When a Pack Dies by Gwen Campbell Read Free Book Online Page B

“There’s plenty more where that came from.” He refilled Ryan’s milk glass and felt his mouth turn down into what his mother had always told him was his serious line. He looked at Fina. “You had enough money to keep him fed on the road?” he asked quietly. Ryan was too busy eating and looking at the cattle to pay much attention to adult conversation.
    Fina exhaled deliberately and set her fork down. Cutler was Alpha—he’d insist on knowing his people were provided for. “Yes. I think his body’s just gearing up for a growth spurt.” She hesitated. “Before I answer that further, I need to know what your financial expectations will be if I join your pack.”
    In Cutler’s mind—and he could tell from the look on his face, in Nath’s mind too—Fina was already a member of their pack. Ryan too. Just like she was their mate and the boy their responsibility. Maybe even a surrogate son. “Explain,” Cutler said in that no-nonsense, demanding tone of his. He took a sip of the red wine his brother had served with dinner. It hadn’t escaped his notice that Fina had chosen milk instead.
    “I mean that my father was Alpha of our pack. The terms of his will gave me sole control of the pack’s assets as surviving heir. His personal ones too. I...I emptied the piggy bank before I left Tennessee. The rogues may have rightful claim to our lands by pack law but that doesn’t entitle them to the money,” she added with enough verve that one of Cutler’s dark brows shot up. He and his brother exchanged a look.
    “Accepted,” Cutler said curtly. He set his wine glass down. “You had his will probated?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well if human law says it’s your money and the bank accepted that, that’s good enough. Pack law deals with land, inter-band relations and turning of humans only. It leaves money in the hands of individuals and the businesses they run.”
    Fina nodded. “Thank you.” A part of her had started to worry she hadn’t been in the right by taking all of the pack’s assets. “He’ll have a number of financial needs before he reaches adulthood,” Fina said, nodding in Ryan’s direction. “His education—mine too.”
    “Yours?” Nath asked. He wiped the residue off his plate with a slice of bread then popped it into his mouth. “I never asked how old you were.”
    “Twenty. I’m going to...I was going back to college in the fall.” Something in Fina’s blue eyes dimmed and Cutler covered her hand with his. Nath cupped her shoulder tenderly in his rough palm. She blinked rapidly then looked up at the brothers. “My point is I have money but that money is earmarked for his needs.”
    “Yours too,” Nath added pointedly.
    “Mine too,” Fina agreed with a thin smile. “If I join your pack, will my assets become yours?”
    Your physical ones? Definitely. The financial ones...?
    “No,” Cutler answered firmly. “When you take a mate, it’s up to you if you share your money with him. It’s up to him and the pack to provide for your needs. Any children you have would have a right to a claim in your estate but that’s too far down the road to think about.” He popped a last piece of steak in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “Just for argument sake, how much money are we talking here?” he asked after swallowing.
    “Approximately eight-point-six million.”
    Cutler coughed violently. “So I don’t have to top up Ryan’s college fund, huh?” he asked dryly after he’d recovered.
    Fina grinned.
    “Ever think about investing in eco-tourism?” Nath asked saucily, picked up Fina’s hand and kissed her knuckles. She rolled her eyes and pushed his face away playfully.
    *     *     *
    “You warm enough?”
    Standing outside in the hallway, Nath Powell listened to his future mate tuck Ryan into bed. He could hear his brother loading up the dishwasher at the other end of the house.
    “I’m good,” Ryan muttered. “Leave the door open.”
    “I will. Good-night,