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The she-wolf stares off at the crowd before speaking. “It’s complicated, and I’m not sure…”
I reach for her arm and give it a gentle squeeze. “You’re safe here, and no matter what you say, no one will judge you. More importantly, we will trust you.”
There’s no way to know exactly what she’s been through, but I can sense her turmoil and fear. She’s scared, and if she’s not talking yet, then it must be bad. After all these years as alpha female, I know the most important thing has been keeping the trust of my pack so that they’ll feel safe coming to me with their problems.
Lexi is going to be no different.
“I appreciate that,” she replies softly, finally looking back at me. “I think my pack had something to do with…what happened, but I need more time. The drugs they used to keep us down messed with my head. I thought I was only gone three, maybe five years. To learn it’s been over fifteen was quite the shock.”
“Lexi,” Lykem’s panicked voice sounds from the house.
She grins. “He’s a bit possessive. I didn’t think I’d like that, but…” Her shoulders shrug, and she doesn’t have to explain further. I understand completely the sense of security that comes with having a mate that would burn the world for you.
“We’ll talk again tomorrow,” I tell her. “For tonight, you can take the third bedroom on the left on the second floor and feel free to kick Lykem out or tell him to find a blow-up mattress and sleep on the ground.”
That has her laughing, and the sound warms my heart. I don’t know her, but Vaughn and Kelly did before she was taken. They haven’t told me much, but enough that I’m glad to see whatever she’s been through hasn’t completely broken her.
Maybe the drugs weren’t such a bad thing after all.
When she walks away and enters back into the house, I turn to find Lucinda staring at me with a glare on her face.
“What?” I ask, confusion lacing my words.
“Let River handle this,” she says sternly. “This isn’t your fight, and they’re not children anymore. You can give her a home, but you’re not going to go looking for the trouble she ran from. Do I make myself clear?”
I fight back a smile. “Perfectly clear, but may I ask why?”
Lucy nods toward our families. “For them. We’ve done our fighting. Too many times to count. It’s time to support our kids, but not to join them. Not unless there’s no other choice. You have a lot to do over the coming months to prepare Dawsyn. Don’t let the excitement of trouble distract you from the bigger picture.”
She’s right, about all of it. There’s a thrill in helping right injustices. It’s a bit why I’m jealous of Amersyn and her role running the protectors, but I do know that I’m not the only person capable of helping Lexi.
Though, I’m one of only two who will need to make sure Dawsyn is prepared for her role as the alpha and that Cillian understands his position as alpha male.
“Fine, but if this gets out of hand,” I start to tell her, and she finishes my sentence.
“Then, we’ll show up, swords and tails blazing, to kick some ass.” That has her smirk returning and both of us settling back into our chairs.
I hope every day that my daughter will have the same support I’ve had since the first moment I learned about the supernatural world. There’s not much better in this world than knowing you have a family behind you that will not only be there when you need them, but who also isn’t afraid to remind you when to stand down.
“Oh!” she exclaims with a glee I’m not used to coming from the fae. Then, her voice lowers. “Finn finally wore the reindeer.”
My eyes widen, and I shake my head as I cover my mouth to hold back my laugh. “You’re a cruel woman, Lucinda Morrow. Oh, so very cruel.”
“That’s why you love me.”
It’s only a small part, but definitely one and I hope she never changes. Not even when we’re pushing centuries old.
* * *
That night,lying in bed with Roman, I can’t stop grinning. More importantly, I don’t want to.
“It’s after midnight,” my mate mutters. “I can hear you thinking, but you should be exhausted. Now, go to bed.”
I roll over to face him and poke at his chest. “How can you be tired after such an awesome day?”
“Because I spent three hours helping our grandchildren make snowmen as ‘perfect as Grammy’s’,” he says accusingly. “Now, sleep before I find a spot on the couch.”
My pointer finger presses at his stomach this time. “But seriously, how am I supposed to close my eyes and keep them that way with all this adrenaline?”
