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Troy stood next to Blake with a concerned expression. “It was brought to our attention that you’ve gone against our advice.”
“Which is?” I didn’t mean to sound like an ass, but shit, he needed to spill it out directly because I wasn’t about to admit to a damn thing. “I still don’t understand.”
“We know you’ve been seeing that harlot,” Mom spat. “Sara Walsh—you’ve been seeing her behind our backs!”
I glowered at my mother. “You willnotrefer to my mate as a harlot.”
The room exploded at once with voices. Gertie seemed to be apologizing while Blake tried to keep my parents from ripping my ears off. My mother and father were furious. Troy just looked plain tired. I couldn’t blame the Bravecrest alpha because I could imagine that my parents had caused his ears to bleed with their complaints.
Undoubtedly, every one of them was probably about Virginia.
Blake held up his hands and whistled loudly. Everyone in the room cringed, Troy included. I ducked into a chair and leaned my elbows on my knees, ready to shift and run back to Virginia if this got too out of hand. But the way Blake had just whistled told me I had to sit down and listen.
I was willing to listen.
Blake stood in the middle of the room, or as close to the middle as he could get without standing on top of the coffee table. “I understand your concerns, but you shouldn’t jump at his throat just yet.” He turned to face me. “Why did you go against our orders, Slater?”
“Because I love her.” There it was. The phrase just slid right off my lips like an ice cube on a wet luge. I licked my lips to taste its salty sweetness lingering in my mouth. “I love her, and I want to be with her. She’s my mate.”
My mother pretended to faint. My father tended to her. Gertie covered her mouth to keep from laughing. Troy shot her a harsh look which led to Blake wiping his face like he was getting exhausted by the whole situation.
Gods, did my parents have to be so dramatic about everything?
“Everyone should leave,” Blake stated firmly. “Right now.”
Such a command from the Beaufort Creek alpha cleared the room in seconds. Where there used to be irritation and tension, there was now a strange hollow feeling that I couldn’t shake even though my alpha stood right in front of me. He grabbed the closest plastic chair and scooted it over so he could sit in front of me.
He sighed as he dropped into the chair. “Slater, I understand being attracted to someone who is bad for you.”
I gripped my knees. “She’s not bad for me, Alpha. She’s my mate. I’ve already marked her.”
Surprise, shock, and then defeat passed through his face one after the other. “I wish you hadn’t told me that, Slater.”
“I don’t want to lie anymore. I don’t want to hide. We were going to petition you, but—”
“So, why didn’t you? That would have given me a lot more wiggle room here. You’re putting me in a delicate position.”
I looked away. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. I love Virginia and I want to be with her. She’s mymate.”
A beat of silence passed and not even the ticking of the kitchen clock came through. I clung to the plan I had in mind, remembering that everything was pretty much set up. I could grab Virginia right now, pack her with the twins into that car, and take off. No more waiting. Just leave.
Blake took a sharp breath. “Do you know why Virginia came here with her children?”
I glared at him. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
“Her parents rejected her after her grandfather died. Do you know why they rejected her?”
“That’s not my concern.”
He sighed heavily. “She was engaged to the alpha of the Silent Pride.”
My eyes went wide. Silence reigned since my tongue had dried up.
What the hell did he just say?
“I’m sorry to tell you like this. It was her responsibility to alert you of that…” He closed his eyes. “…that situation.”
“Is she still engaged?”
