“So you can have your mate once that’s fixed?”
“No.”
“Why not?” With the way he was frowning, it was easy to see just how young Rowan was. He was idealistic, untarnished by the outside world because he’d barely met anyone or been disappointed.
“Because he’s still from that godforsaken town,” I muttered bitterly. “And I’m still a predator and he’s still prey. There’s no changing that. Besides, they’d never go for it,” I sighed, feeling a heavy weight on my shoulders. “I’m not interested in fighting a town.”
“So you’re just going to give your fated mate up?” Now Rowan was frowning at me.
“We’ve only just met. He doesn’t even know my name,” I pointed out. “Neither of us are missing out on anything.”
In our short time together, we hadn’t had time to form a bond. We barely knew a thing about each other, by design on my end, aside from our shifter types and that Sully was twenty-two. A big age gap. If we were both a little older, it wouldn’t matter so much, but he was onlyjust considered an adult. Fresh out of college, with no real world experience.
His heat might have been an error. I should have taken him home instead of giving him my knot. Already I craved more of him. Something that would lessen with time, I hoped.
“It just doesn’t seem right.” Rowan leaned his head on my shoulder. Rare for him. He was starting to initiate touches more. I enjoyed how tactile the younger kids were. They often came for hugs and Berry loved having her hair brushed.
“Maybe not, but it’s how things are for now. If the town proves me wrong about them…” I didn’t really want to voice my secret hope. After our time in the truck, I might have ruined things for good with him. He looked so sad in the rearview mirror.
Having Sully in my life didn’t look likely for the time being.
“Imri? Is it not early there?” Mama sounded sleepy even though it was already after seven, and I was on my fourth coffee.
“Can I start a video call with you? I need to show you something.”
“Hold on.” There was rustling, then the call changed, and she came into view, a robe tightly tied around her ample form. Mom fed her well. “What’s wrong? Is it the house? We’re able to come sooner if you need us.”
“No, it’s not the house. I’ve got some helpers to pitch in.” It was utterly nerve-wracking to reveal what I’d been hiding from her.
“I thought no one was allowed in those damned woods?” I heard her muttering about backwards hick towns and bit back a smile.
The rant she had gone on the day I told her no one came out to the house was epic. My parents were so fierce in their protectiveness for all of their children, and the littles my siblings had.
“Remember thatletter?”
“Do I remember the letter, he says?” she turned to ask Mom, who was at the stove cooking eggs. “He wouldn’t tell us what was in it, would he?”
“Nope.” Mom’s eyes shone with fondness.
“You want the long or short version?” I grinned playfully.
“Short, my eggs are nearly done!” Mama called, she’d gotten up to help Mom with breakfast by taking the plates out of the warming shelf in the oven.
“Okay, well, you are grandparents again. I’ve adopted three kids!”
Mama nearly dropped the plates. Mom shut off the burner. “Baby, you’re gonna have to give us the longer version.”
It took some time to convince them to eat their breakfast while I explained the details of the letter. Both of them got emotional hearing how Malik had taken the family under his wing. What wasn’t in the letter was that the kids’ mom, Agnes, was the one who performed healing on Malik, delaying the disease slowly killing him. Rowan told me he had tried to do the same after she died, but it wasn’t as effective.
“Oh! Those poor babies!” Mama cried, she had a tissue held tightly in her fist, fresh tears welling in her eyes. “Let me see them, please, Imri. Are they okay?”
“Better than you would’ve thought, considering they had to wait for me. They’ve got no one else.”
“Not true. They’ve got grandmas now. So let us see them.” Mom, more stoic than Mama, even had unshed tears begging to fall.
“See?” I said, walking my phone through to the living room where the kids waited for me. “Two grandmas, just waiting to meet you.”
I turned the camera to face the kids. They each waved nervously.
