The Forgotten Heiress novel Chapter 94

"We are an ancient race, stuck in our ways, and while he was loved by the majority there were some people who didn't.

Your father believed in equality; before Cade when your grandfather was in power, interaction with humans was limited and those with mixed bloodlines were considered third class citizens. His beliefs clashed with a lot of shifters because they knew that if your father succeeded in erasing the class lines that they would lose a lot of their power over their packs. We call those people purebloods and my father was like that, when your father died no one was there to make people like him accountable, he treated his people like scum.

I grew up seeing people suffer until one day I couldn't take it anymore. I packed my things are left the pack, taking with me everyone who wasn't pureblooded. But we were broke."

"When I found out about your existence it was like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I do have a trust fund" he admitted. "But it's dirty money gained by the pain and blood of others and I refused to use it. Somehow in my mind I thought using you was better than using bloody money." He shook his head in self-deprecation. "I convinced myself into thinking that I was doing you a favor. If I mated with you, I got control of your inheritance and you got my protection. Something you would need once your identity became know because your father's enemies are your own. As the Heir, you are like our queen and since they can't take your powers from you the only option is death."

Jessica thought she had gotten over the pain but his words struck deep. To hear him talk about using her so callously brought it all back home. Trying to cover her pain from his eyes, she looked down at her sleeping child and smiled, for the first time realizing that it was all worth it, and blocked out the rest of his words.

Even though he was sitting next to her, Nick sensed that they were oceans apart and he knew that he had no one to blame but himself. He hated that he couldn't take her in his arms, kiss her and reassure himself that she was all right-not until he'd come clean about everything. Needing a moment to compose himself, he pushed himself off the bed and went to stand before the window with his hands curled in his pockets. For the last days-months even-he'd been thinking about what he was going to say to her at all of his well-rehearsed explanations seemed to have deserted him.