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In the center was a vast California King sized bed. Four bedposts made of dark mahogany rose at its corners. My stepfather must have had it specially made—the faces of growling and snarling wolves were carved into every post, as well as the headboard, which depicted a running woman being chased by a whole pack.
My mother was sitting on the side of the thick mattress looking tired and depressed. She was wearing a silky red nightgown my father could never have afforded to buy her. It looked beautiful but I knew what the real price of it was and it wasn’t in dollars. I wanted to go to her and put my arms around her…but I felt like there was a shadow between us, holding me back.
“I have some questions,” I said, stopping a few feet in front of her.
She looked up and brushed some of her long, platinum hair over one shoulder.
“Ask. You might as well—I can’t hide anything from you anymore. You’re a young woman—not a child anymore.”
“Why did you keep me a child for so long?” I asked. “I mean, it was the special tea that stunted my growth and kept me asexual, wasn’t it?”
My mother nodded tiredly.
“Yes. I’m sorry—I did that for your own good. I was trying to protect you.”
“So you did it just to hide my true heritage? My, uh, Royal bloodlines?” I asked.
She nodded again.
“Yes. I guess you must have stopped drinking it while I was gone with Esteban.”
“I ran out,” I said honestly. “Though I might have tried to make it last if I’d known what would happen.” I motioned at myself, at my newly curvy figure and my silver hair and pale gold eyes.
“I’m so sorry you had to go through your First Blood alone.” My mother looked like she might cry again. “They didn’t hurt you did they? The Alphas, I mean?”
I shook my head.
“Gabriel and Christopher kept them off me—they protected me.”
“Thank the Goddess.” She put a hand to her eyes and sniffed deeply, as though trying to push back the tears. “I was so worried the whole time we were gone! I thought—”
“Dad wasn’t my real father, was he?” I interrupted her. I didn’t know how long I’d have to ask questions before my stepfather came back.
My mom looked like she wasn’t sure what to say. She opened her mouth…then closed it. She shook her head and looked down at her hands.
“No,” she said in a low voice. “No, Dave wasn’t your real dad. When I met him, I was already pregnant with you. He was a kind, sweet man who was willing to marry me and give my child a home and a name and let me stay hidden in the shadows as much as possible.” She shook her head. “Much good it did me, since Esteban found me after all.”
“Was he hunting for you all these years?” I asked.
She nodded.
“He used to be an enforcer in my old pack. I was traded away in a bargain as soon as I had my first Heat Cycle. The man who bought me got me pregnant…and then I ran.” Tears started in her eyes. “I wanted more for you, my sweet girl. I’m so sorry!”
I wanted to cry too, but I kept my tears in check. I could cry later when there was time.
“Mom, I still don’t understand why you kept me so ignorant,” I said to her. “I had no idea what was happening to me when I started my period—I thought I was dying!”
“I’m so sorry.” She swiped at her eyes. “I didn’t want you to have to know anything about sex—anything at all. I…I had to learn at a very young age myself,” she added in a low voice. “I wanted to protect you from that.”
The implications of what she was saying sank in and I felt sick and sad for her all over again. She might have gone to extremes to try and keep me safe, but she’d just been protecting me the best way she knew now.
“All right,” I said, because I didn’t know what else to say. “I understand.”
“I don’t want you to be sold away like I was.” My mom looked at me with desperation in her pale gold eyes. “If only there was something I could do… but I’m afraid if Esteban catches you running he might…might kill you.”
The last words were spoken in a hushed whisper and the look on her face was one of desperate fear.
“I’m not running,” I said. “Where would I run to? It’s not like we have any other family I could go hide with. Do we?”
Wearily, my mother shook her head.
“I’m afraid not. I cut ties with my old pack long ago. But Esteban wanted me, back when my father sold me to the man who got me pregnant. He never forgot or forgave—it’s why he never stopped searching for me. And now…now he’s got us both.”
