By the time we were finished, I was fit to burst! I got the impression Imri was stalling some, though.
“Imri, we need to go. I’m supposed to have an afternoon shift and I want to pack up some of my stuff to takehere.”
“You’re moving in?” I could tell he was utterly delighted.
“Yeah, so I’m gonna need you to fix that road so my scooter—“
“Absolutely not!” The objection didn’t come from Imri, though I was sure it was on his lips. Nope, his mama, Farah, blurted it out. “Imri can leave you with the truck and he can use your scooter until we get you a car and get this damn road fixed.”
Oh-kay, I was not arguing with Farah.
“It’s for the baby, Sully. Scooters are so dangerous, and when you get bigger, your center of gravity will be off. I think we’d all feel better if you were driving something a little more solid,” Ellie added.
When they put it like that, I couldn’t really argue with them. Imri had said he wanted me to get a car and we would need it with three kids and a fourth on the way. Wow, had my life changed in the span of a day.
Even I was nervous when I pulled the truck into the driveway of my parents’ house. There were a couple of hours before my shift, meaning we didn’t have long for the interrogation they were likely to give Imri. I’d already called them to let them know I was on my way home and needed to speak to them.
They’d thought I was out with Orson until Orson’s parents realized he’d left town. Then they’d started blowing up my phone, worried until I said I’d been with Trisha.
I’d placated them enough to get a hesitant Imri into the truck and on the road into Haenvale. He’d even let me drive, saying I needed the practice.
“C’mon, better not make them wait much longer.” I ushered Imri into the house.
My parents froze when they saw us appear in the living room. None of us were wearing our inhibitors.
“It’s alright,” Imri said, calmly. “I might smell like a predator, but I’m used to preyanimals. Besides, Sully is my mate. I’d never harm his family.”
I thought my mom was going to pass away from fright. Maybe she had a flashback of the events which pushed her towards Haenvale. She never told me what happened, just that she needed to be safe. She clutched at my dad’s hand until her knuckles went white.
“Mate?” Only one word escaped her lips.
“Yeah, Mom, I told you I’d found him.” I squeezed Imri’s hand, not entirely enthusiastic about how things were going, considering my much warmer reception at his home. I had to give my parents a little grace. They were prey animals reacting naturally. They also had traumatic pasts I knew very little about.
“We thought you just didn’t want Orson,” Dad said, looking puzzled but less scared than before.
“To be fair, Orson didn’t want me either. He’s run off with the omega he’s in love with,” I announced.
“You knew?” Mom’s eyes widened with shock.
“Um, yeah? He had his bags with him last night. He dropped me off with Trisha, then went to pick him up.” I gave a careless shrug. Iwas delighted for Orson, and knew he would be happy for me in return.
“Oh Sully! The town’s talking about how you must be devastated!” Mom wailed.
“Well, I’m not, because I found my fated mate and we’re bonded.” She looked upset. Okay, if she wasn’t about to have a heart attack, my next announcement might just kill her off. “And we’re pregnant!”
“What?” Mom screeched.
I gave up trying to calm my mom down, instead telling Dad I was going to take Imri to my room to pack some of my stuff. He was upset that I was already moving out, but considering how they were reacting to my news, I thought a bit of space was in order.
“That went…” Imri sighed. He slumped onto my bed, falling back to lie with his arms open, waiting for me to join him. He sat up when I didn’t. “You okay?”
Inside my closet, I brushed a tear away. It was stupid. I knew my surprise hadshocked them, and they’d eventually come around, but I’d childishly hoped they’d find a little happiness for me, or at least welcome Imri into the family.
“They didn’t even ask your name!” I let out a sob.
In the next moment, Imri’s arms were around me. “Are you sure you want to go to work? Things might be worse than this at the hotel and I won’t be there…”
“I can’t just quit. Can I?”
