I watched her skeptically. She was trying to do something, and she thought I was too stupid to realize it. “Apologize?”
She nodded. “I have always treated you like trash. Regardless of rank, and I know you outrank all of us, but as a person I treated you horribly.” She looked at my mother. “You have always treated me kindly, like a daughter, and you used to treat me like your sister.” She looked down at the ground and sighed. “I was stupid. I thought I needed to compete with you because you were always…better.”
“Shannon.” My mother chastised her, and I looked back at her. She caught my eye and when Shannon was still staring at the ground, she shook her head quickly. She was telling me not to believe her. It was too convenient, too practised. “You should know you don’t have to compete with anyone. Your father and I love you for you.” Her words were soft. She stood and made her way to the door. Toya laid across the bed, positioning herself right on top of my book. Even now, she wasn’t leaving anything up to chance.
I caught her eye and smiled. She winked back at me. Shannon sighed and looked back up. I turned back to her to see an unknown emotion flash in her eyes. “I know that now, but Amy…you have always been so perfect. Strong, fierce, and perfect.” Shannon wiped a tear that magically fell. “I was jealous, and I allowed it to take over and ruin our relationship.”
I nodded as if I agreed. But I knew she was just trying to get close. The question was why. “It’s okay.” I heard myself answer before I even thought about it. But then I turned back to the room, and my mom stepped in close. She hugged Shannon.
“It’s okay.” She whispered as she rubbed the tear from Shannon’s cheek.
“No, it’s not okay.” She pulled back and smiled softly. “I really miss you.” She leaned her head against my mother’s shoulder.
My mom closed her eyes. This probably hurt more than she was willing to say. My mom always wanted a big family, and when she first got here, Shannon was a substitute daughter. Even when she was treating her like trash, my mother still loved her in her way. It was almost as if Shannon took over the spot of the pup she lost when my father pretended to cheat.
I watched my mother’s face cycle through so many emotions. I could see a flash of longing. She wished that this feeling was real. There was anger and pain in there, too. Her face settled on something close to acceptance, but her eyes, her eyes, were empty. “I missed you too, baby girl.” She kissed her forehead and met my gaze. She allowed me to see the truth. Her eyes were full of fresh anger, then flashed to her wolfs eyes, but then they emptied again as Shannon pulled away.
Shannon smiled at my mom and turned to face me. “I know you probably don’t believe me, but I am hoping you will give me a chance to prove to you that what I am saying is the truth.”
I smiled at her. “I mean, it is hard to believe.” I sighed as I rubbed my face.
“Amy.” My mother admonished me and I had to fight to keep the smile from my face.
“Fine.” I shook my head. “If only for my mom’s peace. I will be willing to work on our relationship.”
Shannon smiled through her tears. “Thank you.” She turned to my mom and kissed her cheek. “Dad wanted me to-”
Before she could go any further, my mom cut in. “Shan, please.” My mom turned to face her. “Your fathers and my relationship isn’t something for you to fix.” She kissed her forehead. “Let’s head down. I’ll make lunch for everyone andAmy can unpack the rest of her stuff.” Shannon flicked her eyes to me, nodded and then they both left.
I shut the door after them, and the room resealed. Toya waited for a second before she burst out laughing. “Is she for real?”
I walked back to my bed and pulled out the book, then sat down. “I don’t honestly know. She thinks she is smarter than everyone in the room, and I will say, last time she had me fooled.” I sighed.
“How?” Toya rolled to face me, sinking further into the bed.
“I want to say I was stupid, but in reality…I just never fought back.”
Toya looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
I thought back to my first life. “I was an Alpha that couldn’t shift. I wasn’t embarrassed, per se, more that I wanted to stay under the radar. I didn’t want Brandon to decide I wasn’t worthy to be the Luna of the pack.”
Toya shook her head and then settled her temple on her fist, resting on her elbow. “I want to say he wouldn’t, but I know what he did to you. And I’ve met the man.” I scoffed at that. “He’s head over heels for you now, but he would turn on you so fast if it gave him a better chance at something.” Toya rolled her eyes. “The man has the conviction of a snake.”
I laughed. “What does that even mean?”
She leveled her eyes at me. “You know humans keep pet snakes. And for a while, the snake might be nice, allow them to hold it, and be gentle. But the entire time, they are looking for a way out. They can turn on you in an instant. They will attack if they want, and depending on the snake, it might just kill you. That’s Brandon. He will pretend to like you. He might even love you in his way. But if there is ever someone or something that comes along that he could use to become stronger, or richer, he’ll toss you aside.”
I nodded. “That’s exactly who he is.” I opened the book in my hands. “I want to say Vince taught him well, but in truth, Vince makes his own opportunities. He doesn’t wait for them to come to him. Brandon is…”
“A parasite.” Toya finished.
“Exactly.” She laughed. “What? Why are you laughing?”
She pointed to my door. “Looks like you now have two parasites.”
I felt my face settle, and I allowed the hurt and anger to show through my eyes. “I always had two parasites. But by the time I’m finished, they will either be dead or too broken to make much of a difference.”
Toya watched me for a minute and then she nodded. “Good.” She rolled back onto her back. “We will avenge your pup, then we will fix the rot in our kingdom.” I nodded, then turned back to the book.
