We were cleaning up after dinner, me rinsing, Evander putting the dishes into the dishwasher, when his phone buzzed on the counter. He glanced at the screen, and his whole posture shifted.
“Moore,” he answered, stepping a little away but not out of the room. I could hear the low rumble of his voice, the steadiness he always used when things mattered. I couldn’t make out the words, but I didn’t need to. The tone alone told me everything.
My hands tightened around the plate; my heart thudded too hard, too fast, like it was trying to escape my chest.
Evander looked at me, eyes soft but serious. “Moore wants to talk to you. He said you can speak with Adrian if you’d prefer.”
“A-Adrian, please.” There was no way I’d be able to talk to another Alpha yet.
“He’ll talk to Adrian,” Evander answered, no hesitation. Then to me, “I’m going to step out. Just to the backyard. You can see me right through the door.”
I took the phone. “You got this, sweetheart.”
Did I? It didn’t feel like I did.
Evander gave me one last lingering look before leaving me alone in his kitchen.
My fingers trembled as I lifted the phone to my ear.“H-hello?”
“Hey Kasey,” Adrian said. Voice soft as a blanket draped over my shoulders. “How are you doing?”
“Okay, I guess.” As good as I could be, but was small talk really necessary?
“Good to hear. Now, it’s up to you before I tell you the results. I can just email them to you, if you want instead.”
“Just tell me, please.”
“They’re a perfect match, Kasey. One hundred percent.”
A match.
My knees threatened to give out as tears gathered.
I didn’t breathe. I couldn’t.
I…. I didn’t know what to think.
“Kasey?” Adrian’s voice was filtered through the little speaker. “You are Kasey Lorne Hale.”
“I…how?”
How did I get here? How was it possible? And why?
“That’s a good question to ask your Alpha. Evander will be more than happy to explain.”
Right. Of course.
“I…I…I have a family.”
“Yes, you absolutely do. Now go tell the good news to Evander, honey.”
Right. I could do that.
Maybe. If my voice works.
Adrain was still talking, but everything around me felt too bright. My breath hitched. I didn’t know having these results would change anything. I didn’t think I’dfeellike this.
“I- “
