Leander shifts in his seat. “Did your mother’s wolf never fight back?”
I cough a little, scared of what Leander will think when I tell him the truth.
“My mother isn’t a wolf.”
Leander squints his eyes. “She’s human?”
I shake my head. “No, she isn’t human. I found out when I was five that my mother is a hybrid. She has a wolf, but she’s also a feline.”
“Wait, what?” Sara gasps. “You’re mother is a feline shifter?”
“Yes, a Lion shifter.”
“Wow.”
“How is that your mother happened to mate with a wolf? That doesn’t even make any sense.”
I shrug my shoulders.
“I really don’t know; I just remember my father screaming how my mother would never find her way back to the King of Lions. I’ve never seen my mother shift into her animal form. She told me she had a wolf but was too weak to shift. With what Mike said about the King of Lions, I assumed Mike meant that Mum was also a lion.”
Leander and Sara seem to be mind-linking, so I sit quietly for a moment.
I sigh just as Jessie lifts, sniffing the air, and struggling in my arms.
“Jessie, what is it?”
“My Alpha!” She screams, jumps off my lap, and runs towards the door.
I get out of my seat as the door swings open, revealing Alpha Lorcan and Luna Gianna. Jessie jumps into the air and right into Lorcan’s arms.
Jessie is a different kind of wolf; she has crazy speed and can leap much higher than any wolf I’ve ever known. She can also read minds, or it seems that way.
Yes, my sister is very different, and I’m scared to death that the King will find out. If that happens, Jessie could be taken from us. Until recently, Mike hid Jessie away from the pack; he didn’t want anyone getting too close and finding out that she wasn’t his child.
However, Jessie got out of the house this morning and ran into Lorcan. I ran after her and was stunned to see the Alpha holding my sister. They were smiling at each other, seemingly talking through the pack link. Then Lorcan pressed his forehead to Jessie’s, and she giggled.
Lorcan looked at me, and that’s when he demanded that I tell my parents he wanted to see them in his office. He didn’t want any excuses, and he wanted it right then.
Goddess, how did we end up like this?
I had to save my mother; regardless of going behind my Alpha’s back, I had to. I pray that he understands.
“My Alpha,” Jessie mumbles while holding Lorcan’s face between her hands.
Jessie acts so familiar with Lorcan as if she’s known him for years and they’re best friends. I didn’t realise a child could be so attached to someone so quickly.
Lorcan smiles. “Hello, little one.”
“Did you come to save me?”
My stomach churns, and I clasp my stomach with my hand. I look at Frankie, who smiles slightly.
I am terrified of what Lorcan will do to me for leaving with Jessie. He seemed to take a shine to her, and as we never got to his office, I’m worried he’ll punish me. Jessie and I are still members of his pack, and no one is to take a member of Lorcan’s pack without his permission. It doesn’t matter that Jessie is my sister; I still did the wrong thing and went against my Alpha.
“Lorcan, Gianna.”
“Leander,” Lorcan tips his head at his brother as Gianna and Sara embrace.
“I got here as quick as I could. Thanks for informing me as to where they went.” Lorcan looks directly at Kit and Frankie with anger burning in his eyes. “What the hell were you thinking, Kit?”
“I’m sorry, Alpha. Frankie said she needed to help her friend, and I didn’t think twice. I know I should have brought the family to you, but Mel was afraid of Mike finding them. That and Alison was in such a bad state,” Kit sighs. “I did what I thought was right. I was going to contact you, but Leander beat me to it.”
“Regardless of why you did it, Kit, you took a member of my family off pack grounds.”
I narrow my eyes.
What the hell is he talking about?
“Lorcan,” My Alpha looks at his brother, who is now standing behind his desk. “She’s safe, so don’t be too hard on your Gamma; he only did what he thought was right at the time. However, there is a lot for us to talk about. Why doesn’t Jessie go with Mel, and I’ll have someone show them to a room?”
“No, No!” Jessie yells while wrapping her arms around Lorcan’s neck. “I want to stay with my Alpha. He’s my best friend and cousin like you, Leander.”
My eyes widen in shock, and I think I can feel myself falling. . .
“Here, honey, drink this.”
I smile at Sara while taking the glass of water from her hand and taking a sip. It seems that I passed out for a minute there. Sara and Gianna helped me to the couch; Gianna sat on one side of me, and Frankie on the other.
Now Gianna is stroking the back of my head. Frankie is holding my hand while Sara is sitting in front of me.
I don’t know where everyone else is, but it seems Lorcan has taken my sister with him. I hope Jessie is okay, and I pray Alpha Lorcan isn’t too angry with me.
