Page 90 of Knotty Lessons

“That will never happen. You are so compassionate and empathetic. You know there’s more to life than materialistic luxuries. You don’t put people on pedestals because of who they are. You will never be that woman. Ever.” Jonah stretches his arm across the table and touches my chin, getting me to lean closer so he can stroke his fingers over my cheek. “I mean it.”

If only I could shed the fear. People change as they grow older, and I’ve already changed so much over the last year. Even over the last two months.

I don’t have the will to argue the possibility, so I just nod my head and let Adrian feed me a bite of the pasta. Ezra cooked a little bit of everything, trying to ensure my meal was nutritionally balanced, and I can’t help smiling at the thought.

The doorbell rings, drawing our attention. The last one who showed up was a reporter for the Pack Carlisle newspaper. Before that, it was the leader himself, wishing me a speedy recovery and thanking my alphas for taking action.

“Tell whoever it is to go away. They’ll have to schedule an appointment to talk to us.” Dominic leans back in the chair, looking at Leo, silently volunteering him.

Leo stands up with a nod, flexing his arms, showing off his bulging muscles. He’s always the one that doesn’t give a shit about being rude or maintaining proper appearances.

I hunker down on Adrian’s lap, my nerves getting the best of me. It’s going to take me a while not to fear the world outside of my alphas. I hate that just someone knocking on the door unexpectedly gets to me. It shouldn’t be like this. I shouldn’t want to run and hide in the closet. Hopefully after I take some self-defense classes with Leo, I’ll feel more confident.

“Scarlett!” My sister’s familiar voice echoes through the room, and I turn my head up and catch Cyan striding forward with Amber and Raven behind her. She fidgets with a deck of cards, her eyes narrowed into slits with her concern.

I get up from my chair and open my arms, my whole body freezing when a fourth figure comes in after them, and I meet mom’s gaze. She is bruised from Chaz’s attack and her face scrunched with wrinkles, making her look older than when I last saw her. I’m not even sure if she put on makeup or not or if it’s just residue of her cried-off mascara darkening beneath her eyes.

Three pairs of arms wrap around me at the same time the cherry-vanilla scent of my sisters engulfs me. It feels like forever since I’ve seen them, and I’m so happy that they came here.

If only Mom’s shadow didn’t loom over us.

“Make some room for Mama,” Mom says, standing a foot away. “The best hugs are the ones from me. I just wish you hadn’t attracted such a psychopath, Scarlett. I knew you going to that university would lead to—”

Something dark inside me snaps, and I whip my attention toward my mom.

“Are you kidding me?” I ask, pushing between my sisters, the warmth they brought me frozen now that I face the woman I hate most in the world.

Mom sighs. “Oh, Scarlett. You can’t blame me for not seeing the truth. That alpha had me convinced that you would be properly taken care of. I had no idea he had been harassing you. You know how things are. It’s not like anything bad happened. You’re strong just like me, and I knew you could handle—”

Swinging my hand out, I slap my mom so hard across the face that her head turns sideways and she stumbles back. She falls to the ground with a cry, her face twisting in surprise.

“Get out! Get the fuck out! I’m done with you. You will not come into my house and try to make me feel as if this whole situation was my fault. I have done nothing but everything you’ve asked of me. And when I was finally happy, you tried to ruin it. You nearly cost me my future. Now get out.” I point at the open door where Leo stands.

Mom touches her chest, her mouth open. “Scarlett, you’re being unreasonable. You can’t just—”

“Get out or I will throw you out myself!” I clench my fingers with my anger, narrowing my focus on my mom. “I hate you. I hate you so much. The only thing you care about is yourself. I have had it. I don’t need you anymore. I have my own pack who loves me and will treat me like a queen without anything in return. Now get out. I never want to see you again.”

Mom scowls. “But—”

“And don’t expect any money or help with anything. Be grateful that I don’t turn you into Pack Carlisle for your actions.” Because I want to so badly. I get great satisfaction thinking about the trouble Mom would get into, but my dads need her. My sisters still need her. But she will realize how grave her mistakes are when she has no one left in the end. Because no one will need her forever.

Mom throws her hands in the air. “They won’t believe you. You better—”

Leo snatches my mom by her underarms and yanks her off the floor, dragging her out of our penthouse apartment. She hollers like a wounded animal, struggling against him. I think she’s angrier about the fact that no one will let her finish a word. But I’ve heard enough. I’ve heard her excuses all my life, and I won’t accept them again.

This truly is it. I’m cutting her out of my life completely.

“Girls, you better get out here. Scarlett made it clear that she is no longer a part of our pack. Come along. You don’t want to end up following in her footsteps. Such a disgrace.” Mom points at Amber, Cyan, and Raven, who stand in silent shock.

They don’t move for a second, and I think they might finally stand up to her. But then Cyan nudges Amber and Raven and the three of them frown at me. They follow Mom.

But I don’t blame them. She still controls their lives and their futures. I just hope that they don’t face the same fate that I did. I hope they don’t have to fight or face unthinkable challenges and enemies. I hope they can find their happily ever afters like I have without the drama and pain.

At least in the end, it was worth it. I wouldn’t change anything if it solidified my life with Pack Hart.

They are my forever and always. We have made vows, and together, I know we will make a difference in the world. We will create change.

And it’s already started.

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