AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The shifter community knows,” Rodney answered. “If the greater supernatural world didn’t hear, then it’s not our concern.”
I shook my head. “But if you were alive, why didn’t you come for me?”
I hadn't meant to ask that aloud, at least not in front of everyone, but I couldn’t hold it in. My heart had to know the truth. I couldn’t get comfortable here if they’d never wanted me all along. I could never stay if they hated me from the beginning.
The Alpha’s eyes softened. “Saige, we didn’t know.”
“How?” I knew I shouldn’t be raising my voice at him with the stupid respect your elders rule, but I wasn’t one of them. Not yet. “How could you have not known? Didn’t Masie reach out?”
“Masie?” Rodney asked, and I turned to him. “Masie’s still alive?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Yes, was that ever a question?”
How many people had fake deaths in their world?
“I didn’t know,” he said, mostly to himself. “I hadn’t heard from her in so long.”
“Well, she did think you were dead,” Niall reminded him.
Rodney jerked his head up. His brothers gave him strange looks. How well did he know Masie? This was a different topic I needed to delve into later.
“If she reached out to the pack, word never got back to me,” the Alpha admitted. “We were told you died with your parents.”
His voice cracked, and Gloria got out of her chair and moved to his side, rubbing his back.
Even Tom seemed to soften when he looked at me. “Peter’s death took a toll on all of us, the whole pack. We loved him and Amber. We only met you once as a baby, but we loved you too.”
They did?
“You weren’t against my parents being together?”
Masie told me, when she first explained about my being adopted, that my birth father’s parents had been excited about me, but that might not mean they supported an inter-species relationship.
“No, not at all. It might not be conventional, but Peter loved Amber in such a pure way. They were soul mates, and who were we to object?” The Alpha’s sudden change from a strict leader to a sensitive father formed a lump in my throat.
“You would have wanted me?” I barely got the words out.
“Oh, yes.” He reached toward me, even though he was too far to take my hand. “If we’d known, if there was even a hint you were still alive, I would have gone to the ends of the earth to find you.”
I was so confused. Until now, he’d been a hardened and aloof man. Why the sudden change?
“I wanted to march into that Academy and take you home the second I received confirmation. When my scout said that he scented Peter, I was desperate to get to you, but I had to be smart. I had to lead with my brain, not my heart. It took a few days to gather enough intel to know that the Councilmember at the school had developed an interest in you.”
“But he didn’t know about the bond, or me being a hybrid, until the day before you came.”
“He was interested in you because of your multiple affinities and the swift increase in your class ranking. He thought you were a powerful witch. So, he poked around your student file.”
Niall and I exchanged looks. Mrs. Hedgings warned us, but it was too late. I’d rather have learned better control over magic and raised a red flag than allowed myself to remain vulnerable.
“I got there as soon as I could. When the Council’s plane wasn’t at the airport, I thought we missed you. Then I remembered the private airstrip, and we hurried over. You had Peter’s scent, so I knew you were a shifter, even though you were attending as a witch. Being a hybrid is incredibly dangerous.” He lowered his eyes. “I’m grateful we got to you in time.”
“Me too. Thank you for coming for me and my bond.”
He lowered his head.
Rodney spoke up. “I can’t imagine how you all must feel right now. Not only did you have to leave school, but you’re in a completely new place with strangers. I want you all to know you we’re happy you’re here. The pack will be excited as well.”
Gloria smiled and put her hand over the Alpha’s. “This is a lot to take in, so why don’t you all just rest and relax for a few days? Settle in, then we can introduce you to everyone and tell you more about the compound.”