I also need to get to the infirmary to see my mum. The doctor sent word that Mum was in a critical condition because I wasn’t allowed to go with her. She still isn’t healing, and she’s not responding to treatment.
I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose my mother!
“I’m so sorry I caused all this trouble.”
“Melinda,” I look at Gianna as she speaks my name. “You haven’t caused trouble; you were trying to help your mother.”
“I know that I should have come to you or Alpha Lorcan or both. But I was so scared, Luna.”
“Shh. . .” Gianna wraps her arm around my shoulder, and I rest my head on her shoulder. “We’re not angry with you, Melinda, just worried.”
“I’m sorry, too, auntie Gia,” Frankie sighs. “I should have told you that Melinda and her family needed help.”
Gianna smiles. “Let’s not talk about it now,”
“Is Lorcan going to want to take them back to Silver Paw?”
I shake my head at Sara, but she’s not looking at me; she’s staring at Gianna.
I jump out of my seat with my hands clutching the sides of my head. “Please don’t send us back there.”
“Mel,”
I shake my head at Frankie. “Silver Paw is a happy place for you, Frankie. But it was hell on earth for me and my mum and sister. No one ever liked me, no but you and even that hasn’t been all that long.
“My mum and sister, they need protecting. I know Alpha Lorcan would do that, he’ll probably kill Mike, and we could go home. But for now, Luna Gianna, Luna Sara, please let us stay here so my mother can try and get better.”
Luna Gianna gets out of her seat and hugs me. I’m shaking with fear and adrenaline as I cling to her.
“Everything will be okay, Melinda. Lorcan and I will leave you in Leander and Sara’s capable hands until your mother is better and Mike has been dealt with.”
I nod my head and sniff back my emotions.
I don’t want to cry, but Goddess knows it’s not easy.
“I didn’t know Lorcan was coming today.”I shrug my shoulders at Adam because I didn’t know either. My uncle Lorcan isn’t one for dropping by unannounced unless it’s an emergency. As Dad didn’t mention anything, and Lorcan is smiling at the little girl in his arms, I’m clueless.“I wonder who the kid is,”“Yeah,” Adam answers me, seeming miles away.Adam is my father’s cousin; their fathers are brothers. The man is your typical tall, dark and handsome prick. He holds himself like a wolf, dresses like a vampire, and has eyes women seem to get lost in. Dad always said that had more to do with Adam’s ability to hypnotise people than women falling at his feet.Not to be confused with Adam forcing anyone to be with him, he would never do that. Although, Adam is known for hypnotising people to watch them make fools of themselves for fun.Weirdo.I’ve always felt sorry for Adam, he may look to be in his twenties, but he’s, in fact, in his fifties. Adam is the same age as my father, but Adam
“Adam!” I yell after him as he walks with purpose, but he doesn’t listen.“Adam, what’s wrong with you?” Dad asks.Adam stares at Lorcan, eyes still wolfed over, chest heaving. “Give me what’s mine,” He mumbles.Lorcan narrows his eyes. “What are you talking about? I don’t have anything that’s yours.”“Come to me, little one.” Adam holds his arms out to the child, who giggles while jumping out of Lorcan’s arms and into Adam’s.Dad, Lorcan and I all stare open-mouthed as the child lays her little hand on Adam’s face. He smiles, eyes returning to their usual brown.“What the hell is going on?” Lorcan looks at Dad while asking the question, but Dad shrugs his shoulders.“Hello, Daddy,” The little girl says, causing us all to gasp.“What the hell?!” Lorcan bellows.“Hello, Jessie,” Adam replies while pressing his forehead to the child’s.When he finally pulls away, he presses a kiss on her forehead. She giggles, then lies her head on his shoulder.“Adam, what the hell?”Adam lovingly stro
“Give her to me right now!” I snatch Jessie from the stranger’s arms.He hisses at me, eyes turning red and scaring the shit out of me.I take a step back with Jessie in my arms.I sat down for ten minutes because Luna Gianna made me. I came out for some fresh air to find that Lorcan had passed Jessie off to a stranger. Now they’re all looking at me like I’m in the wrong!How do they think I’d react?I’m too shaken to acknowledge my wolf yelling ‘Mate’ inside my head. Goddess, I hope this stranger isn’t my mate; he’s scary!“Hand back my child, girl.”Oh, Goddess, even his voice is bone-chilling!Wait. . . “Your child?” I look from the stranger to Jessie.She cups my cheeks and giggles. “This is my daddy, Mel.”“What?”Jessie kisses my cheek and then reaches for her father, who takes her with a smile.“Melinda,” I turn to look at Lorcan. “This is Adam, my cousin and your mother’s mate.”I look closely at Adam, realising that he’s the handsome stranger who swept my mother off her feet.
