The Trail Back Read Online Free PDF Page A

smile filled Aiden with happiness. “Well good.” She turned to look at her mother. “See, he hasn't cheated on me.”
    “Did the blood affect your sex drive?” Isabelle asked, her gaze still locked on Aiden.
    “Kaitlyn is my mate, I desire her always. I have no idea if her blood has affected me. I seem to have no greater drive to be with my wife than Sean does, so I suspect being mates may have made me somewhat immune to that aspect of her hybrid blood.”
    Isabelle visibly relaxed. Her features softened, revealing her natural beauty. Kaitlyn resembled her mother greatly. “I would like to approach the council with you, Aiden. I assume that you will be seeking sanctuary for all hybrids as soon as a vaccine has been manufactured.”
    She was jumping the gun a little, and Aiden needed to understand her motives. “If a vaccine of some kind is ever made I will be approaching the council.” He felt Kaitlyn stiffen again in his lap. She knew it could mean a death sentence for him if the council declined such a petition and asked him to hand his mate over for the purpose of her execution.
    “Why would you risk your own life after abandoning your daughter twenty-five years ago?”
    Isabelle didn’t surge into an angry tirade or become defensive as he’d have anticipated. She looked deeply ashamed. “I was foolish, it’s true. But I believed it was the only way I could keep my daughter alive. I had decided to fight for my right to have my chosen mate, and our children, at my side even before your idea of a vaccine was known to me.”
    “You were going to fight to be reunited with my father?” Kaitlyn’s voice was husky, a slight hiccup betraying her imminent tears. Aiden held her tight and let her realize the full implications of what her mother had just said. “You want more children?”
    “I love my mate, and I love you. I have yearned for him as I watched you both from a distance all these years. My heart could not stand to hear of your pain. I was not going to let that vampire hurt you again, my child.”
    Aiden let Kaitlyn slip from his lap to stand in front of her mother.
    “I hope to be a part of your life over the coming centuries, my daughter.” She opened her arms and waited for Kaitlyn to make the first move.
    Kaitlyn walked hesitantly into her mother’s embrace, and Aiden shared in his mate’s happiness. As soon as Selwyn Graves was dead he would investigate an arcane legend he’d once heard of. Now it would not just be of import to himself and Sean in their mating with Kaitlyn but would affect her mother and the three Walsh brothers.
     
    * * * *
     
    Brody was surprised to find the office held only the wolves when he returned with Elliot and all of the doctor’s equipment. Well, Elliot had all of the equipment. He wouldn’t even let Brody carry the doctor’s purse.
    “Thank you for your help, Elliot. You saved me quite a few trips,” Brody said, deliberately keeping his tone cool. He hadn’t fully forgiven Elliot. He wasn’t going to be mocked or put down again. Not ever again.
    “Baby, I’m sorry for embarrassing you. I thought you meant you’d make fire with that awesome flaming-ball thing you can create.” Elliot stepped up to Brody and held out his hand. “I honestly forgot about the electric heater Landon put in here to keep you warm.”
    “Ha, you’re right. That would have burnt the tavern down.” Brody took the bear’s outstretched hand in both of his. He stifled a groan from the rush of pleasure that washed through him when he touched his mate. “I might have overreacted by getting mad.” He turned Elliot’s hand over and leaned forward to gently kiss the palm.
    “God, what you do to me, baby.”
    Elliot’s scent thickened in the air. Brody wasn’t a shifter, so he didn’t know what the change in his scent meant, but it made his bear smell even more wonderful, almost edible. His mouth watered, and his cock thickened in his skin-tight jeans.
    “Get a room,” Josh