowed his eyes. The wolf looked smug. A quick glance at the other shifters revealed nothing. Even Jamison had his features schooled into one of nonchalance. He looked up in time to catch Colin looking at him. The bastard gave him a slow triumphant smile and nodded his head.
    Colin cleared his throat. “Council chair, may I speak? I have information that will affect any future nominations and rulings.”
    Heinrich turned his head and watched the farce unfold. Matos seemed to be enjoying whatever was happening. He lifted his chin and responded with a sharp bob.
    “Thank you. I dispatched my youngest son on a diplomatic mission. Seems there are some clans out there that have not been counted by Council. Their numbers are large enough to qualify for seats at this table to be represented as is their right and according to our laws.” Colin pulled a stack of papers