Adam and I arrive, and the doctor tells us to take a seat. They’re doing some tests on Mum, but we can go in shortly.Jessie has fallen asleep in Adam’s arms, and I smile to see how contented she looks.“You should give Jai a chance, you know?” Adam tells me after a moment of silence.I ignore what he said about giving Jai a chance.“What kind of a name is Jai, anyway?”Adam chuckles.“His mother liked the name. When he was growing up, people called him Jay. He’d get annoyed and tell them, ‘My name is Jai - like J-eye, like Kai, but with a J.’ People knew his name, but they liked how annoyed he got.” Adam laughs to himself.Okay, so Jai, like Kai, but with a J. As names go, it’s not a bad one; I think it suits him.“Are you going to forgive my mother?” I ask instead of replying to what Adam just said.Adam sighs. “She rejected me, Melinda.”“She didn’t want to,” I admit. “Mike is not a nice man, Adam. He kidnapped my mother from her pack when she was fifteen years old. He tortured her
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I mumble while stroking her white blonde hair back from her forehead.As soon as I walked into the room, I almost fell through the floor. My beautiful mate is battered beyond recognition.I’m going to kill the motherfucker who did this!I understand now why Alison rejected me, and it breaks my heart. So much pain suffered by one woman at the hands of a madman.She birthed his child, one she didn’t even try to deny when we met. I wasn’t angry with Alison; it’s not like I haven’t had my fair share of women in the past.But if she’d told me about her life with Mike back then, I would have saved them both. I would have loved Melinda as though she were mine.Then there’s the fact Alison had my cub without my knowledge. But I couldn’t be angry with her when she had no way of getting away from Mike.How would she have been able to seek me out?Sure, she could have gone to Lorcan. But I understand that if Mike had found out, he could well have killed my Alison b
It’s been two days since we arrived at Greenrock pack, and Mum is back to full health. Thanks to Adam and Mum taking back her rejection, she’s finally happy.Jessie is beyond happy to have her Mummy and Daddy together. Yet I’m still worried that Mike will find us. Adam swears that Mike can do nothing to hurt us and that he’ll protect us all. But I’m still scared.Mum informed me this morning that they’d be moving to Dalgaard Mansion, where Adam lives. We’ll be safe there with Adam’s parents, siblings, grandparents, and even great-grandparents, not to mention the King and Queen of wolves. Then Mum laughed and said that she shouldn’t have said that. Mum knows about Jai, thanks to Adam telling her. Mum said that as she knew I’d be staying with my mate, I best visit often.I hadn’t the heart to tell Mum that I still hadn’t spoken to my mate. I haven’t once seen him since that first day.Of course, I’ve wondered about talking to him. I need some closure, and so does Jai; I know that. I mul
“Are you for real?” Melinda asks while snatching her arm from my grasp. “I haven’t been avoiding you, Jai; you’ve been avoiding me!”She’s right; I have, but only because Dad told me to give Melinda time to come to me. But Melinda didn’t seek me out, and it’s finally driven me mad!I run my hand through my hair.“I gave you the space you wanted, Melinda. I thought you’d calm down and come to me, but you didn’t. I got sick of waiting,”“I was coming to talk to you, Jai; I just needed time. So,” She folds her arms around herself. “How do we do this? Do I just reject you, and you accept? Or do we reject each other? I’m not quite sure how it all works.”I think I’m in shock.I stare at my little mate and wonder why the hell she doesn’t want me. I thought she just needed time, but it’s clear that it’s me she’s itching to get away from.I don’t think I can breathe right now!“Why the hell would we reject each other? You’re my mate!”Melinda rolls her eyes to the sky while shaking her head.
I cannot believe that fucking Lion prick made such a scene!It’s not Melinda’s fault that she was born to a man who forced himself on her mother. Goddess, I could rip Adonis’s heart out!I chase Melinda for ten minutes before catching her and tackling her to the ground.“Get off me!” Melinda screams as I straddle her, pinning her arms above her head. “Jai, let me go!”“No!” I yell. “No, I will not let you go. What he said was wrong, Mel, don’t listen to him.”“Why should I care what he said? He’s not the first person to reject me, and he won’t be the last. I’m used to it,”Then, with all her mite, Melinda pushes me off of her. She scrambles back against the nearest tree and brings her knees to her chest.My heart aches for my mate, and now I realise why she’s trying to push me away. She wanted to reject me before I did so to her.I sit down in front of Melinda with my legs crossed and sigh.“Melinda, this is why you’re trying to reject me, isn’t it? You thought you’d reject me before