“Yes, sir.” Rage showed his marks to my dad. “It took me by surprise, too.”
“So, it’s snowing, and we don’t have coats on.” I pointed at the gray sky in Captain Obvious fashion, nervous about the direction their conversation was heading. “Besides, Grandpa Geoff could be here anytime, and I’m starving. Not to mention we don’t have much time left on the resurrect Honor clock. We should get inside.”
My dad took the cue and led everyone inside where I introduced Justice, Noble, Kaja, and Fiona. Dad acknowledged each of them with respect, and I had only enough time for a deep breath before…
“Nai!” Lona’s shaken voice came from the kitchen, and I burst into a run.
While I didn’t have a mother growing up, I did have Lon. We crashed into each other, and her scent enveloped me, lavender and earthy spices, this time from the chili she was cooking.
“Oh, child, how I missed you.” She squeezed the ever-loving life out of me, and I let her. I let her hold me for longer than was “cool” because I didn’t give two craps about that. It was so good to be home even under dire circumstances.
A low rumble of laughter made me look up just a split second before my best friend, Mack, jumped into the hug. “What the hell, Nai? Did you get kicked out of Alpha Academy?”
He enveloped me and his mom in a bear hug, lifting us right off the ground. “And you managed to make friends with Midnight?”
“She’s my fatedmate,” Rage declared, scooting over to my side in a testosterone-oozing way.
Mack dropped his arms to his side with a low whistle. Lon and I both pulled away and, still smiling, wiped at our eyes.
“And you are…?” Rage asked, sliding his arm around my waist as he eyed Mack—as if he were competition. I elbowed Rage.
“Mack and I have been best friends since diapers. He’s practically my brother.” I laughed. Lona literally raised us in the same crib. I had the pictures to prove it.
Rage relaxed and shook Mack’s hand.
“Where’s Callie?” I asked, inquiring about the third musketeer in our bestie group, craning my neck to look up at Mack. “And did you grow another five inches?”
“She’s at her house, but she’ll be right over when I text her.” He pulled out his phone, and I stopped him.
“Maybe later, we have … pressing business.” Then I looked at his mom. “Is there enough chili for seven more, Lon?” I asked.
“You bet.” Lon bopped my nose like I was five and led us all past the depths of the communal lodge toward our personal residence, which was connected via a long hallway. I remembered the nights my father held late-night pack meetings in the conjoined building. Mack and I would sneak down and try to listen in.
I followed after my dad, seeing the space with fresh eyes. The dark wood floors were worn in patches with plenty of gouges from wolves’ nails, and the ceiling here seemed lower after living in the castle-like dorm—even if ours had been rundown and dirty. But the walls had a fresh coat of paint, and the couches were comfortable and clean. One by one, dad took our guests to their rooms, promising fresh clothes and towels, which were promptly delivered by Lona.
My childhood home felt alien after being away. Kaja and Fiona got right into the kitchen to help Lona while I settled Elaine into the guest bedroom so she could freshen up. Unfortunately, Gramps wasn’t here yet, so we were just going to have to wait until he came. I decided not to panic … yet.
Dad skipped past my room with a sigh, causing me to raise one eyebrow, but before I could ask, he opened the door to another guest room and waved Rage and me inside. It hit me then … he didn’t take us to my room because it only had a twin bed. He was willing to let Rage and me share a bed, recognizing we were fated mates.
Whoa.
“You two can share this room.” My dad gestured to the queen bed, and then he shook his head—again.
“Uh, thanks.” I was too terrified to say anything.
“Nai, we should talk. There are some things about the past you should know—especially about your mother.” My dad indicated I follow him down the hall and away from the room, and I turned, both eager and terrified, tofinallyhear the whole story of that fateful night.
Rage squeezed my hand and then let go, stepping past me to enter the guest room, but my father held his hand out to stop him. “You too, son. This is as much your family’s story as it is hers.”
A stone sank in my stomach. How much did my dad know? Hadhebeen there that night?
He stepped away from the bedroom and said, “Let’s go to my study.”
We followed my father down the stairs and into his office. After Rage and I were seated on the worn, brown leather sofa, Dad pulled his office chair out to sit in front of us. I’d spent hours, almost every single day, growing up on this couch, drawing, braiding my Barbie doll’s hair, and doing homework with Mack. But this was different…
“So fated mates?” my dad said, again, with wild eyes, looking more than slightly horrified.
Poor guy was probably in shock, so much info at once. Who could blame him?
