Page 9 of Shattered

“You weren’t supposed to,” he answered.

“Does it ever get easier...lying?”

Mackenzie sighed. “No. Would you like to tell them the truth?”

She frowned. “Do you think they’d believe me if I told them?”

“Well, Charisma told Lizbeth the truth. She believed your sister,” Mackenzie answered. “Would you like me to be there when you told them?”

Riley bit her bottom lip. “They don’t know we’re wolves, either.”

Mackenzie laughed. “You don’t have to tell everyone about that if you don’t want to.”

“Good. It’s hard enough explaining why I left so soon.” She glanced up at him. “Would you really sit there with me while I tell them?”

“You’re my pup. I’d do anything for you.” He pulled her into a hug. “Come on, let’s get this over with, so you can see all those photographs.”

“Thanks, dad.”

“You don’t ever have to thank me, sweetheart,” he murmured, leading her back into the house and up to her room.

Mackenzie sat beside Riley and held her hand as she waited for her friends to answer the call, or whatever they did for Facetime. The two girls appeared on the screen, and both of them wore the biggest smiles. Their giggles were infectious, and Mackenzie understood why his daughter liked them. They were a breath of fresh air when his daughter needed it most.

“Harper!” they exclaimed then laughed. “We miss you.”

“I missed you, too,” Riley said. “It feels like forever.”

Both girls frowned.

“It does,” Gretchen said. “Hey, Mr. Rough. It’s good to see you, but what are you doing here?”

“Likewise, girls. I’m here for a good reason.” Mackenzie nudged his daughter. “Moral support.”

“Support?” Suzy frowned. “Why?”

Riley sighed. “I have something to tell you guys.”

“Oh, no... Are you sick?” Gretchen and Suzy gripped each other’s hands.

“No.” Riley shook her head. “Do you remember the big thing at the zoo last year?”

“Yeah,” Suzy said. “My parents have been talking about it. Why?”

“The woman the police and FBI caught, is my...” Riley swallowed hard. Her bottom lip began to tremble.

“Girls, this is hard for Riley,” Mackenzie said. “The woman who’d been arrested was her adoptive mother.”

“Who’s Riley?” Gretchen asked.

“I am.” Riley sat a little straighter and wiped away her tears. “My name is Riley Raferty. This is my father Mackenzie Raferty. My brothers are Royce and Liam. My sister is Charisma. We were all working undercover to take down Holly Geithner, leader of the Paranormal Bounty Hunters.”

Gretchen and Suzy sat there in silence.

Mackenzie’s daughter vibrated with sadness and anxious energy. “She wanted to be honest with the both of you. She hated lying, and since the trial is about to begin, she thought now was the right time to tell the truth.”

“I’m sorry,” Riley said. “Can you both forgive me?”

“Whoa,” Gretchen said. “It makes so much sense now. Why you left after only being here a few months. Why you were quiet...”

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