Dream catcher

Patience isn't my strong suit

Silas

Grandpa and Lazlo left for Harbor Ridge while Dad put me through my paces with training. Anything was better than thinking about Dante. Rory sat on the grass and watched us since he was learning fighting techniques. Since he wasn't a wolf, he had to learn to fight in human form.

Uncle Brady worked with Reagan since Uncle Martin dealt with the Bobbsey twins. My mom and aunts sparred since it was even among them. The whole point was not to get ourselves killed.

Dad caught me off guard, threw me to the ground, and pinned me with his forearm to my neck. "Silas, you need to focus. I shouldn't have gotten close to you like I did."

"I'm trying," I said.

Dad released me and helped me to my feet. "You can't worry about your mate while defending the pack. It doesn't work. You'll get your pack killed."

"What about you and Mom?"

"I trust your mother to help defend the pack."

"But you have Mom with you. I'm missing a mate."

"I didn't always have your mom with me. There was a time we weren't together, which killed me."

"How did you survive it?"

"I had to be honest with her about who we were. Your grandparents hadn't told her she was half witch/half wolf. Your mom got a crash course in our world."

"So, what you're saying is to be patient?"

"Yes, Silas. I don't like the leech, but I will tolerate him for your sake."

"That's reassuring." I rolled my eyes.

Dad leaned into me and lowered his voice. "You're lucky I tolerate Rory."

I pinched my brows together. "I thought you liked Rory."

"He's half vampire. Wolves aren't friendly toward vampires or witches."

"But you're married to Mom." I squinted my eyes.

Dad nodded. "I love your mom. It changed my perspective of witches."

"Then your perspective of vampires should change since I love Dante and Rory."

My dad studied me for a few minutes, realizing I was right. You can't hate someone when your child loves them. It's the same as hating your child.

"Silas, I've been wrong with how I've treated Dante," he said. "He's your mate, as is Rory. If someone mistreated your mom, it would piss me off."

"I'm not asking you to become best friends with my mates. I'm asking you to accept them."

"Fine."

"Mom loves my mates."

My dad rolled his eyes. "Your mom loves everyone."

"I heard that!" Mom yelled from where she was.

We chuckled.

"How was the party? I never did ask you," I said.

"It was different. We got an interesting offer."

"Will you tell me?"

Dad shook his head. "You'll find out soon enough."

I groaned because my dad wouldn't tell me about the party he and my mom attended a few evenings ago. Like the other times they had to leave the pack, they wouldn't tell us anything. I didn't know why everyone kept hushed about it. Isn't it better to know than not?

********
Dante

I spent days with Gage beating the hell out of me either with his hands or the uneven terrain. I finally gave up. "Stop!" I yelled, on my hands and knees, blood dripping down my face. My body screamed at me in anguish from the pain.