“You can’t.” Her father sounded regretful, but firm.
“Well, not regularly, but we might work out a monthly phone call on this phone.” My father offered a tiny branch of hope.
“You would do that for us?” Toya’s father’s voice was deep.
“Of course.” My father’s voice was sincere.
“Without question.” My answer was quick as I stared at Toya. “This phone isn’t traceable. And my home will be secure, that I can promise you.”
Toya nodded. “Thank you.”
“I will set it up with your parents and I will message Amy.” My father’s voice quietly filled the room.
“Thank you Alpha.” Toya smiled, and for the first time today, it was a genuine smile.
“Just call me Gavin.” Toya handed back the phone and I could see tears dripping down her face. “Pup, can you take me off speaker?”
I clicked it off and pulled it up to my ear. “Yeah Daddy?”
“Are you sure you can trust these girls?” I could hear Toya’s father’s rich voice and my father laughed. “Not your girl Terrence. The others.”
“Yes daddy. I can feel it. I can trust them. The goddess hasn’t guided me wrong yet.”
My dad was silent. “Okay pup. I trust your judgement. “
“Thank you, daddy.” I looked at the confused faces of the others. “I’m going to go. Rowan will be here soon, and we have a lot to figure it out.”
“Rowan? Like King Rowan?” His voice jumped up two octaves, and I wanted to laugh.
“Bye daddy.” I hung up the phone and put it back into my lock box.
“What is going on?” Hanna walked over and climbed into my bed next to Toya. “What’s wrong?”
Toya jumped into my arms. “Thank you.” She started to cry in earnest, and Hanna leaned over to rub her back as she cried in my arms. I just smiled as I winked Hanna, earning a smile.. I pulled her back and pressed my cheek against hers.
“We are connected.” Toya nodded and pulled back.
“We are.” She looked around. “We all are.”
“Yes.” I stood and turned to face everyone. Hanna wrapped her arm around Toya. Micca and Wendy got onto the bed and I could feel something settle. “This right here, all of us, we are connected. I can feel that we were meant to meet.”
“I feel the same way.” Wendy smiled and Micca and Hanna nodded.
“I know everyone is confused. And I promise we will explain everything we can.”
“We?” Micca looked at Toya, but she shook her head.
There was a soft knock and everyone turned as I released the spell. I waved my hand. “Come to the living room. We will explain it all right now.”
“Is she talking about…” Everyone followed me to the door and I opened the door.
“Hi.” I opened the door wider.
“Holy shit.” Micca’s voice was a whisper, but I couldn’t stop my laugh as Rowan walked in with a case of beer.
“Hey.” He looked at the girls and back at me. “You said you had food…so I brought drinks.”
“Holy shit.” Micca repeated as she grabbed Wendy’s hand. “Please tell me we aren’t hanging out with our fucking king.” His voice was barely above a whisper.
