Page 32 of The Hunger
Mom laughed.
“Best for who? Eliana doesn’t need your permission or approval to eat. She chooses who, where, and when. Not you. And it’s not her place to worry about interspecies relations. That’s your job. Enjoy your control, Adira, and leave my daughter alone.”
Mom hung up on her, and Adira tried calling her back, not that Mom answered.
“Would you like to see the kitchen? I’ve had three potential cooks back there since this morning, making the best chocolate creations they can imagine. You and I can judge their quality.”
I gave Mom a sharp look.
“The desserts, Eliana. Nothing more. They’re humans, and I’m not such a horrible mother that I’d offer you food I know you hate.” She didn’t say any of it with censure but with understanding and love.
I managed a small smile.
“Sure. I’ll try desserts.”
I was glad that I’d agreed after the seventh one. The lava cake soothed my soul in a way that nothing else had all day.
“Do you love it?” Mom asked.
“So much,” I mumbled, going for another bite.
She walked away to speak to the applicants while Dad took a seat beside me.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
“I’m sorry that I acted like that.”
“Your mother has snapped at me plenty of times because she was hungry.” He set his hand over mine. “I’m only sorry that I’m the reason you’re hungry. I should have tried harder to see you and understand what you were going through instead of focusing on myself.”
I dropped my fork and hugged my dad, stealing his pain and regret, something I’d done far too often in my lifetime.
“I understand why you couldn’t,” I whispered.
My phone buzzed, saving me from getting too emotional when I was still so hungry. Dad moved off to join Mom while I read the message.
Jenna: Sorry to bug you, but have you seen Fenris at all today?
Rather than text back, I called her.
“You haven’t found him yet?”
“No. His scent trail goes all over the place. It’s not helping that half the pack is out looking for him, too.”
“I heard. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Most of them are loving it. We like to chase, remember? I’m just hoping to catch him before someone else does.”
“I just hope someone catches him.”
She laughed softly. “Yeah, he doesn’t make it easy.”
“Text him and let him know that you just talked to me. Send him a print screen of the call time. Maybe he’ll take the bait and meet up with you.”
“You’re brilliant!”
“If that were true, none of this would be happening in the first place. Good luck hunting.”
“Thanks.”
