“I can hear you,” Zane says from his spot over by the stairs.
“I know. You were supposed to,” I tell him, turning around to face him. “Stop being mad just because you didn’t know. Newsflash, I didn’t know either.”
He chuckles, but it’s dark. “Just adding more fuel to the fire, Little Sister.”
“Stop calling me that,” I snap at him.
Then Reid is there. “Zane, if you want to take your anger out on someone, take it out on me. Leave her out of it.”
Zane’s eyes flash, and he smirks. “Oh, I plan on it.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “I can’t with you.”
“Okay. Let’s go talk,” my father says and starts down the stairs. “Zane, let’s go.”
My brother finally leaves us alone, muttering the entire time he stomps down the steps. I turn to Reid. “I’m sorry.”
Those chocolate brown eyes meet mine. “I can handle your brother. I know you can too, but let me know if he’s too much.”
I close my eyes a moment. “All right. Let’s get this over with.”
“I don’t think I’m invited to this meeting,” he says. His voice is easy-going, but there’s an underlying tension to him. I can see it in the set of his jaw and the tension in his shoulders.
“Oh, you’re coming. I’m not facing them on my own.”
He smirks. “They’re your family.”
“I know.”
“I’ll come.”
We start down the stairs, but Zane appears at the bottom with his arms over his chest. “Familymeeting.”
I pause, and Reid moves so that he’s standing on the same step as me. I feel his hand on my back, and it surprises me. Until recently, Reid hasn’t touched me in years. I glance up at him andfind him already looking at me. “I’ll wait upstairs, but if you need me, reach out to me.”
“It’s fine. Evie’s in the meeting,” I say, looking pointedly at my brother.
“Evie’s my mate.”
My eyes nearly bug out of my head. “What do you think Reid is?!”
“Mybondedmate,” Zane quickly corrects.
“Zane, you are so full of—”
Reid cuts off my tirade. “I’ll be right at the top of the stairs.”
Then he walks up the stairs, leaving me alone to face my family. I stomp down the steps, shoving Zane back when I pass him. “Real mature,” he remarks.
I whirl on him. “I’m immature?I’mimmature?”
“Zane and Riley, let’s go,” my father says, and I walk over to join him and my mom and Evie. Zane comes over and stands next to Evie, crossing his arms over his chest. “How are you doing, Honey? I know this was a lot tonight. Your first shift and then finding out Reid is your mate. How are you holding up?” We all ignore Zane’s growl at the mention of Reid.
My eyebrows nearly hit my hairline. “Um, are you forgetting about the dead skinwalker upstairs?”
“I didn’t know about him,” my dad says with anger in his voice. “He would have never been in our home had I known.”
“It’s okay.” I drop down onto the couch. “It’s not your fault.”
