Heat of Rejection: A New Adult Paranormal Romance by Vivian Hawthorne

Author:Vivian Hawthorne [Hawthorne, Vivian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-05T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18: Daniel

My father’s closest betas were already waiting for me in the clearing. So was James.

My ears perked up as I trotted closer. In actuality, all the betas were present but one.

Where’s Bruce? I asked, reaching out through the mindlink.

Carson and Charlie blinked back at me.

I shifted quickly to my human form. Carson, Charlie, and James followed my lead. Their lithe, low-slung bodies gave way, transforming into that of three naked men.

Charlie spoke first. “We haven’t been able to reach him all day. Both of us assumed he would just show up.”

Like Carson, Charlie was an accountant with a wiry but well-muscled frame. However, he had an edgier look in his human form. His hair had been dyed black for so long, I forgot what his natural hair color was.

“Does he do this normally?” James said.

“Do what, ghost us? Yeah, sometimes,” Charlie said mildly. He crossed his arms over his pale ribs and shivered in the cold.

It was a typical Pacific Northwest day. The sky was overlaid with gray clouds, and the air carried the metallic scent of dampness. In the forest around us, the trees and ground were still frosted over with morning dew, even though it was late afternoon.

“Well, one of you can fill him in later,” I said impatiently. “First things first. Were any of you followed?”

Each of the three shook his head.

“Good. Let’s talk about putting my father to rest,” I said. “To do that, we’re going to need a body. Have the others returned from up north?”

“Yes, and they found no trace of his remains. He’s gone,” Carson said.

A familiar, bitter feeling pooled inside of me, slimy as an oil slick. I felt James’s eyes on me. I tensed my jaw, refusing to look at him. If I did, I thought I might break down.

“I expected that. But you all know that a shifter’s soul won’t rest until his last rites are performed. What should we do about this?”

I tried to keep a measured tone and hide my frustration. I wasn’t used to feeling lost and not knowing what to do, but that was exactly how I was feeling in that moment. Simply put, I was unprepared to lose my father and be thrust into the position of alpha.

It was quiet for a while as the betas mused over my question. Then, James cleared his throat.

“We should just perform the rites. It’s the way we’ve done things for generations,” he said.

“But the body—” Carson began.

“Is inside a few members of the Beauchamp pack,” James said. His eyes passed briefly over me before glancing back at Carson and Charlie. “They ate him. They took him into their bodies. According to our traditions, they are Henry Vankamp. I say we figure out who exactly took liberties, round them up, and…”

“Give my father his last rites,” I finished for him. Now that I’d said it out loud, it made sense.

Charlie bared his teeth in a sneer. “I like the sound of this plan.”

“I’ll reach out to Bruce and the others.

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