Page 57 of His White Moonlight
When he said good morning, I smiled and nodded, very aware of Bennett’s disapproving presence.
On our floor, Bennett motioned for me to go first.The women we passed eyed me and said good morning to him.He didn’t say anything back.
It felt like I was walking to my execution instead of my desk.The note and breakfast croissant that waited for me didn’t ease the feeling.
Sighing, I crumpled the note after reading it, tossed it in the garbage, and grabbed the bag to take with me.It looked like food wasn’t optional anymore either.I felt Bennett’s gaze as I headed off to Mom’s office.
Her door was closed when I arrived, and through her office blinds, I saw she was on the phone.She saw me and motioned for me to come in.
“I understand,” I heard her say as I opened the door.“Stop worrying.Goodbye.”
She hung up and stood, coming around the desk to hug me.
“I apologize for yesterday, sweetheart.I didn’t understand what was happening.”
“Oh?And what do you think was happening?”
Mom pulled back to look at me, probably surprised at my tone and that I hadn’t said everything was okay.
“You want to live independently, and we’re stifling you,” she said immediately.
That she understood almost brought tears to my eyes.She saw and hugged me again.
“My poor girl,” she said soothingly.“I know this isn’t easy on you, and I’m sorry for that.I promise it will get better soon.It’s hard to let go and give you the freedom you need when we worry so much.If anything happened to you…”
She hugged me harder, and I finally hugged her back.It was hard to stay mad when I knew they weren’t restricting me to be mean.They truly loved me.
“Life is meant to be lived, Mom.You’re worried something will happen to me, so you’re ensuring nothing happens.That’s the same as being dead to me.”
She sniffled, and I rubbed her back.
“Please don’t cry, Mom.I’m not asking to join a gang or get a tattoo on my face.I just want to be able to come and go as I please, like everyone else in the house.”
“I know.Please give us a little more patience.You’ve only been home a few days.”
The comment reminded me of something else bothering me, and I eased out of her embrace to look into her teary eyes.
“I’ve been home for five days, Mom.But you and Dad haven’t.Neither have Aiden or Karter.Why not?”
“Dad and I have a place in the city to make entertaining a little easier.And you’ve already guessed that Aiden and Karter are visiting other packs to find their mates.”
Which meant they probably wouldn’t be back for a long time, and once they were, they wouldn’t have time for me.Knowing that hurt.That unwanted, abandoned kid feeling roared forward again.
“Can I stay with you and Dad?”
“Why?Don’t you like your new room?”
“I love it.But the whole point of coming home was to be with my family, wasn’t it?”
She didn’t look away or change her expression, but I still saw a subtle shift that let me know the question made her uncomfortable.
“Of course it is.And you are with family.Bennett’s there.”
“He’s never seen himself as my family.”
“That’s absolutely not true, Wrenly.Bennett loves you.”
I snorted and turned to take a seat on the couch as I opened the bag.
