Page 13 of Twist of Fated Mates
Nigel’s cheeks burn red.
I’m curious as a cat. “Wait, what have you heard?”
She peers down her nose at me. “Attend more pack meetings like you ought to at your age, and you wouldn’t have to ask.”
“Does that mean you won’t tell me?”
“Ding, ding,” she singsongs and returns her attention to Nigel. “You’ve covered a far distance since last spotted. Your pack is worried sick.”
“They are?” The streak of hope lighting his features looks positively dashing on him, but it’s short lived. The shadowreturns before the hope has a chance to settle in. “I can’t go back.”
“You have to, or your mother’s likely to bend me over and beat me redder than your face, and not in the fun way.”
Gross. I scrunch my nose and try to ignore that. Sure, Mother just barged in on me with a lover, but the thought of her with one? Gouge my eyes out, please.
“She wants me back?”
Mother huffs. “Of course she wants you back. She’s your family, darling.” Mum breaks out her mum-voice for Nigel, the one that promises everything will be all right. “They all want you back. They’re your pack. They’ve been searching for you since you ran away.”
“But…I’m a vampire now.”
“Which, while rare for a werewolf, is not entirely unheard of. They’ve been researching. Everyone wants to help you.”
He picks at a loose splinter on the table. “But?—”
“No more buts. You’re going back.”
I open my mouth. “But?—”
“None from you either.”
“He’s my mate,” I blurt out. “If he goes, I go.”
“Your mate?” She arches her brows. “Well, that changes things, doesn’t it? Are you sure?” Even as she asks, she waves her question away. “Of course you’re sure. Sorry. You’ve just caught me by surprise. Congratulations are in order.”
Relief swells my chest. Not that I’d been worried. Except. Well. Maybe. A little. “Thank you.”
“Wow.” Mother leans back in her chair and huffs out a long breath. “We have a lot to do, don’t we? New mates. A missing person safely found. Vampires demanding answers. And we can’t get started until dark. Hmm.”
“Vampires?” asks Nigel.
I grab his hand, “Demanding answers?”
“Indeed. I’m glad we found you before they did.” She slaps her thighs and stands.
“What do they want?”
“I’ll catch you up tonight. We’ll call a pack meeting. Until then”—she pats my head—”remember to eat between rounds of se?—”
“Mum!”
“Sessions.” She chuckles and pats Nigel’s head too. “I’m leaving Hardy and Slater to stand guard, so don’t get too loud. Or do. They could use the entertainment.”
Nigel fidgets in his chair. I yank him up to give my mother a proper hug, first me, then him. Because once she opens her arms, there’s no refusing her comfort.
“All right, boys, I’ll leave you to it. Join us when the sun sets, and don’t be late.”
“Yes, ma’am,” we chorus as she heads out.
