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I sat back in my chair and looked around at the faces in the room. Not one of them made me feel unwelcome, unwanted or unloved.
“Go ahead and eat while we talk.” Anders took the seat on the other side of me. “Sebastian will be home soon.”
Opening the sack, I found a foot long grinder. I’d never had one that big before. It looked like it could feed everyone in the kitchen.
“Okay, kid, I gotta ask.” Dillon nodded to my sandwich. “What’s on it?”
“It’s a freshly baked hoagie roll with genoa salami, pepperoni, spicy capocollo, provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, oil and vinegar.” I looked inside the sack and swung my feet, doing a dance of joy in my seat. “Oh! Extra sauce and pickles!”
“Julius, get a plate and a knife for Nolan.” Anders nodded to the cabinet behind Julius.
He got the items, handed them to me, and I felt everyone staring. “Would anyone like some?”
Variations of no and no thank you came from everyone, and I cut off a small section for myself. “What problem has Simon created?” I asked, before wrapping my mouth around the bread to take a bite.
“He claims you’re his mate.” Dillon sighed. “And that Sebastian wrongfully took you.”
Of course he did.
I swallowed my bite, took a drink of lemonade, and twisted my lips. “Simon never claimed me with a bite.”
“How long had you been with him?” Julius motioned for my sandwich.
I pushed it closer to him and shrugged. “I never agreed to be his. He just kinda picked me in school one day and then never left me alone.”
“He what?” Arden looked at me in confusion.
I lifted my shoulders in another shrug. “He just picked me. I told him time and time again. I’m. Not. Yours.” Lifting my sandwich, I took another bite and spoke with my mouth full. “But he never listened.”
“Nolan.” Luigi shook his head. “Did he rape you?”
I nodded and kept eating. Those were memories I didn’t want to think about.
Charity and Flynn entered the room, and she came around to me, wrapping me in a hug from behind.
“Dad. The night Sebastian caught his mate’s scent led us to Nolan strapped to a bench.” Charity squeezed me tighter. “And that’s not the first time he’d been strapped there.” Her lead leaned against mine. “I’m sorry, Nolan, I shouldn’t tell your secrets, but this is the only way I can help.”
Help. That concept was new to me.
I nodded, and the potent scent of apples wafted in the air. Tears rolled down my cheeks, and I refused to look up and meet Sebastian’s gaze.
“How many times did he do that to you?” His voice sounded strained.
“That night made the fourth.” I whispered and felt the air thicken with tension.
Across the table I heard someone clear their throat, and Dillon’s voice wavered. “Never again, Nolan.”
Leslie wrapped his arms around me, and Charity, as he whispered in my ear. “Never again.”
“Nolan?” Dillon waited for me to look up.
I didn’t want to, but I knew I had to. Lifting my head, I saw anger on Sebastian’s face, and Dillon appeared angered too.
“This ends tonight.” He tapped the island top punctuating his words. “You werenotstolen from them. Your mate is Shadowhelm, and now you are, too.”
Relief flooded through my body, and I dropped my sandwich when a sob left my lips. There were more arms wrapping around me, and instead of feeling overwhelmed, I felt comforted.
When I stopped sobbing, the layers of people lifted and Leslie handed me a napkin for my face. Large hands tilted my head back, and soft lips brushed against mine.
