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Seb leans in close and reaches out, but at the last moment, he pulls back. “Let us help you.”
I swallow hard. I know this is what I wanted, but it’s wrong, so wrong. When was the last time anyone wanted to help me voluntarily? Other than Lillian, I honestly can’t think of a single time.
Seb leans against the rail, and I watch as it bows. White paint flakes off the wood and flutters onto the scorched earth.
The door crashes open behind me, my mother and Trin both staring with wide eyes.
“What’s going on? Uriel, get out here!” Margo shouts.
My mother pushes her way in front of me. Elbowing me into the doorframe. Seb reaches out and pulls me under his arm, tucking me out of the way.
“Who are you?” My mother snarls, glaring at me under his arm. Her face is set with deep lines, mascara is caked on her lashes and smeared under her eyes, and her hair is a nest of auburn tangles. She pulls out a cigarette and lights it up, sticking it between her lips.
“Good morning, Mrs Clark. My name is Sebastian Raptore, I’m your daughter’s alpha. We want to get you moved and set up in your new place as fast as possible. I assume Missy told you that the pack would provide housing for you?” He’s so calm and polite. I can almost see my mother’s temper diffusing.
“New place?” Margo barks, almost losing the cigarette. “What’s this? New place? Missy, what the hell have you gone and done now, you little shit?”
Sebastian smiles, but his arm tenses around me, and when my father appears, holds out his hand. “I know this is short notice, but we want to make sure Missy’s family has only the best. Since she will come to live with us today, we decided not to waste time. Movers will arrive soon, and I will instruct my staff to follow directions to get this transition over smoothly.”
I step back as Sebastian talks to my parents. Any chance I’ve got at refusing this offer goes as my mother gushes up at him and starts crying. Fake tears and flirty flutters of her long lashes. I’m embarrassed by the way she’s pawing at Sebastian. But worse is the urge to go over there and claim him, make her see he’s mine. I stomp those thoughts dead, slink into the house, and watch from a distance.
My father pumps his hand, unwilling to let it go, laughing joyfully.
Of course, he is, I think bitterly.They didn’t have to do anything. This problem just magically fixed itself. Too bad at my expense.I hate that I’m angry at them for not refusing it, so I set about packing up my stuff, rolling my blankets up.
Sebastian moves into the house, and I almost feel embarrassed about how we live, but when he doesn’t comment, I finish and then go wake the girls, studiously ignoring him and the shame my home brings.
Trin watches him warily while she packs her stuff. Not once does she turn her back on him. It seizes hooks into my heart and twists painfully. I want to tell her she can trust him…but can she? Can I?
It takes an hour to pack up everything, and when we’re done, Sebastian indicates the truck and three cars. Muse and Elise race ahead, jumping and laughing around Sven.
Sven is an alpha with a barely there scent. He introduced himself earlier as Darion’s personal employee and went and brought food. Which makes him my sister’s favourite out of the people who have gathered here today.
“These people are our most trusted employees. They will take you to the house.” Seb says politely, wrapping his arm around me to stop me from following my family.
“Where are you going?” Trin challenges, looking between us in growing panic.
It dawns on me that Seb doesn’t want me to go with them. I frown up at him.
“I have to go with them.” I explain softly, trying to impress the need for me to be with Trin and the girls.
“You have to meet with Oma, I’ll take you to see your family when you’re done.”
“No, I can’t-“
“This is too important for you to miss,” he mumbles.
I open my mouth to argue, but I can’t. He’s right. It is too important.
“Okay.” I whisper in defeat.
“Wait! No!” Trin shouts. “Not okay. You come with us.”
I shake my head and move to hug her, but she skips back, throwing her arms at me.
“Trin, calm down. Calm, these are my alphas, good alphas. I trust them. Do you trust me?” I send out a plea to the universe to let there be enough truth in my words for her to hear.
Trin screams a little and grabs at her hair, pulling hard. I grab her wrists and have to duck back when she swings at me.
