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She flips her dark hair and leans forward, showing off too much cleavage.
“Because Trin is special. She’s just…reminds me of…me.” My mum shrugs. She pulls out a cigarette, but at my glare, puts it back in its pack. “Jeez, chill. The other two are too little.”
My fingers clench in the sheet as I fight to remain calm. I feel the bond pulse, and Lukas sends something soothing along the line. I scowl because I don’t want to be soothed.
“She was working for them, anyway. They never really let her go.” I explain, hoping to shock her.
Mum’s lower lip quivers. “We didn’t know. I didn’t know.”
No, we didn’t. Trin had left a letter explaining her actions, reporting what she saw and did to her handler. She’d explained that they said we didn’t love her, couldn’t love her once we knew how low she had sunk. It wasn’t until she saw me still loving my pack, despite what they’d been through, that she started questioning. She said she was sorry for pretending like there was something more between Darion and herself, she’s always known how I felt and has never felt anything more than sisterly affection towards him, but they instructed her to use it, and she didn’t know how wrong it was. How can I blame her for what they’d done to her? I might have walked away with a few nightmares, but they changed her entire view of herself.
At this point in time, I can’t even be mad at her. She needs to find herself again. Luckily, she didn’t have any bonds. Just a decade of trauma. I don’t know if she’ll ever be okay, but I hope she will. I found her a puppy through one of Raptore’s employee’s, and I asked Sven to find her and give her the dog, give her somewhere safe to hide. Keep her location safe.
I couldn’t help her then, and I can’t help her now. But she’s wrong. I do love her, and I always will. I hope one day she understands that.
“I’m leaving your father.”
I blink. The comment is so random and strange that it tears me out of my thoughts, leaving me confused. “What?”
“I found a job. I’ve been going to work, and I have enough to afford a small place and look after Elise on my own. He can keep Muse. I made too many mistakes after Trin went missing. I checked out, and you became well, you stepped up, that is not okay. What I did was wrong.”
“Mum…” I take a breath and then exhale roughly,rip off the bandaid. “You’re not going to change. You can’t. There’s a teacher at the girls’ school who is prepared to foster the two of them until they are eighteen. You’re going to sign them over.”
“No, I can’t-”
“Mum, enough. Take your fresh start and run.” I spit out coldly. “You don’t want children. And I’m not letting you keep them.”
Her entire demeanor changes, her eyes widen and she reaches out, laying her hand on the bed. The crimson nails are so bright I stare at them for a moment.
“Missy, I am so proud of you. I don’t even know where you get it from because you are everything your father and I aren’t. You are special and tough as nails, and I admire you, and none of this is easy to say. I did you wrong, and I couldn’t talk to you, but I always, always loved you, and I am so proud of the woman you have become.” The soft, pleading tone grates on my ears.
I’m offended for both of us.
“Mum…we both know that’s a load of crap. You hate me, resent me, and nothing will change that. I challenge you and make you feel old. Give me my sisters and fuck off out of our lives or I will have you arrested for prostitution and slavery.”
My mother’s shocked face slips into a cunning smile. “Perhaps you are more like me than I thought.”
“Sign the papers, Mother.” I say coldly.
She agrees to sign the papers and leaves the room ten minutes later. Doesn’t even wait to kiss Elise or Muse goodbye. I really hate her. But it’s a relief that she’s finally gone. Sven hands me the paperwork with the signature from my father. He took the cheque and ran.
My lip curls just thinking about them. I put those thoughts aside and focus on the girls, making them laugh and smile. When the nurse comes in with my lunch, I let them pick through it while I tell them all about my alphas.
The teacher, Miss Kylie Roches, arrives to pick up the girls. She is a wonderful woman who has fostered several children. A beta who lives in a community of Alphas, Omegas, and Betas, she is one of the kindest and most amazing people I’ve met. And her background check was pristine. I give her the paperwork, the packs details, and smile tiredly at her.
“Look after them, please.” It hurt to know that I wouldn’t be able to get custody of them. That my life before a court would be considered too problematic. Kandi had held my hand while Sven delivered the news this morning. I’d cried. A lot.
“Oh, I will, but you’re coming to dinner next week. You’re their sister, and they adore you, so I expect you to be in their lives all the time!”
I blink rapidly while I try to swallow around the lump in my throat. When I’m recovered, she’s gone. I lay in the hospital bed, waiting and waiting, my irritation growing.
There’s a knock on the door, and Scarlet pushes into the room. I’m shocked to see her and struggle up, opening my arms to embrace her when she gets close.
Her smile is tight, and I can tell there’s something wrong. Especially when she barely glances at me. She looks bruised.
“Scarlet?”
“Huh?”
