“This is Reese,” I said, cutting AnneMarie off.
She smiled and moved closer. When she took Reese’s hands into her own, I wanted to pull my mate away from her and place her behind me. This was the part of my family that shunned my brother and me since we were born, for the most part. But after my parents were killed, it became even worse.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” AnneMarie told Reese. Her gaze swung my way. “After all of these years. We should’ve done this so much sooner. Before…” her voice choked with emotion.
“I’m so sorry,” Reese consoled, rubbing AnneMarie’s hands with her own.
My heart tugged to see how compassionate my mate was for people she didn’t even know. Unfortunately, it was that same compassion that got her into trouble with Pines and that nursing home.
“My cousins tell us that he has fallen into a coma,” I said, breaking up the silence. “I suppose our trip up here was needless.” My grandfather couldn’t tell me whatever it was he needed to say in his state. And I knew enough about the end of life for shifters that died of old age, that falling into a coma meant he only had hours, possibly a day or so, before his death.
He wouldn’t awaken.
“We should get going,” I said.
“Brother,”Chance called telepathically. “Perhaps your mate can communicate with our grandfather.”
I glared at Chance for the suggestion, but he kept going.
“She is our pack’s seer. Though you haven’t come to terms with it just yet. And you know that seers can communicate in ways that we cannot.”
“Shut up,”I demanded, hating myself for speaking that way to my brother, even if it was only the two of us who heard it. But everything inside of me wanted to wrap itself around my mate and get her the hell out of there.
“Maybe you can help,” AnneMarie said. That was when I realized she was talking to Reese.
Reese briefly looked up at me. “How can I help?”
AnneMarie’s already soft face softened even more, her eyes glistening. “You have a special gift, don’t you? I can sense it.” She nodded at her own question, answering herself. “Come with me.” She turned and started for the stairs with Reese’s hand still in hers.
“Wait, grandmother,” Noah and Ronan called in unison, sounding like the twins they were, although they weren’t identical.
The truth was, my cousins weren’t twins. Once upon a time, there had been three of them. They were triplets, but only two of them remained.
“Where are you taking her?” I followed AnneMarie and Reese up the stairs.
“To your grandfather,” AnneMarie threw over her shoulder, not stopping.
“I don’t understand,” Reese interjected. “I don’t think I can be helpful here.”
“Yes, only you can. That is why Mother Moon had Chael bring you,” AnneMarie said, sounding absolutely certain of her decision.
“AnneMarie, this isn’t appropriate,” I said, trying to remain as calm as possible while I followed the two of them. I could hear footsteps behind me and knew Chance and our cousins followed closely as well.
“Grandmother, she cannot go in there,” Noah said. “She’s a human.”
I turned and growled at him, my wolf not liking the inflection in his tone.
“We don’t even know who she is to him,” Ronan added, backing his brother up.
My growling intensified as both Noah and Ronan stared at me.
“Sure we do.” AnneMarie stopped and turned to me with a smile on her weathered face. “Don’t we, Chael?” She cocked her head sideways.
I didn’t know that woman and I refused to tell her anything that I wasn’t absolutely sure wouldn’t be passed on to the Alliance. Their headquarters were only a few hours from here and from what I knew, it wasn’t uncommon for one of the voted members to frequent this commune.
I firmed my jaw and said nothing. I felt Reese look toward me for answers but I would have to explain everything to her later. Once we returned to New Mexico, I would explain to her about the Alliance and why, at the moment, it wasn’t safe for us to be open about her being my mate.
“Come with me,” AnneMarie said, pushing the door open. Inside lay a sprawling bed that sat up high on a platform. It was elevated so high that there was a three-step staircase that led to its top. “He’s here,” AnneMarie told Reese.
