The Scarred Heart (Wilde Creek Book 5)

by R. E. Butler

  “Bears love fiercely,” Kammie said.

  “So true.”

  “I know some wolves who love fiercely as well, but our people are very different, especially in how females are treated.”

  Desendra said, “I’m disappointed with how females are treated in your pack. You should never have been treated as if you were of no value. I’ve only known you a day and I already adore you. You’re sweet and funny, and you survived a shitty childhood to become a female fierce enough to defend yourself.”

  Kammie looked down at the batch of grape jelly. “I never thought I’d be anything but what I’d been defined as by the pack. It’s very freeing to be able to make my own choices.”

  Desendra nodded. “It’s never a good idea to let others tell you who you are.”

  Kammie knew that was true. She wasn’t going to let anyone limit her again. She was her own person. She’d found strength at the core of herself – because of Row and his confidence in her, but also for herself. She wished she’d been strong enough to fight off her uncle, but there was no use in wishing for things that were in the past. She had a bright future ahead of her, and that was all that mattered.

  Chapter 11

  Row smiled as he listened to Kammie tell his mom all about Wilde Creek while they drove down Main Street, heading to her house. Time had flown while they’d stayed in the sleuth, and Row would’ve rather done anything than bring her back to the people who hadn’t protected her when she was most vulnerable. But they were coming back with a good purpose – to pack her the hell up.

  “It’s a wonderful little town,” his mom said.

  “I’ve lived here my whole life. It’s a mixture of wolves and humans. Wolves own a lot of the businesses and hire pack members to work for them. I like the sleuth, though. It’s self-sustaining without feeling isolated.”

  Row pulled to a stop in front of Kammie’s home. The back of his truck was filled with packing boxes. None of the furniture was Kammie’s – it had all come with the house – so they hadn’t needed to rent a trailer. When they left Wilde Creek, his mom would drive Kammie’s car and follow them.

  “Do we need to check in with the alphas, since I’m a stranger to your people?” his mom asked.

  Kammie said, “I texted Alpha Brynn that we were on the way and told her you were coming with us. I said we’d stop by and see them tonight.”

  Row got out of the truck and Kammie and his mom joined him. “I hope you can pack fast,” he said. “I want to get home.”

  “You’re such a homebody,” Kammie teased.

  “It’s a good thing when I have your sweet face to come home to.”

  Her cheeks pinked and he chuckled as he kissed her.

  Kammie was reaching for her key to unlock the door when it opened and Dani appeared, throwing her arms around their mother and hugging her. “I’m so glad you’re here!”

  “Oh, I missed you, sweet girl,” his mom said. He could scent her tears and he put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed.

  “Come and meet my mate, Mom,” Dani said.

  They followed her into the house and found several boxes stacked neatly against one wall. Adam straightened from where he had been putting a bunch of DVDs into the top box, and smiled.

  “Welcome back.”

  “What did you do?” Kammie asked.

  “Don’t be mad,” Dani said, “but I told Adam that it would be nice for us to help you out and pack for you. I know you’re anxious to get back to Oakville. I would’ve been happy to send you your things, but Adam said you had to personally talk to the alphas about leaving so you would need to come here anyway.”

  Kammie looked up at Row and grinned. “Did you know about this?”

  “No, but I’m glad. I hate packing.”

  “Me too,” Kammie said.

  “Me three,” their mom said.

  Kammie moved to Dani and hugged her. “You’re the best sister I could’ve ever hoped for.”

  “I always wanted a sister,” Dani said.

  Kammie stepped away as Dani introduced their mom to Adam. She joined Row in the kitchen, leaning against him and wrapping her arms around his waist. “I can’t believe how sweet your sister is.”

  “She’s your sister too.”

  “I know.”

