STIFFENED

“Unfortunately, ‘this mess’ is only beginning,” I reminded her. “Being Alpha Supreme of a House that has been through everything that Fire and Fluorite has over the last two-plus decades isn’t going to be easy, but you’ll learn who you can trust to handle some of the issues that come up. They won’t always fall on you.”

“Like you?” she asked with a small grin playing on her lips.

“As much as I haven’t wanted to be part of a House in past years, I wouldn’t be anywhere other than where you are,” I said. “Plus, you’ll have Ryder.”

“And Amy and Mark,” she said hopefully.

I wasn’t so sure about that.

I stroked her back. “You might need to prepare yourself in accepting that there’s a chance they’ll go back to Blood and Beryl.”

Her face jerked back as if that shouldn’t have even been an option. “Why would they do that? This was Mark’s home for most of his life.”

“Exactly,” I said.

She nibbled on her cheek, then sighed. “I see your point. It might be too much for him to stay here. Too many rem