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Fuck it.
I head out the front door, just to check, and rather than seeing one of the twins at their cars… I spotted the very man I knew would be just across the street. His back is to me, but I know he heard me come out since he’s no longer running away.
“Ryan!” I whisper-shout, conscious of the wolves in the back garden. I do not want any of them overhearing this and coming out to look. If they can see him, it’ll bring a lot of questions, and if they can’t… it’ll bring even more.
Ryan turns around slowly, his entire body is tense. His pale blue eyes widen, and he shakes his head. A dark expression crosses his face, and he mouths something I can’t see.
“What?”
“Go back inside,” he calls over, holding his arms up when I try to come closer.
“But—”
“Trust me, Maia. Go back inside, and don’t tell anyone you have seen me tonight, okay?”
“I—” There’s a churning in my gut, and I can hear the erratic thud of my heartbeat echoing through my body.
“They’ll take her from you, if you tell them you can see me,” he says, and my eyes widen, and I clutch at the baby strapped to my chest. Who is going to take her? “Get back inside. Protect her. Promise me. Promise me you won’t say a word.”
“I promise.” The words are pulled from me without my permission, but I mean them.
“Go inside, Maia, and look after her.”
Like when Christopher took my choice from me, my body obeys without my permission. I turn around and head back inside. It’s only once I shut the front door behind me that I realise I didn’t feel the same sort of way that I did when Christopher did it.
I didn’t feel Ryan’s wolf. There was no evidence of his supernaturalness. Just the compulsion to obey. I had no choice, as happened last time, but there was no… fear? Is that the right feeling?
I shake my head, looking down at Phoebe. That’s not what is important. Ryan told me that they’d take my baby away if I told them that I could see him. Who is they?
My mates? Their parents? Someone else?
Do I just need to keep this secret to myself for the rest of my life?
I can’t lose her. Not now. Not ever. And if that’s what it takes, that’s what I’ll do.
I brought Phoebe into this world, and it’s my job to protect her.
Even from Ryan’s ghost, if that’s what it takes.
I just wish I knew exactly what threats I needed to protect her from.
12
BENJAMIN
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Phoebe, happy birthday to you,” I sing, looking down at my little pup. She’s asleep, so I whisper-sing, being careful not to wake her.
I don’t want her angry mama getting mad at me for disturbing our pup’s sleep. I’m considerate that way.
“We are good dads. Where are her other dads? Sleeping? Pathetic. It’s our baby’s birthday!” Fluffy snaps, and I nod my head in agreement.
“That’s why Maia likes us the best. We’re sentimental, and she likes that. Did you hear about her ex’s stupid birthday cards from Alex? I’m going to write the best birthday cards to ever exist,” I say, deciding here and now that I’ll do everything to make her happier than he ever did.
“And dead. I like that he’s dead.”
“My only regret is that it wasn’t us to kill our dear, worthless, cousin,” I say, cracking my knuckles. And, you know, there’s the fact that Maia has had to deal with his betrayal. If Ryan told her the truth, if he made sure she knew exactly what she was getting into, then my mate wouldn’t be suffering the way she is right now.
Ryan’s terrible life decisions have once again affected me and mine. That’s fine. I’m a big boy who can handle it.
