J. Tyler: Cole’s Redemption

Under the outdoor lighting, she had no problem making out her uncle and Taggart as they got out of the car. Closing the doors, the two men approached and then stopped a few feet from her and Zan, eyeing them with somewhat wary expressions.

“Uncle Damien. Tag.” Her greeting was equally reserved.

Damien’s eyes softened. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “For everything.”

“You should be.” Harsh, but true.

“I did what I thought best at the time. I can see now that I should’ve handled things differently.”

“It’s done now. I didn’t ask you here to make you grovel to Dad or me.”

“Why did you invite us?” Tag asked, studying Zan with open dislike.

“Healing.” She took a deep breath. “I want us all to be a family.”

“That’s going to depend on Nick,” her uncle said.

“I’m so glad I get a say in things.”

Selene’s heart stuttered. She turned to see her father standing just behind her and Zan, his body tense and still. Eyes shuttered. He watched Damien like the lethal predator he was, ready to spring at the slightest provocation. Stepping from Zan’s protective presence, she went to Nick and drew him forward.

“I invited them here because there are things that need saying between you two. You need closure, and unless I’m way off base, you need your brother.”

Smoldering anger crept into his face as he glared at Damien. “I needed my brother twenty years ago, when I was grieving for the mate I lost. I needed him when my heart was broken, and he turned his back on me.”

Damien took a step closer. “I’m standing right here, Nick. I only did what I thought—”

Not waiting to hear another word, Nick closed the remaining distance and delivered a powerful punch to Damien’s jaw that sent the other man reeling backward to land on his ass on the asphalt.

“Fuck what you thought!” Nick roared, every muscle in his neck standing out as he loomed over his brother. “Fuck your uptight rules and the clan! Fuck you for kicking me when I was down. Fuck you! ”

Oh, God! She hadn’t even realized she was moving to get between them until she felt her mate’s arms around her, holding her back.

“Let them sort this out,” her mate whispered in her ear. “It’ll be all right.”

“Nick—” Damien began.

“I made a mistake and I paid for it.” His voice cracked, filled with anguish. “But you had to punish me more. Did it occur to you to reach out to me and Selene, to help us get past our grief as a family , to be there for us? Instead, you took my baby! You took her from me and I had nothing left. Nothing.”

That last word was spoken as a hoarse whisper, and Nick’s rage suddenly deflated. He looked . . . defeated. Older. More silver had crept into his black hair since the ordeal with Darrow, and he appeared haunted all the time. The hopeless expression on his face, his entire demeanor, scared her.

This was why she’d called Damien. Her dad needed help.

Damien must’ve seen the same thing in him, because he met Selene’s gaze briefly. Nodded. Then he pushed himself to his feet, ignoring Tag’s outstretched hand, and stepped up to Nick again. Took a chance.

“I can’t erase the years I took from you and Selene,” he said, his tone laced with sincere regret. “But I can offer a new beginning. I’d like to see us all put the past behind us, start over, and find our way as a family. Would you be willing to try? Can you accept me back into your life?”

Selene held her breath. Long moments ticked by as they waited for another explosion.

But it didn’t come. Instead, Nick met Damien’s gaze, his eyes moist. “It won’t be easy.”

“But you’d like to try?” The hope there was almost painful to see.

“Yes.”

Just that one word. But it was enough.

Taking a big chance, Damien wrapped his brother in a strong embrace—and slowly, Nick’s arms came around him. Tears rolled down Selene’s face as she watched him take that first tenuous step to reconciliation. No, it wouldn’t be easy for them, but it was a start.

As they drew back, Selene cleared her throat. “Well, since it seems there won’t be bloodshed, I’d like to introduce someone. Uncle Damien, Taggart, this is my mate, Zander Cole. Zan, my uncle and my friend Tag.”

Zan shook hands with both men and offered them a smile. Tag’s answering greeting wasn’t quite as enthusiastic, but he appeared to accept Zan’s place in Selene’s life as he shot her a glance of resignation and then took Zan’s hand.

“Good to meet you both,” Zan said. “Hey, I smell some burgers cooking. Anybody hungry?”

There was a general consensus that eating sounded good, and Zan skillfully led Damien and Tag toward the party. Talk to your father , he encouraged through their bond. We’ll be fine.

Thank you, love.

He winked and disappeared around the corner. Heart aching with love, she went to Nick. Touched his arm. There were only two things she needed to say, and her father needed to hear them.

“I forgive you, Daddy,” she said quietly. “And I love you.”

For a few seconds, he hung his head. And then he pulled her into his arms with a choked sob and held on as though he’d never let go. She relished being in her dad’s strong embrace, let his love surround and fill her. Until this moment, there had been a piece of her soul missing.

Now it had been returned.

“I love you too, baby girl. So damned much.” They clung together for a few more moments, until he kissed her on top of the head and set her back from him, giving her a watery smile.

“Are you going to be all right? Really?”

“I will.” He touched her hair. “I’ve got you and the Pack in the meantime to get me through. I’ll be okay.”

“And Damien, too. You’ve got him.”

“We’ll see.”

It was as much as he’d admit for the time being, and that was fine with her. He’d opened the door and that would have to be enough.

“Come on.” She took his arm. “Let’s go find the party.”

“Sounds good.”

Zan led Damien and the glowering Tag to the area where the burgers and hot dogs were being served and introduced them around. The intros were met with open curiosity, but he was glad the Pack and their mates were welcoming. He got a plate for himself and assembled a towering burger, trying not to smirk as Tag spoke.

“Selene has been my friend since we were pups. If you hurt her, I’ll become your worst nightmare.”

Unconcerned, Zan took a huge bite of his burger, chewed and swallowed. Then he said, “I think you wanted to be more than friends. Am I right?”

“That doesn’t matter now.”

“You’re right. It doesn’t.” He let some steel creep into his tone. “I’ll take good care of my mate—don’t you worry. You want to remain friends with Selene, and that’s fine. But if you cross the line, I’ll teach you what the word ‘nightmare’ really means.”

“Fair enough.” The big man smiled, and Zan had the feeling he’d somehow won the guy over.

Born shifters were weird.

It was a relief to see his mate rounding the corner with Nick. The pair was arm in arm, and the stress around Nick’s mouth seemed less. He looked more at peace than he had in days.

Nick kissed his daughter, then made for the burger station. Spotting Zan, she made a beeline for him, lips curved in a soft smile.

“How’s Nick?” he asked when she walked up.

“Better, I hope. I’m so worried about him, though.”

“I know you are, baby. Why don’t you get some food and let’s go back to our blanket.”

He waited as she made a plate for herself, and then they walked together back to their spot. He held her plate as she sat, then placed them on the blanket before taking a seat beside her. He tucked her into his side. That felt good. He and his wolf approved.