  Row kissed the top of her head and looked around the kitchen. The cabinet doors were open and the shelves were empty. Dani and Adam had been working hard to pack up for Kammie, and Row was thankful. The less time they were in Wilde Creek, the less chance there was for someone to hurt her feelings. She was a much stronger female now than she was when they first met, but he couldn’t help but want to protect her from anything bad.

  They joined Adam, Dani, and their mom in the family room and began to help with what was left of the packing. It wasn’t much; the house was almost completely packed up. It didn’t take long for the five of them to finish, load the truck and car with boxes, and make plans to have dinner at Luna’s, a pack-owned restaurant in town. But first they had to stop at the alphas’ home, which Row wasn’t looking forward to.

  * * * * *

  Acksel Moore leaned back on the couch and listened to his mate talk to Kammie about leaving the pack. The she-wolf had alerted them she was coming back to town after nearly two weeks away with her mate, and that she’d brought her mother-in-law with her. He could see that Brynn was upset, but he knew it was because she liked Kammie and didn’t want her to go.

  When the call ended, Brynn turned into his shoulder and he hugged her close, kissing the top of her head. “It’ll be okay, sweetheart,” he said.

  “I’m going to miss her.”

  “Of course, but she’s got a mate who doesn’t fit in with us.”

  “He would if you’d change the laws.”

  Acksel stifled a sigh. She had no idea how hard it was to be the alpha male. He’d made many changes to pack law since he mated her, but doing so meant messing with the traditions of their people. He was all for progress, but he couldn’t just scrap everything because his mate had a tender heart.

  “The laws are there for a reason. I know you’re worried about the future and our pups, and I am also to an extent, but I can only make so many changes at once or I risk losing pack members.”

  “We’ve lost some anyway, since you mated me.” She tipped her head back and looked at him. He was struck momentarily mute by her beauty. That she was his, and willing to let him see her naked, made him thank his lucky stars every night.

  “Because I changed the laws to do it. I know you don’t like the hierarchy system, sweetheart, but it’s in place for a reason. The strongest protect the weakest. And before you protest, I know that my predecessor failed to keep Kammie safe and she’s paid the price for that all these years. I can’t change how people think. The females see her as weak, partly because of the scars, but partly because the former alpha didn’t care enough to stop what was happening to her.”

  “The laws say that injured males and females are the lowest of the ranks, and never allows them to change their status unless they mate someone of higher rank. I know you wouldn’t allow someone to beat a child the way that Kammie’s uncle hurt her, but it’s just monstrously unfair that she’s been held down all these years by other females because of something out of her control.”

  He stared into his mate’s beautiful eyes. “What is it you really want here?”

  “I want everyone to pull their own weight equally. Did you know that there are females who never lift a finger? If we say that all omegas work for the pack, then why don’t all of them actually work?”

  “You’d have the work divvied up more fairly.”

  She nodded. “I think someone should be in charge of the omegas who understands each one’s particular skills and needs. Some of the omegas need help, but that’s what the stewards are for. We’ve got females and males in their twenties who aren’t lifting a finger for anyone but themselves. I just found out that Kammie used to clean some females’ homes for them. Just
because she has some scars on her body doesn’t mean she’s a maid, for goodness sake.”

  He kissed Brynn and she made a soft sound in her throat. “You’re so caring, sweetheart,” he murmured against her lips.

  “I care most about you,” she said. “But I also care about the pack members, and I wish there was a more equal distribution of the workload. Dade is handling the stewards, and I love that, especially with Adam and Dani joining Jeremiah and Honey, but I wish there was someone like a steward who watched over the omegas. If Kammie and Row were staying, we could’ve put them in charge.”

  Acksel didn’t think that would’ve worked. Although Row was fierce, Kammie would have trouble getting some of the omegas to accept her in a position of power. Wolves could be weird about who bossed who around. It was easier with males, who could simply fight it out. Omegas didn’t fight for rank.

  “I want to have a going-away party for Kammie tonight. I talked to Dani and Adam about it, and they’re going to stop here first so Kammie can say goodbye to us, but we’ll really be sending her off with a nice party.”

