Chapter 18

“Taking out the doctor won’t make her wake up any faster.” The sound of the voice makes me turn my head, and instantly, warm hands are holding mine.

I feel awful. My head is pounding, and my body feels like it’s made of lead. I crack open one eye, the light in the room intensifying my headache.

“Is this a hangover?” Jess’s laughter rings in my ears, making me wince. Roman looks like hell. Dark circles shadow his eyes, and his hair is a mess. I manage a feeble smile.

“You hungover too? You look as bad as I feel.” That must mean I look even worse.

“Everyone out. I need a moment with my mate.” The sound of multiple footsteps tells me there were more people in the room than I realized.

“Are you okay?” Roman’s eyes scan my face, searching for any sign of how I’m feeling.

“Nothing a good sleep won’t fix.” I give him another half-hearted smile, but he’s not buying it.

His jaw tightens, and his breathing becomes shallow. “I put you in that saferoom for a reason.” Now I’m just as mad at him.

“Right. You locked me up. HOW DARE YOU?!” My own shouting sends sharp pains through my head, but I push them aside.

“I’m your mate, not someone you can just boss around. You needed me in that fight, but your overprotectiveness made you act foolish. If we’re under attack, you need every warrior to keep the pack safe. That includes me.”

“YOU ALMOST DIED!” His words are filled with anger, but his eyes show his pain. I sigh and shake my head.

“I’m not going to die. But you’ll kill me in a different way if you keep me cooped up in this house.”

Memories of the man I met yesterday flash in my mind. I feel the blood drain from my face. I finally remember why he looked so familiar.

Roman’s eyes fill with worry before they glaze over, no doubt mind-linking with someone. “I-I-I need my phone. I need to call my mom.”

The door swings open with a loud BANG, and my mom’s scent fills the room. Before I can even blink, she’s next to me on the bed, her eyes filled with concern. She studies my face and then nods to herself.

“My baby.” She kisses my forehead, and I have to fight back tears. I grab her hand, pushing past my own tears. Roman’s hand slips away, but I quickly tell him to stay.

“Mom. Years ago, you showed me a picture of your brother. My uncle.” My mom’s face turns pale.

“That man is not your uncle. His name was Alan. He died a long time ago.”

“His eyes... they’re the same color as yours. He’s a wolf, isn’t he?” My mother’s eyebrows knit together in confusion.

“Honey, don’t think about him. He was a disgrace to our family, and thankfully, he died a long time ago. May the Goddess have mercy on his soul.” I shake my head at her.

I hear Roman tapping his foot impatiently on the floor next to me.

“He was here, mom. His eyes. I didn’t recognize him at first, but I knew him. He told me he’d be back for me one day.” Mom’s eyes widen in shock as she mumbles to herself.

“No. It can’t be. He should be dead. It’s impossible. No...”

“Mom. What did he do to get kicked out of the pack?” Mom looks at me, tears welling in her eyes, still shaking her head. “Mom. What happened?”

“He was banished for killing his mate and trying to murder his daughter. His mate... she was so young. We were too late. I felt her severed from our connection.

“I tried to find her with magic while your father ran to their house. But it was too late. Everything was covered in blood.

“Your father said it looked like a demon had killed her. Alan tried to fight. Your father had to kill him.”

Tears finally spill down my mom’s cheeks, and suddenly she looks much older than she should.

“Your father burned his body. He can’t be alive. I was there.” I shake my head again. Roman next to me is tense.

“It’s him. I saw the picture. He looked at me like he knew me. He didn’t hurt me. He just told me he’d be back for me one day and then called off the other wolves.”

Roman steps forward. When I look up at him, his face is devoid of any emotion. He stares at my mother.

“What happened to his daughter? You mentioned a daughter, but you didn’t say anything about her dying.” Mom squeezes my hand, making me look at her again.

“I love you so much.” She says before turning to Roman. “His daughter survived. I took her in and raised her as my own.”

I pull my hand back and sit up. When mom reaches for me, I retreat into Roman’s arms.

“No... No! You’re my mother and dad... dad is my father. You had me. It was hard to get pregnant at first, but you had me.”

Memories flash before my eyes. My dad looking at me with worry when I wanted to become a warrior.

No doubt fearing I’d turn out like my biological father.

How easily they took Lucy in and cared for her like she was my sister.

Then I remember.

I remember blood, the smell so strong I nearly choked on it. Me clinging to a body. Black hair mixed with the red of blood.

A voice, so soft and kind, telling me to run.

“She didn’t die right away. She bled out. She told me to run.”

Mom’s sobs grow louder as I look at her with wide eyes. Roman’s arms are securely around me, but it doesn’t comfort me. I want to scream, I want to tell the world to go to hell. I want it all to be a lie.

“You took off running. You bolted straight to the one person you knew would be there for you. You found me. I couldn’t have kids of my own, so I welcomed you with open arms. You were just a tiny thing, only three years old.

“That day, it changed you. Your laughter vanished, replaced by constant fear. That’s why your dad... the Alpha, he decided to train you.

“He wanted you to feel powerful, so you wouldn’t have to live in fear anymore. But he was worried that if you became a warrior, it would put you in the spotlight. Someone might have spilled the beans.”

“SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE SPILLED THE BEANS! Now my lunatic biological father is on my tail. Everyone’s in danger! You didn’t think someone would figure out who I am?

“When you took me under your wing and had me call you mom, you made a promise. A promise to protect me as if I were your own flesh and blood. Today is the first day in years you’ve broken that promise.”

Roman tugs at me, trying to get me to stop talking. I shrug him off as I move closer to my mom. “Leave, Aunt.”

I can see the hurt in her eyes from my words, but I can’t find it in me to care right now. All these years... All this time... I spin around and bury my face in Roman’s neck. He wraps his arms around me, holding me tight as I let the tears flow.