Page 52 of The Hunger
As I drove to my parents’ house, though, that worry disappeared, and a new one crept in. What was I supposed to tell them? Becoming mated to a werewolf was the human equivalent of being married. Dad would not be all right with that. I was far too young in his mind. And how would Mom react? While she would have no hang-ups regarding my age, she knew werewolves were possessive of their mates. She was already worried about my eating habits. Would she think this news was just me trying to find a way to avoid eating?
Nerves coiled tighter as I drove. My phone buzzed twice with new messages, and I was half tempted to pull over and read them just so I could forestall the inevitable. More than anything, I wished Oanen hadn’t taken Megan’s phone away. I really could have used some calming, friendly advice.
Too soon, I pulled into Mom and Dad’s driveway and set my head on the steering wheel. The emotional upheaval of the last few days was taking a toll on me to the point that I just wanted to go to the Quills’, close myself in my bedroom, and hide.
Hiding hadn’t worked out so well for me these last few days, though.
Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and left the car with my bag. Dad opened the door, and his eyes widened at the sight of me.
“What happened?
“I lost the slippers. Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about the slippers. You’re soaking wet.” He ushered me into the house. “Go change. I’ll have something warm for you to drink when you’re done. Then you can tell us what happened to you.”
I gratefully closed myself into the guest room and took that time to try to compose myself. However, I only reemerged warmer, not calmer.
Mom and Dad sat at the table. Mom saw me and patted the place beside her where a cup of cocoa already waited.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
I blew out an unsteady breath and wrapped my hands around the cup before me.
“I don’t know what I am right now. Confused. Scared. Hopeful, but so afraid to let myself feel that way.”
Neither of them said anything. They were truly listening, waiting for me to continue.
“I met with Fenris to figure out how to make things right like you said. We argued on the way to the hot springs. He was so frustrated with me that he threw me into the first pool.”
Mom’s eyes flashed black, and I put my hand over hers.
“I deserved it. I wasn’t nice. I angry-fed on him, and I didn’t just take his sexual energy. I tried to take everything.”
Mom sighed, giving me a pitying look.
“I know. It’s dangerous. But that’s why I was wet. He knew I was behaving badly and put me in a water time out.”
“What were you arguing about?” she asked.
I shrugged slightly and shook my head. “I don’t even remember. It really doesn’t matter. What does matter is what Fenris told me once I was in the pool. He remembers the day you left me with the Quills. Not in a vague way but in clear detail from the way I’d styled my hair to the dress I’d worn. He told me that he knew right away what I was to him but that he kept quiet when he saw how terrified I was. He thought he’d give me time to adjust to what it meant to be me, but I never really did. Not until Megan showed up.
“I really like Fenris, Mom. More than I’ve ever liked anyone else. And that was with me trying really hard not to like him. I can’t be his mate, right? I’m not meant to be with just one person. Isn’t that why everyone’s been throwing random people at me to feed from? To get me to crave as many partners as my appetite demands?”
“Is that what you want out of life?” Mom asked gently.
“No,” I admitted, feeling so much guilt.
“Do you know why I left you with your father?”
I shrugged, not wanting to share my thoughts on the matter.
“Tell me,” she encouraged. “I won’t be angry or hurt.”
I glanced at Dad, and he nodded his encouragement.
“I imagine because it would have been hard to have lots of sex with a crying baby clinging to you. Or a temperamental toddler.”
She leaned forward and held my cheeks, meeting my gaze.