  “If that’s what you want.”

  “I think it’s a good idea. I want to show her that she’s important to me and to the pack. She might not have been treated well, but there are people who will miss her dearly, including me. It wasn’t just because she cooked for us, but because she always had a smile on her face and was willing to do anything to help. She has a really giving heart and I think that should be celebrated. I want her to have a good last memory of the pack and to wish her well in the future.”

  “We can do that, just tell me what you need and I’ll arrange it.”

  “I want the ranked males to help out, not the omegas.”

  He blinked in surprise. “What?”

  “I know I can’t change everything now, but I’d like to do this. Just for tonight, let the ranked males help out and get a taste of how hard the omegas work.”

  Acksel didn’t think it would go over well with the ranked males to do something previously done by omegas, but he could see Brynn’s point. And he’d even help himself. Mentally making a list of males who would do the work without being assholes about it, he leaned in to kiss his mate, but she drew back slightly.

  She gripped his wrist and narrowed her eyes. “I don’t want you to mark Kammie.”

  “What?” Acksel blinked, wondering what the hell she was talking about.

  “For her to leave the pack. I won’t let you put another scar on her. I let you slide about a lot of things, Acksel, but I’m putting my foot down. She leaves the pack without a single scar from you or I’m going to become very difficult.” Her eyes blazed brightly.

  “Difficult? You mean you’re not difficult right now?” he teased, and she snarled softly.

  “You haven’t seen me be difficult.”

  He snorted, and then threaded his hands through her hair and drew her closer. He kissed her nose and her cheeks before brushing his lips lightly over her. She sighed and melted into him, and he smiled inwardly, knowing how easy it was to distract her with sex. Of course, later she’d remember and then she’d be pissed.

  “I wasn’t planning to mark her. I only mark those who have been forced to leave, like the males who tried to hurt my sister and eventually came for you. The laws are very clear – in instances where a pack member leaves because they’ve found a mate or because of extenuating circumstances like job loss or family emergency, they leave with the alphas’ blessing and aren’t marked.” He rubbed his thumbs behind her ears and she smiled. “No need to put your foot down, my fierce mate.”

  She opened her eyes and smiled mischievously. “I’d like to put my foot down about you leaving your underwear on the bathroom floor.”

  He growled and pulled her close, kissing her as she giggled. “I love you.”

  “Oh Acksel, I love you too. Even if you do leave your underwear everywhere.”

  * * * * *

  Row stared out the window at the alphas’ home. The house was dark, and the guards who’d been patrolling the yard the first time he and Kammie had come to visit weren’t visible.

  “Are you sure they said we should come tonight?” he asked. His mom, sister, and brother-in-law were in the backseat. “Maybe Brynn meant tomorrow night.”

  “I’m positive,” Kammie said. “I told her we were going to dinner and she asked if we could stop by before, since she’s been going to bed earlier because of her pregnancy.”

  Row unbuckled. “I’ll leave the SUV on so you don’t freeze out here.”

  “I’d like to come meet the alphas,” his mom said.

  Row turned in the seat. “Why?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve never met alpha wolves before. Plus, I’d like to meet the people who run the pack that Dani’s a part of now.”

  “I’m not really in the pack,” Dani pointed out, “since I’m not a wolf.”

  “But you’re going to be working with Adam as a steward, and…oh really, do I have to explain myself? I’m your mother and I said I’m going,” she huffed.

  Kammie chuckled. “It’s fine with me. Brynn’s really sweet.”

  “I’m sure she is,” his mom said.

  Row turned off the engine and got out, coming around quickly to Kammie’s side to guide her up the sidewalk. He offered his mom his other elbow and she latched on with a chuckle. “Such a gentleman.”

  “You always said chivalry was important,” he said.

  “Thanks for that,” Kammie said.

