Page 128 of His White Moonlight
“It’s so easy to want to protect you.Your smile and laughter light up a room.You shine so bright, no one wants you broken.But sometimes, when we hold too tightly, we break what we’re trying to protect.
“Now, tell me what you need from me.”
“Keep them away for now.”
“Done.Anything else?Do you want Karter or Aiden to come home?”
More pieces fell into place.The pictures of their partying.Their Bennett-centric replies.Aiden and Karter weren’t actually seeking their mates.They hadn’t been sent away because they’d asked about Bennett’s mate.They’d been sent away because of me.Or rather because of Bennett’s jealousy.
A flat laugh escaped on an exhale.“Why bother?I’ve been isolated for years.Why change things now?”
“Because we’ve realized how badly we’ve managed things.”
“We?Were you part of the decision-making?”
“By keeping silent, by not speaking up for you, wasn’t I?”
Another drop of pain trailed down my cheek.
“I don’t want to think yet.”
She patted my hand.“Then don’t.I’ll be here when you need me.”
I nodded and closed my eyes.It took forever to fall asleep again.
When I woke, the room was still dark, but I could tell it was daytime from the faint glow coming from around the curtains.A soft rumble of thunder and the steady patter of rain against the windows soothed me.
“Thirsty?”Grandma asked.
I accepted the cup she held out and sat up to drink.
“You were crying in your sleep,” she said.
“Did I say anything?”
“No.Do you talk in your sleep now?”
“Sometimes I scream myself awake.I don’t know if I actually talk.”
“Were any of the years you were gone okay?”
I reached out to turn on the light so I could see her.She looked tired.I scooted over on the bed and patted the spot next to me.She smiled and switched from the chair to the bed.
“School was hard,” I said.“Some years were harder than they needed to be.”
She made a noncommittal sound and wrapped an arm around me.I rested my head on her shoulder.
“I’m always here for you, my little Wren.Whenever.However.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
I spentthe day in my room.Grandma delivered meals and spent time with me when I wanted it but otherwise left me alone.It gave me time to think.And the more I thought, the angrier I got.
Bennett had manipulated every aspect of my life.It didn’t matter how well-intended his actions were; he’d still exercised a control that wasn’t his to exercise.Potential mate or not, my life was my own.
After I’d eaten dinner, Grandma knocked on my door and said that Mom wanted to talk to me.I wasn’t ready to face her yet, though, so I shook my head and lay facing away from the door.
The soft murmur of their conversation in the hallway reached me, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.It didn’t matter.Like I’d already told her, I was done.
