Page 109 of Found Objects

Cole then turned to his uncle, aunt, and cousin.

“The house you built to impress others solely for the purpose of securing the most profitable mating for your son, will now benefit the entire pack.”

There was applause after that.

“Tomorrow, Reggie will make arrangements to have everything you own moved out of the house. He will supervise the packing to make sure nothing that belongs here travels with you and that all your possessions are removed. The main account and ownership of the land both need to be transferred to me tomorrow. All your personal assets, your real estate portfolio, and your investments will remain with you. All I want is the money the pack uses collectively to send children to college and, again, all the land purchased in Coille.”

After a moment, Justin replied, “Your terms are agreeable.”

“I want to see signed, notarized documents of transfer, do you understand?”

“I do.”

“You will not stay a moment more on this land, and you will need to find other accommodations away from here for this evening.”

Both Justin and Narah nodded.

“Reggie will watch over you tomorrow, and I never want to see either one of you again.” His gaze went to Justin then. “For what you attempted to do to my mate, I could have your head, but to take a son from his mother is grievous, as my mate stands strong beside me.”

Justin shivered but said nothing.

“No amount of apologies would be enough for me, or this pack, from any of you, so we won’t hear excuses. Instead I order your banishment from the Swann Pack for all time. You will go by your mother’s maiden name going forward.”

Cole turned away from them and looked at the men from the Haviland Pack, seated in the grass. “Who speaks for you?”

One raised his hand, and Cole nodded for him to go ahead.

“I’m Rafe Haviland, nephew of Matthias, cousin of Tuss.”

“Are there any mates at home who will grieve the loss of your alpha and his son?”

“No, Alpha.”

“Will you take your dead with you?”

“We will not. You’ve freed us. I will return and take over the Haviland Pack, release all the women gathered in preparation for our return with you, and find a new direction for the pack that does not include murder, conspiracy, or subjugation, either within our pack or outside of it.”

Cole nodded. “Then we will care for your dead.”

“We thank you, and vow that no one from my pack will ever return here.”

“Keep that promise.”

“We will.”

“Go in peace.”

The men got up, many unsteady or needing help from their pack mates, and trudged across the lawn toward the road, where they’d left the cars they came in.

When Cole turned to me, he smiled for a moment, and then his brows furrowed. “Your eyes are glowing.”

“I know, and I’m sorry, but Abel Swann can never leave here. For all that he’s done, I can’t allow it.” I breathed out. “It’s impossible.”

“I know,” he assured me, “there’s no other way it can be.”

“He needs to come with me to the grove, because what Evan said was right. Sometimes, the only atonement is through blood.”

He nodded.