“From what I learned during my research, which granted, was much easier with his name and heritage, most of his story checks out. He was trying to protect you by magically hiding your witch essence. I don’t believe he’s here to betray you, but at the end of the day, I trust no one except our pack.”
Emme nodded, but further conversation was cut off by Finley wrapping his arms around her and lifting her from the bike. He had her helmet off in a beat, rubbing his hands over her cheek. “Missed you, darlin’.”
Emme’s happiness was a balm filtering through the bond and soothing our alpha beasts. All of us needed her in different ways, and somehow she was able to provide that for each of us.
Now we just had to ensure we did the same for her.
Starting with finding and destroying a witch, and giving us all a shot at a future.
CHAPTER 27
EMME
According to Talon, the compound was so isolated that if we’d used the jet to get there, we would still have had to drive for a few hours anyway. Hence the decision to road trip across the state and into Idaho. A decision I was more than happy about, as it was my first real chance to test out the Panigale.The power and handling… oh my goddess.
The bike was everything I’d hoped it would be and more.
All expectations had been met and exceeded, and it was exciting to know we still had plenty of hours left to our destination.
“You need to eat, Shortcake,” Kellan said as he exited the gas station, hands full of snacks. I rescued a few that appeared to be teetering on the edge of falling. “You can’t eat while you’re riding, so now’s your chance.”
Hunter had gassed up my bike while I used the restroom—Slade had checked them before allowing me inside of course. Now Kellan was handing me food, while Finley had drinks.
For weeks now these alphas had been caring and catering to me, without ever expecting a single thing in return. I was possibly the most spoiled shifter in history, and it felt overwhelmingin the best ways.
“Slade and Hunter need to eat now too,” I said, offloading some of the sandwiches and snacks their way. Or trying to, since neither of them would take them.
Kellan hooted as he whisked me over to sit in the front seat of theBentley, the others following us. More than a few humans glanced our way, wearing expressions that were a mix of awe and fear. They probably wondered if this group of huge and scarily lethal males had kidnapped me. I hoped my smile accurately represented that I wasexactly where I wanted to be.
“Eat up, Emme,” Kellan said, nudging the snacks in my lap. “I have no idea what most of this is, but these were what the attendant recommended.”
All of them looked confused, as if they’d never seen a Twinkie, Snickers bar, or pack of Skittles before. Come to think of it, the only junk we’d had in our house was either shifter specific, or homemade. I couldn’t wait to see these alphas racing through the streets hyped up on fake sugar.
Constantine, who remained off to the side watching the five of us closely, caught my attention.
“You’ve never been around a properly bonded pack before, have you?” I asked him, assuming that was what drew so much of his curiosity.
His smile was brief. “No. My parents weren’t in a pack, and I’ve all but been a nomad since they died. I hoped to find a family with your mother, but once she got pregnant I knew I couldn’t stay. It was a brief dream.”
My nose wrinkled at the thought of anyone ever wanting to be in a pack with my mother. “Why would you want her? She was the most narcissistic bitch I’ve ever met. Excluding Jewels of course. She cared about no one but herself and treated me like I was an annoyance at best and a curse she needed to be rid of at worst. You know she told me you wanted herto tear me from her womb. It was her favorite bedtime story.”
My father’s only reaction was to release the faintest of sighs. “She knew I wanted you more than life, but when I left her… It was the first step of breaking her. Then whatever that pack did… whatever they stole from her essence changed her fundamentally. I saw her the day you were born, when I warned her to keep moving to hide your hybrid nature. She was happy on that day, and very much cherished being a mother.”
I’d never known her to be happy or caring, but after experiencing true love with my mates, I understood how losing that could break a shifter. Followed by what Fletcher and Blaine’s pack put her through.It wasn’t that I excused her actions, but I did at least understand them better.
“I still can’t comprehend how you could have left your child,” Finley grumbled, his stare hard and cold. “If you kept tabs on Emme as you say you did, then you knew how they treated her. You must have seen she was at risk. It’s pure luck that the Rogers pack didn’t forcibly bond Emme and steal her essence, same as they did with her mother.”
My wolf howled and moved closer to the bear. Finley was triggered by parental abuse, but while he was clearly upset, he wasn’t losing it. Therapy and bonding continued to help him manage his darker emotions.
“I would have stepped in had Emme been in real danger,” Constantine said shortly. “I’d never have let them truly hurt her. I spelled the damn mechanic’s workshop so she’d be safe there. I did keep an eye on her, and when Morgan died, I ensured she could go free.”
The mechanic’s workshop.It had been the only place I’d felt safe for years. “You did keep me hidden in the human world. My getting caught was just a series of unfortunate events.”
Constantine swallowed roughly, rubbing at his temples as if this conversation pained him. “It’s clear that the goddess decided it was time for you to fulfill your destiny. Not even I have the power to take her on.”
Hunter shifted forward. “You’d have kept her from us, wouldn’t you? If the goddess never stepped in?” His expression wasn’t as hard as Finley’s, and through our bond I picked up tendrils of understanding and empathy from the entitled alpha.
“If it meant that Emme was never vilified or hurt by the packs or witches, I’d have kept her hidden forever.” There was no hesitation in Constantine’s statement. “Our kind has many enemies, and I hadn’t even really known about Fletcher and Jewels at the time.”
