Page 31 of Claiming Xan
“Do you even hear yourself right now?” I spat at her, crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re being a fucking bitch! What kind of pack Alpha acts like this to someone in need of help? Are you going to cast Sky away, too?”
“Sky hasn’t touched my son.” She growled at me, then rubbed at her temple. “Please…Pleasetell me you used protection, at least.”
I huffed out a derisive snort and set my jaw. “And if I didn’t?” I retorted. “Then what? Are you going to throw me away like yesterday’s garbage too?”
“XANDER!”
“FUCK YOU!” I screamed back. “I like him, Mom! And you just fucked everything up for me! Great job, just banishing the father of your possible grandchild from its pack! You know what? If River isn’t welcome here, then apparently neither am I.”
“Xander—” she began, but I shoved past her and stormed into the house. I made a beeline for my bedroom and began angrily stuffing clothing into a bag. I heard her voice shouting after me, but I slammed the door and locked it.
Then, with my heart pounding a mile a minute, I did the only thing I could think to do—I called Shay.
“Hey, I need a favor.”
“Xan, I’msosorry about your mom. I couldn’t lie to her.”
“It’s fine,” I told him. “I get it.”
“Is she mad?”
“She’s pissed. Just chased River out of the pack, and now I’m packing my shit.” I sucked in a sharp breath, trying to hold my emotions hostage for a little bit longer, but they beat on the doors of my heart. “Can I stay with you for a few weeks? Until I figure out what I’m going to do?”
“Oh, hell, Xan. What did you do?”
“Well, I might be pregnant, for starters.” I laughed, half-bitter and half-hysterical. “And River bit me. So…”
I lost the fight as tears slipped down my cheeks. I sank down on the edge of the bed and let them fall. “I can’t stay here. I can’t. Not after what she’s done. Just for a couple of weeks, until I save enough money for an apartment in Greymercy. Please?”
“Of course, Xan,” Shay murmured. “You know you’re always welcome here.”
“Thank you.” I wiped my face and took a few deep breaths, to try and calm myself down. Then grabbed my bag and headed out.
As I walked past the kitchen, Mom tried to stop me. “Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving,” I said. “End of discussion.”
She frowned. “Where will you go?”
“I’m staying at Shay’s until I can find an apartment.”
“Xan—”
“JUST DROP IT!” I screamed at her, my voice turning raw. “IT’S DONE!” My hands balled up into fists, I let out a broken sob and burst out the front door and got into my car, slamming the door with another pained cry.
I drove away, the road blurry with tears. I couldn’t stop replaying the torn look on River’s face before he turned and ran off, or the fury blistering in Mom’s voice when she told him he’d “defiled” me.
I cried all the way to Shay’s place.
When I got there, I collided with my friend’s chest, sobbing softly. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, again and again. “I’m a mess. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Xanny.” Shay hugged me tightly. “It’s gonna be okay. You’ll see.”
It sure as hell didn’t feel like it.
19
RIVER
