“And I ran out of there like a banshee was on my tail!” I almost yell. “That turned out to be too close to the damn truth!”
The murmur of voices around us ripples, like a stone being thrown into a still pond, and I realize our argument has been noticed. I step back from Sadie, taking a deep breath to pull myself under control. Sadie looks around, suddenly noticing the hostile crowd, and I see fear in her eyes.
“Don’t worry,” she whispers, sounding like her throat is suddenly full of gravel. “I’ll remain civil until you can find your ‘solution’ or whatever. But it’s for Cassie’s sake. She’s one of you—she has your blood. I have to help you in case the disease comes for her, too. But I will never promise to stay, or give you my body ever again.”
Before I can answer, she turns and walks away, her head held high as she takes quick strides through the crowd, goingback to Cassie. I try not to look, but I can’t help myself from admiring her.
She’s beautiful, proud, and so incredibly strong. There is more to her than I ever guessed.
Before I can wander too far down the trail of those thoughts, I turn away from her and grab another glass of champagne, desperate to mingle with my own kind and forget this confusing attraction to a human who cannot possibly satisfy me.
Chapter 6 - Sadie
The day after the wedding, Rhys takes us to a parents’ group meeting in a park near his house. Even though I’m nervous to go and mingle in the pack, part of me hopes to find a connection with the other moms.
I’ve never really had a good friend, not since college. I lost track of my entire circle when I became a mother, and it wasn’t their fault. I stopped returning their messages after I had Cassie. I just didn’t have time.
I get Cassie dressed and ready to go, noticing with some disappointment that someone has dropped off some very nice clothes for my daughter, but only faded old jeans and shirts for me.
Is this an oversight, or is someone screwing with me?
I try not to let my paranoia get the better of me, but putting on the old clothes feels like a personal insult. I push the feeling away and hold my head high as I take Cassie’s hand and walk out the front door.
“Ready?” Rhys asks, coming out behind us.
“Sure,” I answer, as he locks the door.
I take a moment to look over the house, and I have to admit, it’s one of the nicest places I’ve ever lived. It definitely needs a woman’s touch—the garden is overgrown, the outside needs painting, and the inside is very untidy. But other than that, it’s a nice, spacious, modern house.
I thought we might have to live in that ancient, creepy manor. Thank God we aren’t. I don’t think I could handle it!
We get into the Viper, and Rhys pulls out onto the street. It’s a quiet neighborhood, with only a few houses that are apparently all inhabited by pack members.
“So, is everyone in Silver Valley aware of… your family’s other aspects?” I ask carefully.
Cassie still doesn’t know everything, and I have no fucking clue how to tell her.
“No,” Rhys answers. “The majority of Silver Valley—and Diamond Springs and Kingsville, our sister groups—are normal. We settled here in the early days and just remained part of the existing towns.”
“What does normal mean?” Cassie asks from the back seat.
“It doesn’t exist,” Rhys says matter-of-factly. “It means absolutely nothing. You might say, if you’re talking about someone’s heart rate, for example, it’s within a normal range, but specifics are different for every single person.”
“So, what makes the towns normal?” she asks, her voice high and lilting as her three-year-old brain ponders one of the hardest questions of the human race.
“Well, all of them share certain attributes,” Rhys replies. “My friends and family have those, too, but with extras. Let’s just say, it’s two different kinds of normal, where those other people would say we aren’t.”
“But what makes it normal?” Cassie asks.
I see Rhys frown, an incredibly dark, confused expression. I can’t help but chuckle.
“Never dealt with a three-year-old, huh?”
“No,” Rhys mutters.
“Well, I assure you,thisis completely normal.”
Cassie giggles, and I laugh, too.
