Page 112 of Cursed

My own heart feels like a butterfly freshly freed from a cocoon. I’m reborn now with all my mates’ love.

* * *

After I recover from our naughty shower session, Arden pulls me aside. “Will you come with me to visit my mother in the hospital?”

Instantly, I get cold sweats. Apparently, meeting theniceparent is what truly makes me nervous.

I don’t want to cause Arden any strife, but it sounds like she might be living with us if Rourke and Arden have their way. What if we don’t get along?

Shoving down my worries, I snuggle into his hug. “Of course.”

I hurry off to dress and look presentable for who is, essentially, my mother-in-law. I must change my limited wardrobe fifty times to find the right look.

“Hey?” Arden knocks on my half-open door. “Why are you nervous?”

“Uh, she’s the only good parent we have in the whole coven.” I grab onto his arms and look up into his beautiful green eyes. “And it’syourlong-lost mother. I want to make a good impression.”

“Don’t worry.” He kisses my forehead and then inspects my current outfit. A modest blouse and jeans. “You look perfect. And she’s going to love you so much.”

As we head to the door, Quade says, “I’m coming along to keep you both safe.”

He means me, but I’ll let that slide. It feels reassuring to finally have people care about me—for the first time in my life.

* * *

At the hospital, we check-in. Quade stays outside the room, giving Arden and me some space with her.

Arden’s mother is beautiful, if not looking a bit tired. I can only imagine the crap she had to live through. She has the same light brown hair as Arden, but she has aqua-colored eyes. She smiles when she sees both of us.

Arden rushes to hug her and kiss her cheek. After a moment of them reconnecting, which I can see energetically as threads between mother and child, she reaches out and pulls me into the embrace as well.

After a long moment, my druid and I step back from the hug.

He clears his throat and makes the introduction official. “Mother, this is Shayla, the love of my life.” He then draws me forward as if presenting me and says, “My dyad, this is my mother, Elanie.”

“Shayla, please call me Mom.” Elanie waves off Arden for using her name.

“Thank you.” My eyes tear up. I’ve never even called my mother mom.

“You’ve adopted a whole coven of misfits,” Arden smirks. “You’ll love them.”

“From what I saw of them the other day and what I felt in their hearts, I already do.” She holds Arden’s hand. “And they areyourfamily now.”

“Yours too,” he reminds his mom. “Rourke is already planning for a mother-in-law suite, by the way.”

She chuckles. “I’m just happy you all found each other.”

“So am I.” I lean into my teddy bear, and he kisses the top of my head. “And that we found you.”

* * *

When we get back on campus, since it’s the Sunday before finals week, my guys take turns tutoring me for my midterm exams while they also catch up on their studies. No one wants to waste this semester’s schoolwork.

We are all betting on who will have the best scores. My money is on Branden to get the highest grades. Who knew my sexy psycho was such a nerd? He’s my best tutor other than Quade.

Quade runs off to find some guy named Maxum to retrieve Kat and Douglas from hiding.

Kat will be pissed if she doesn’t get to ace every exam. Honestly, I should be putting money on her to get the best scores, even with her schooling interrupted this past week.

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