Page 25 of Wicked Wolf

“I need to walk to our home on my own,” she said softly, but stronger than she’d spoken earlier.

She was a dominant wolf. Though she was in pain, she needed to stand on her own two feet in front of the rest of the Pack. If needed, she’d break down again in quiet later.

Kade gave her a nod, his wolf in his eyes, and then set her down. She wobbled for a moment, but with her family behind her, she raised her chin then took a step.

Then another.

Then another.

She moved through the den, ignoring the curious looks from Pack members who either meant well or relished her pain. After all, she was a witch.

A witch who didn’t have full control of her powers.

What right did she have to judge them for their wariness of her?

What right did she have to judge Quinn for his reasons not to trust her?

A witch had destroyed his life and was slowly killing his son—she knew his pain was justified.

She just wished it didn’t hurt so much.

When she made her way to the front door, she felt the rest of the family slowly leave. Only her brothers and parents remained behind. The other Jamensons seemed to know she needed space from the immense crowd.

She’d never loved them more.

Ben, her youngest brother at ten years old, went around her to open the door. He gave her a small smile then took her hand, pulling her into the house.

Tristan and Drake hurried off to the kitchen while Ben and Nick forced her to sit on the couch. They sat on either side of her, pressing themselves against her so she could feel her family, her Pack. Mark sat on the other side of Ben and leaned in. She wrapped her arms around them and kissed each of their heads. Her brothers were growing up so fast, and soon they’d all be men in their own right.

She loved them so freaking much.

She’d be okay. She had her family, her wolf, and her strength. She’d find a way to prevail and heal. Quinn had lashed out and hurt her more than she thought possible, but she didn’t need him. Fate would give her another mate. Maybe not now, maybe not for a decade, but it could happen.

She’d just learn to be herself until then.

She’d done well on her own before, and she’d do it again.

Her mother sat on the coffee table in front of her and put her hands on Gina’s knees. “Talk to me, baby.”

“We can go if you want to talk with just Mom and Dad,” Finn said, surprising her. He had an old soul and could be sweet if he wanted to be, but he was also a very dominant wolf. The fact that he would let her speak about what happened without him there told her how bad she must look. Some things were private, but if Finn wanted to know exactly what had hurt her, he wouldn’t have left no matter what. They were walking on eggshells around her, and she wasn’t sure she liked that.

She didn’t like the fact that Quinn had pushed her into this position.

Damn the wolf.

She shook her head. “No. You can stay.” She met her mother’s eyes. The pain she saw there made her swallow hard.

Her mom knew.

Maybe not all of it, but she knew.

Tristan and Drake came back into the living room with tea and cookies for everyone. Mel had trained her brood well. Gina took a cookie and a cup of tea, knowing she needed the nutrients. She’d never gotten her meal after shifting and her run with Quinn, and her tired wolf was on edge.

Gina licked her lips and nodded at her mother. “I went to Quinn today to talk about the fact that he’s my potential mate.”

Kade let out a curse while the boys either hugged her or mumbled one of their own.

Finn gave her a look, frowned, then started to pace.