Page 35 of Havenfall Harbor
“Sounds like Riley,” Chuck confirms.
I turn to look at some of the faces. Most of them are older, too old to offer my help to, but they need to know about Havenfall anyway. “Havenfall is a safe place for you, Jacob,” I tell him, but I hope the others are listening. “They can help you, and other young people like you. It’s a school and a place to live. A place where you can build a future with others like yourself.”
“You’re human. What do you have to do with it?” The voice comes from a man near the front of the group, and it’s rife with disdain.
“Watch it,” Evan growls.
“I am human.” I bring my hand up to my chest, understanding the mistrust. “But they aren’t, neither is anyone else. At Havenfall, I’m the minority.”
“She’s right, you don’t need to live like this. There are places out there for people like us. Places that can help you get on your feet, so you can decide if you want to be pack or not.” Evan adds.
“Like there’s a choice.” The bitter words are spoken by a woman, she’s probably thirty, maybe older considering she’s a shifter and they age differently.
“There is a choice, I’m not pack. I live with several different shifter species who aren’t part of a pack. We govern ourselves. We don’t follow arbitrary laws just because someone else says we need to.” I hear a scoffing sound at Evan’s words. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have rules. Everyone has rules. We’re building a future whereeveryonecan be equal,” he continues, explaining it much better than I could, plus they would trust him more than me.
“So what do you say, Jacob, will you come with us?” I really don’t want him to feel forced, but I can’t leave him here either.
“Now? Tonight?” Jacob looks around. I can’t tell if he wants to come now, or if he wants to stay here longer.
I glance up at Griffin. He’s been really quiet most of the time, but it seems like he’s the one in charge of all our plans. It’s Evan who answers though. “We’ll give you time to gather your belongings, but yes, you’ll need to come with us now.”
“Grab your bag, boy,” Chuck orders immediately.
“Wait.” Thomas stands up again, his lips pinched in a frown. “You leave now, boy, and you better never come back.”
“I only stayed because I knew she would come for me.” Jacob’s teeth are clenched so tight only his lips move when he speaks.
“Then where is she? I’m the one that’s been taking care of you. You’re going to trust the word of these people over mine?” Thomas’s shoulders go back and his hands ball into fists.
I get a sick feeling in my stomach. He’s not acting like an alpha worried about losing a pack member, not that I really know what that looks like, but he’s acting more like a jilted lover.
“You sound worried about me, Alpha.” Jacob’s words drip with sarcasm.
“You ungrateful little fucker.” Thomas takes a step forward with his hand raised as if to strike Jacob. Before the gasp even falls from my lips, Evan is between them with Thomas’s arm clutched in his hand to stop the blow.
“Is that how you run your pack?” The disgust Evan is feeling is clear by his tone and the sneer on his lips.
“He needs to respect me.” Thomas averts his gaze from Evan.
“Have you earned it? Tell me, what have you done for these people but hold them back?” Evan shakes Thomas’s arm hard enough that the man ends up stumbling.
“I took them in when no one else would. I let them live here.” Thomas bristles at the accusations.
“Bullshit!” Evan shoves Thomas, and he ends up flat on his ass. “I can’t imagine what they left that they thought was worse than this.” Evan spins. “Do you hear me? You don’t have to live like this, not anymore.”
“I’ve protected them.” Thomas scrambles to get to his feet.
Evan spins on him again and glowers. “From what? A fucking field mouse? I can’t believe you’re even an alpha.”
“I am.” Thomas looks around at his pack. “I am!” he shouts again.
“You’re weak, abusive, and replaceable. You don’t deserve these people.”
“Just go, take him and go.” Thomas’s eyes dart around again, watching his pack. Whispers can be heard as some of the men unite into a small group.
“Do you hear that, Thomas?” Evan pauses, tilting his head to the side, and a sinister smile blooms on his lips. “That’s the sound of your downfall,” he whispers.
Two men break off from the small group and stalk over to Thomas.