  His mom laughed. “His father was old-school chivalrous. Row takes after him in many ways.”

  He could hear the sadness creep into her voice. Even after all these years, she still missed his dad. He wished he could’ve known him.

  They walked up the sidewalk and onto the front porch. Row didn’t think anyone was home, and he figured they’d all trooped up to the house for nothing. Kammie rang the bell and leaned against him with a yawn.

  He was about to ask her if she wanted to skip dinner and go to bed early, when the front door swung open and Acksel stood in the doorway. “Come on in.”

  He disappeared into the darkness. Row’s hackles rose immediately, but Kammie moved forward, and he wasn’t about to let her go in without him. As soon as she crossed the threshold, an overhead light clicked on and a large group of people shouted, “Surprise!”

  Kammie pressed her hand to her heart as she gasped. Noisemakers were blown and the people cheered and clapped. Row looked at his mom and sister; they were smiling in a way that told him they already knew about the surprise party.

  “So that’s why you didn’t need to explain yourself?” Row asked his mom.

  She winked. “Sue me for liking surprises.”

  Brynn and Acksel stood in the center of the front room, with other wolves gathered around them. Brynn said, “We’re sorry to see you go, Kammie, and we wanted you to know that you’ll be missed greatly.”

  Brynn moved forward and hugged Kammie, slowly pulling her away from Row and into the group of wolves. He let her go even though he didn’t want to, because he knew it was important to her to get to say goodbye to her people.

  He joined Kammie and extended his hand to Acksel.

  “Thank you,” Row said.

  “Kammie was an asset to the pack. She’s going to be missed.”

  Brynn clapped her hands and the crowd quieted. She put her arm around Kammie and said, “I can’t believe you’re leaving, but I’m so happy you found your truemate. Hunting’s a good thing I guess, huh?” She smiled and winked at Kammie.

  “It can be,” Kammie murmured, casting a glance at Row.

  “I know you’re heading out to dinner, but I hope you have time to stay and have some finger food and a piece of cake.”

  To Row’s surprise, the males who’d been guarding the house the last time walked out of the kitchen with platters of food and set them on a card table against one wall. Kammie’s brow furrowed, and Acksel cleared his throat. “Brynn suggested that it wouldn’
t hurt for the guards to know how to peel carrots and set the table.”

  “I was a real slave-driver today,” Brynn said.

  Adam introduced Row and Dani’s mom to the alphas while the crowd mingled and ate. Brynn and a female named Mia bracketed Kammie on the couch, asking for details about the bear sleuth and what she was going to be doing in Oakville.

  Someone cleared his throat and Row turned to face a tall, broad-shouldered male holding a young boy. “I’m Malachi Slattery. This is my son, Jack.” He gestured to the couch where another female, with dark blonde hair, joined the others on the couch. “My mate is Nila. She’s sad to see Kammie go. When she had trouble with her former mate, Kammie helped out by letting Nila’s friend stay with her while she recovered from an attack.”

  “Kammie will miss some aspects of the pack,” Row said.

  Jack wiggled in his arms and said in a very stern baby voice, “Carrot!” Malachi put the boy down, tousling his hair and smiling as the boy hurried to Nila. “I’m glad that things will be different for her with your people. Brynn, my sister, and my mate went to see Dani, and she told them about the sleuth. I’m sure you don’t have a good opinion of wolves right now, but things will get better with time.”

  “Your alpha seems happy to carry on tradition.”

  “He is, but he’s also anxious about his own family’s future. If his children don’t shift, they’ll be omegas. For an alpha male, that would be hard to take. I personally don’t care if mine and Nila’s children shift. I just want them to be happy.”

  Row nodded. “I think that’s a wish all parents have.”

  “The good ones, anyway.” Malachi said. “Dani won’t technically be part of the pack, but she’s going to become an honorary steward, and she and Adam will work with Jeremiah and Honey, who are running late because they were working with the retirees.”