“But come back soon so I can meet them,” my dad adds, cracking his knuckles. “I want to make sure they’re good enough for my daughter.”
I roll my eyes. “Dad, come on. They are. They’re all great.”
They’re truly amazing.
Rowan, with his playfulness and delicious wild storm scent. Ryland, sweet, far too patient, and brilliant like his brother, with a peaceful, calming scent.
Then, there’s the pack leader.
Smoke and wood.
A blazing fireplace.
And someone that I’ve cared about for a very long time.
Travis.
“Then it’s a deal. Get some rest, stop making yourself sick, and get your ass on the road tomorrow.” My dad scoops up Mervin and Marlin, grunting as he does. “These cats are huge, Blair.”
“Mom has been feeding them treats all week!” I call after him as he leaves with my boys.
My mom squeezes my hand and ignores my outburst. “I’ll run you a bath, okay? Then we can have dinner.”
But my mother’s eyes are still pained, and I can see the guilt written all over her face. “Mom, don’t be sad for me. This isn’t your fault,” I murmur. “Remember? That’s something we both need to work on.”
“I want to meet them,” she says. “You have to bring them by, soon.”
“You assume that when I go back all will be forgiven and they’ll want to still be with me.”
“Blair, please. Anyone that doesn’t want to be with you is an idiot.”
“Mom. The pedestal. Come on,” I sigh.
She pats my hand. “Do they put you on one too, then?”
“They look at me like the sun shines out of my ass,” I mutter, recalling something that Piper told me offhandedly.
My mom bursts out laughing and wipes a tear from her cheek. “Good. Then I can’t wait to meet them. My future son-in-laws. Or is it future Alpha-in-laws? I still don’t understand how that all works.”
I groan in reply.
I still feel awful,but the knowledge that I’m going back to Luna County soon seems to help with the headache.
I take my suppressants, my scent blocking gummies, and sip a post-Heat symptoms tea while in bed.
Then, I take out my phone and finally read the messages each of them sent me.
I told myself I wouldn’t cry, that I had shed enough tears in the last two years to last a lifetime.
I open Ryland’s message first and realize quickly that I lied to myself.
Come back whenever you’re ready, beautiful. Take as long as you need.
Rowan’s is next.
I miss you so fucking much it hurts. Please come back, sweetheart. Whatever it is, we can fix it.
My face crumples at his text.
