“Dad shouldn’t have done that to you,” I say angrily.
“He shouldn’t have done that to either of us. But he did, and we were happy. I was happy with you. You are one of my very best friends, and I am so proud and in awe of you. I know that you’re going to be fine, and I want to take this moment and have you really hear me when I say this. Cordelia, I am going to be fine,” she laughs. “I’m going to be so fine. So, don’t you worry.”
“Mum-”
“I know you saved us during those rough years. And I love you for that. I couldn’t find a way to keep us above water, but you did. You kept us safe. Now, it’s time to live your life.”
I sniffle. Where is this coming from? She sounds like my mum, and I feel little. I'm hearing all the words I’ve always wanted to hear.
“Why are you crying?” she teases but sets her mug down and stands up, coming and hugging me.
“You are the daughter of my body, and of my heart and soul, too, Cordelia. All the best parts of me and more. You are going to be fine. No, you will thrive. And I will be honoured to watch it.”
I hug her harder, sobbing into her shoulder.
She strokes my hair.
“I don’t want anything to change.”
“Yes, you do. Of course, you do. I know how much you loved that boy, Cordelia, and he’s yours now. Don’t be scared that he’s going to leave. He’s not like your dad. He’s a good alpha, someone who has shown up for his family, his friends, his town. You. And those two, Katsu and Fox…baby, they are good alphas. I know you are worried, but trust me, the whole town can see it. Trust them and trust me.”
My lip wobbles as I try to stop the tears. “I love you, Mum.”
“I love you. So much. Now get your ass up those stairs and get pretty so I can watch them trip all over themselves trying to get to you.”
I laugh wetly. She pulls away, this woman who is a thinner, more ethereal version of myself.
She has given me so much.
But knowing she’s going to be okay…I can let go of that worry.
I go up the stairs and stop in front of my laptop.
“Lynn Marino is not me. She’s a job.”
Still, I can’t make myself unpublish that preorder.
Chapter 29
Katsu
She is a vision.
Cordelia is wearing black jeans with a white knitted jumper and knee-high boots. Her hair is up and off her face, showing off her cheekbones and those long lashes hiding the most exquisite brown eyes. But it’s the look she gives me, the scent of her that reels me in, the smile that she can’t hide, all of her that I have missed for every blasted second this town has been fighting to keep us apart.
“It has been too long,” I murmur as I approach, leaning down to kiss her cheek. Azaleas and winter hit me, and I want to lose control, throw it all to the wind and bond her so she can’t ever leave me again.
“It’s not been that long,” she protests as I nuzzle her, leaving my scent on her face.
She lets out a stuttering purr that makes my chest ache.
“A minute is too long,” I say in complete honesty. She undoes me, and I find myself feeling like I’m going crazy around her, but in the best way. Stoic Katsu doesn’t work here. She needs my weakness, my humanity. I don’t know who I want to be, but Iwant to be warmer for her. I’d be her haven and the harbour she finds safety in. Whatever she needs.
I cup her upper arms and slide down over the soft material until I can capture her hands.
“You look beautiful.” I mean every word I say, more than I’ve meant anything.
I thought my life was complete with Fox. I was beyond happy. But finding Sebastian and her has turned everything up on its head. I’ve been struck by lightning thrice. These things just don’t happen.
