Never gone.
But changed.
Because suddenly Gunner no longer looked obsessed with insulting me and fighting Menon.
Instead he looked deeply irritated by centuries of supernatural baggage and two manipulative parents attempting to arrange a mating contract behind his back.
Honestly?
Relatable.
“Father, I am not fighting over a woman who already chose someone else,” Gunner said finally, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Especially not after finding out our parents turned this into some creepy arranged mating bullshit.”
Relief flooded me so hard my knees weakened slightly.
Menon immediately steadied me.
Always.
His hand slid firmly against my lower back while his tail tightened around my waist protectively.
Mine.
The bond purred the word warmly.
“Amrin, I sincerely apologize,” Gunner added stiffly, glancing toward me. “I genuinely thought you hated me because of him.”
“I thought you hated me because of him,” I admitted honestly.
We stared at each other for a beat.
Then simultaneously:
“Huh.”
Dr. Childs sighed loudly.
“Finally. Emotional intelligence.”
The older woman sounded deeply exhausted by all of us.
Fair.
My mother suddenly looked older somehow.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Tired.
“Amrin, I don’t know what to say. I handled this badly,” Evelyn admitted stiffly.
Understatement of the century.
Still, hearing her say those words at all felt monumental.
“I just wanted your future to be secured. I wanted you safe,” she added more quietly.
