The Mane Squeeze
Page 20

Blayne stared down at her feet. They were too small for her size and definitely too small for the She-wolf in her. Some days she could do amazing things with those feet, other days she could barely manage to make it down flights of stairs, escalators, or simply walk from one room to another without falling on her face. Other than my dad, I dont have anybody but you, Gwenie. Youre my Pack.
A Pack of two? Thats awfully sad.
It doesnt have to be. Not if we do something with it. By myself I can keep the business going. Maybe for the next forty years. But togetherwe can really do something with it, and enjoy ourselves.
Gwen was fighting really hard not to get caught up in Blaynes excitement. Shed done it before, gotten caught up. And that way laid madnessand jail time. Yet the thought of their own businessjust the two of them. No Pride or Pack to answer to, no decisions made that were not theirs and theirs alone. Yeah. Maybe thats true.
I know youve got a lot invested in Callys business
Gwen barely stopped herself from snorting at that one.
and that it will be hard to walk away from thatand from your mom. But if you just give me a chance
Stop. Gwen wanted to rub her calf. Actually, she wanted to shift, rip off the bandage, and lick her calf until the pain went away.
Blayne winced a bit. Your mom at it again?
She wants me running the business. Roxys business. The one Gwen had absolutely no interest in.
Wellif its your business, I guess thats the same as the two of us Her words died off as Gwen let out a bitter laugh.
I said she wants me running the business. Not that shed give me the business. That business belongs to the Pride.
Youre part of the Pride.
No, Blayne. Gwen looked her friend in the eyes and said what theyd both known for a very long time but neither had ever said out loud. Ill always be an outsider.
But they dont treat you like
They treat me like family. But where they go, what they do as a PrideIm never part of that. I never will be part of that.
Blaynes jaw clenched in frustration. That doesnt seem fair, Gwen.
Sweetie, havent I taught you there is no fair among predators?
Then nothing should be holding you back. You should come with me. Screw em all.
Shes still my mother, Blayne.
And?
I cant leave Roxy on her own. Im her only daughter.
And shes got a whole Pride watching out for her. A Pride youre not even a partof.
Yeah, but
Yeah, but what? Instead of spending your whole life worrying about family who love you but not enough to give you as much power as the rest of them, maybe you should think about yourself for a change.
About what you want.
Because its that easy?
No. Its not that easy. It wasnt easy for my dad to walk away from his Pack. But he did it anyway. For me. Because they wouldnt take us both and he wasnt giving me up. He made choices to benefit me and
And now you need to be there when he needs you.
Because of me he doesnt have anybody else. Your mom cant make the same claim.
Blayne put her arm around Gwens shoulder and hugged her. Shed always been affectionate, even though Gwen wasnt. But she was Blayne and she would always do things her own way.
Just think about it before you say no, okay?
Lie to her. Tell her what she wants to hear so you both can pretend you have a choice. Okay.
After another quick hug, Blayne left her and Gwen sat there. She didnt know for how long, but the entire time her mind kept jumping back and forth between what her life would be like if she left Phillyfrom the best possibility to the absolute worstto what her life would be like if she stayed. And although she loved her mother for never giving her up and making sure the family never turned on her, forcing her out, Gwen couldnt shake the feeling that her future was not meant to be in Philly. It wasnt meant to be with the ONeill Pride.
Shed always be an ONeill, but would her future cubs be raised by the Pride, her life dedicated to the Pride?
No. She didnt see that. She didnt see that at all.
Eventually, as if shed somehow summoned her out of sheer will alone, the phone rang, and it was Roxy, checking in with Gwen as she liked to do when they were apart. As her mother rambled about the wonderful spa experience she was having with her sisters and wishing Gwen was there with her, Gwen suddenly heard herself say something she never thought shed hear.
Ma?
Yeah, baby-girl?
Gwen closed her eyes, swallowed, and took that step off the ledge, Im moving to New York with Blayne.
Lock tossed aside the empty beehive and scratched at a few of the bee stings on his arms and neck. Who am I kidding? What am I going to do with a girl like her?
We had this talk when we were fourteen. I even brought my brothers Hustler for visual assistance.
I dont mean that, you dweeb. You didnt see this girl. Not so much today, cause we were both naked, but at the wedding. Shes high maintenance.