Free Unraveling Midnight by Stephanie Beck Page B

actions were so heinous she was killed. My mother came and saved the kids while Tiffany’s new boyfriend was trying to kill me. Damn it, this all sounds so bad…”
    “It’s okay, get it all out, Scott. If you say it’s a fluke, I’ll believe you because I can see you’re a wonderful father. I’m sure most parents are as loving and generous.”
    He nodded and blew out a deep breath. “Thanks. Anyway, after the big blow up—none of the kids were hurt, thank God—my family backed completely away from us. I was hurt and, honestly, what could I say about Tiffany? She was nuts and if she’d been anyone else’s mate, I wouldn’t have wanted her near my family. I didn’t see the banishment for the rest of us coming.”
    “Why did they kick you all out?” she asked. “I’d think with the threat gone and all of you needing help that your family would close ranks and help keep you all safe.”
    “I thought so too.” His sad smile made her heart clench. He took a long drink of his beer. “My mom and dad came to me in the hospital—”
    “Hospital? I thought you were super strong.”
    “Yeah, well, the other guy didn’t make it, but he took a chunk out of my spine before he finally died.”
    “Oh, Scott.”
    “Anyway, I had to have bolts put in so I could stay upright long enough to heal. While I was in surgery, the pack voted us out. My mom and dad brought the kids to the hospital the morning after the attack and left them with me. Mom said they were tainted and couldn’t be trusted within the pack.”
    “ Tainted . Oh no.”
    He nodded. “Yep. So they stayed with me in the hospital and after I was well enough to leave, we headed here. There’s a pack in Haven, Pennsylvania. They’re a good bunch and they’re considering us for membership into their pack but, hell, they’re in the same boat as our home pack was. If the mental thing is hereditary…”
    “It could be so many other things,” Lucy protested. “Punishing a child for something that might happen is ridiculous. You’re better off without those mongrels.”
    “I’d agree most days, but it’s hard to be without pack, especially for the young ones. They’re so reliant on instinct at this point and they know they should be surrounded by family and other Weres showing them how to act. They’ve only got me.”
    No wonder he protected the kids so fiercely and sometimes looked like the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. The future of the three kids did and, in his world, if he was gone, they’d have nobody. The foster system for people was cruel and sad at times, but she couldn’t imagine what it would be like for a werewolf pup.
    She reached across the patio table and rested her hand over Scott’s. “The kids are so lucky to have you. They know how much you love them and when that’s right, everything else lines up, with time.”
    He smiled at her and turned his hand so they were palm to palm. “I heard what Ross said to you. Thanks for being so kind. I think we’re all missing nice females in our lives. You’re right, I love them and do my best to show it, but when a good female, when one like you is near… Well, we’ve never been lucky enough to have a female like you in our lives. You’re one in a million, Lucy.”
    He was kind, but he was also wrong. She was just another woman, maybe even a touch on the boring side, but it was nice being liked. She liked them too.
    “I like your kids, Scott. I’d love to take them to the zoo or something in the next few weeks—wait, is it safe to take werewolf kids around other animals?”
    He laughed. “Yeah, it’s safe enough. They get a little entranced with the small mammal exhibits, but they don’t bite or anything. Maybe we could all go together next week if you’ve got some time. I’ll buy you the ice cream we didn’t get the other night.”
    She’d forgotten about their interrupted trip for cold treats. So much had happened in only a few days.
    “I’m getting the