“You are sleeping outside with your damn darlings tonight!”
Grandpa snorts a laugh when Grandma stalks into the bedroom.
“You’re not taking this at all seriously, Grandpa. I’m worried for you.”
“She loves me. She will forgive me.”
“You should probably stop feeding them here.”
“Well, see, here’s the thing, I was feeding them down at the beach, they followed me home.”
My eyes widen, and I look at Elijah quickly, and then away before I lose it.
Grandpa scratches his head. “Mind you, there were only two when I first began as well. Seagulls multiply quickly, a useful fact for the future.”
Grandma stalks out, slamming the door behind her. “Elijah, Sofia. You need to go now. I need to have a private discussion with my alpha.”
I wave. “Love you both.”
“We love you, too. Remember, think with your head and not your cooter.”
“Grandma!” I hiss, my whole body on fire as I try really hard not to look at Elijah, but I can almost feel his gaze drilling into the side of my head.
“Are you ready for the second date?”
I look at him in confusion. “That’s today?”
Elijah smiles easily. “Yeah, your mother sent me to get you.”
“Crap!” I scoop up my dachshund, ignoring the screaming flock, and speed walk back in the direction of home.
Chapter 21
Sofia
The dress is one I bought for myself with my earnings. I was going to wear it out to dinner with Pack Collins, but it never felt right, so it just sat in my closet. I was so proud of the fact that I’d earned the money myself. Funnily enough, I was more excited about buying and owning a dress than I was about Pack Collins. It’s pale pink with a sweetheart neckline and an asymmetrical skirt that is made of a material that floats. It’s just so delicate and feminine and pretty. I’ve never owned anything like it before.
I’m not sure why I’m wearing it today, only that I want to look nice for them, and it feels like something powerful. Imogen has taken Danger again, so he doesn’t have to sit through whatever diabolical plans my mother has come up with.
With a last glance in the mirror, I go downstairs. Mum made Pack Hart wait for me at the Sandy Heart Café. When I get downstairs, I find another blast from the past. My mother’s best friend Ophelia.
She’s still got the blackest hair, though now it is streaked with silver; her dark eyes take in everything. She’s just as strong as she’s ever been.
“You’ve come home,” she says and looks me up and down.
“I have.”
“How did you find the world?”
I shake my head, remembering the girl I used to be. “It was pretty awful.”
Ophelia grins. “It can be if you’re in the wrong place with the wrong people. How does it feel to be home?”
I glance around. “I can breathe again.”
She opens her arms wide, and I trip down the stairs and fall into her embrace. “We missed you so very much, no one more than your mother.”
I sniffle. “I missed everyone, too.”
