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Dad.” Josh came to stand beside Lachlan.
    “Go home? He hit me.” The man climbed to his feet. “I’m going to report him to the alpha.”
    “He is the alpha!” Josh shouted. “You just insulted the alpha’s mate, who by proxy is your new alpha, too. You’ll be lucky if Garrett doesn’t shun you.”
    A semblance of clarity ghosted through the man’s eyes, but hate clouded the pupils once again. “You know what? I don’t need this pack or a queer-loving son.” Josh’s father spat on the ground near Lachlan’s feet. “This pack has gone to shit since Garrett’s daddy left anyways. I’m out of here.” He turned to leave but stopped to look back to Josh. “You coming, boy?”
     
    Garrett’s Choice
    57
    Lachlan couldn’t believe it, but he prayed Josh said no. He may have his differences where the young wolf was concerned, but not even Josh deserved to live with an asshole like that.
    “No. I choose allegiance with the Carrington Pack, and I’m not leaving.” Josh straightened his shoulders, lifted his chin, and stared down his nose at his father. “If you leave it’s on your own.”
    “That’s fine with me.” Josh’s father stare turned ice cold. “Your mama should have let those hunters kill you when you were a child, then maybe she’d be alive and I wouldn’t have a disappointment for a son.”
    Lachlan flinched as if the harsh words were directed at him.
    Memories of his own father filled his mind. Clamping down on his emotions, Lachlan cleared his throat. “I think you should leave.
    You’ve made it quite clear you don’t want to be here, and quite frankly you just wore out your welcome.”
    It looked like Josh’s dad was gearing up for another argument, and Lachlan held up his hand and shouted, “Go!” The man left but not before throwing another hateful looked toward his son. Lachlan stood by Josh’s side as his father left the woods, the pack, and his son’s life forever.
    “He was out of line, Josh. This wasn’t your fault.” Lachlan rested his large hand over Josh’s smooth slender neck. He could feel the muscle bunch up and clench as Josh’s body trembled.
    “What do you know?” Josh shrugged off Lachlan’s touch and stormed away.
    “I know more than you think,” Lachlan shouted as he ran to catch up with Josh.
    “He wasn’t always like that, you know.” Josh’s hand darted up to wipe away the wetness that escaped from his eyes. “After she died, he just hasn’t been the same.”
    “I can understand a person hurting from the loss of a loved one, but it’s no excuse to treat the only family you have left like crap. You can’t blame yourself for his cruelty or his inability to deal with shit. I 58
    AJ Jarrett
    know what it’s like to love someone who turns you away at the first chance they get. To toss you aside like a piece of trash you’d find on the street. People like that don’t deserve our love or respect.” Lachlan hadn’t expected to discuss his family’s torrid history. It just slipped out.
    “Our?” Josh asked.
    Lachlan explained to Josh about his brother, Lawson, and the affair Lawson had with a human man and how those actions led to his brother being shunned from the pride. It still hurt to talk about, but if his experience could in any way help Josh, Lachlan would be more than happy to do whatever was necessary. Even if it drudged up the past.
    “So what did you do?”
    “I did what anyone else would have done. I left with my brother.
    No one should ever be forced to set out in the world all alone like that. It’s cruel.” Lachlan never regretted that decision even for a minute.
    “How old were you guys?” Josh shoulders slumped, and Lachlan could see the fight leaving him.
    Lachlan pursed his lips in thought. It took him a moment to remember. “We were seventeen.”
    “That’s so young.” Josh’s eyes widened in disbelief. “And all for being gay?”
    “Yeah, that was over a hundred years ago though. It was a different time