The mansion came into view, and I spotted Katherine and Lillith sitting on patio furniture around a firepit. When they saw us approaching, Lillith stood and rushed to us.
“We’ve been worried about you but didn’t want to interfere with the pack introductions.” Lillith pulled me into a hug. “Egan told us everything. Are you okay?”
Her sweet scent comforted me. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Uh … what am I?” Roxy waved a hand in front of herself. “Chopped liver?”
“No, but they didn’t seem nearly as interested in you as her.” Lillith didn’t look at her, her focus on me. “What can we do?”
Great, I hated being the center of attention. In fact, I’d rather be ignored. “Nothing.” I forced myself to yawn, needing to get away. “I’m actually really tired.”
I could feel the displeasure radiating off Roxy, but she kept her mouth shut. She knew I retreated when I felt overwhelmed.
“Oh, you woke up about two hours ago,” Lillith pushed but apparently decided to drop it. “But I guess you’ve been through an ordeal.”
Roxy mumbled, “You don’t know the half of it.”
Not helping. I glared at her, wanting her to shut it down. I had a feeling as soon as I escaped to the comfort of my room, she’d tell them everything. Better her than me.
“Why don’t you go take a nap, and the rest of us can run into town and grab some necessities and clothes.” Egan was a good friend. “I’m sure Roxy and Lillith have you covered.”
Sweet baby Jesus. That sounded excellent. I could hide in my room and not have to deal with the adventure of clothes shopping with those two. “If they’re willing, that sounds perfect.”
If I didn’t know how much you’d complain, I wouldn’t allow it, Roxy teased. But I shall let it pass. “Hell yeah. Let’s go. I’m ready to get out of these sweatpants.”
“Axel, do you mind shopping for me?” Donovan moved closer to my side. “I’m going to stay behind with her.”
“Fine.” Axel frowned. “But you better remember what I’m doing for you.”
“Oh, please.” Katherine stood and strolled over to us. “Roxy is your mate. You wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Come on.” Lillith pulled the keys from her pocket. “I’ve been ready to go for a while.”
I hurried up the stairs before they could change their minds. “All of you have fun.” I walked through the door with Donovan following on my heels.
None of the vampires were in the kitchen, and some of the tension left me. I wasn’t in the mood to talk. I breezed through the room and headed straight to the stairs, bypassing the living room.
Damn, it’d only been one night, but it felt much longer. So much had happened, and it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours.
I hurried up the stairs, ready to hide. I opened the door to our room and almost crumbled. I’d been afraid that I’d have to pretend to be okay a little longer.
“Hey,” Donovan whispered huskily as he pulled me into his arms. “It’s okay to be upset.”
That was the first time anyone had ever said anything like that to me. It had been drilled into me that showing my emotions and letting them rule me would make me weak. To have someone comforting me felt foreign.
I rested my head on his chest, and I whispered the words that scared me to even think. “What if she’s my mother? What if I threw away the one chance I had to get answers? What if I’d ruined it all?”
Chapter Eight
“If she’s really your mother and cares, then you haven’t ruined a damn thing,” Donovan said as he stared into my eyes. “And if she cuts you off after dumping all that on you at once, she doesn’t deserve to know you.”
“I just don’t understand.” The hurt bubbled to the surface now that I didn’t have to pretend to be strong. I only hoped Donovan wasn’t disappointed by it. “She ran off without even trying to check.” If I’d been in her place, knowing that Tyler could lie, I’d have demanded to see the body or gone to the grave.
“Neither do I.” He cupped my face and lowered his forehead to mine. “But it doesn’t matter. You have people who love you all around you.”
I hated to be that girl, but I couldn’t help it. “Yes, and a dad who tried to force me into doing whatever he wanted and is now hunting us.”
“Maybe that’s true, but…” He took my hand and placed it on his chest. “First off, Roxy loves you completely. That girl would go to the ends of the earth for you.”
She had been the one constant in my life. “Without her, I’m not sure how I would’ve turned out.” In the moments when Dad had almost broken me, she’d kept me pieced together. Despite my dad insisting she was weak, her friendship and support were the only things that had kept me strong.
“And you have Katherine, Lillith, and Egan who care.” His free arm wrapped around my waist. “Those three left school to stand by you.”
Even though I realized they’d saved us, their total sacrifice hadn’t sunk in until now. “You’re right.” Now I felt worse. Anyone who got close to me wound up with a target on their back.
“And there’s me,” he murmured.
Some of the pain receded, and my heart rate increased. “I know you care.”
“You know it’s more than that.” His eyes darkened to navy as a smirk crossed his face. “But you’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?”
“I’d never make you say anything you didn’t want to.” He had to believe me. I refused to be like my father.
“Which makes me love you even more.”
My breath caught, and my heart fluttered. “Don’t say it before you’re ready.”
“I knew it the moment I saw you.” He chuckled, and his lips lowered closer to mine. “All those years of keeping everyone at arm’s length, and you tore my walls down with a glance.”
“That’s not the feeling I got.” He had been combative with me. Hell, I’d been the same way. Being drawn to a human hadn’t been ideal. It had taken a while for me to realize there was a faint wolf inside him.
“Well, I was pissed.” He pulled me closer so our waists touched. “And scared. But you fought it yourself.”
“To protect you.” It hadn’t done us any good, though. My dad and Brock had gotten the vampire to attack him and his friend when I wouldn’t obey his order to date the alpha heir of the second-largest pack.
“You sure seem to do that a lot.” He kissed my lips gently, and our bond opened to each other. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll be okay. I love you, Sadie.”
“I love you too.” I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to say it back. Every day, I grew older, and tomorrow seemed more uncertain than yesterday. “And I’m sorry I turned you. It was selfish. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”
“It was shocking at first, but you made the right choice.” He deepened our kiss. I’d have done the same thing for you.
He lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I could already feel his hardness through our jeans. He stalked across the room and laid me on the bed. He leaned over me, his breath hitting my face.
I closed my eyes, enjoying his touch. This was something I would always crave … would always need.
His hand slipped inside my shirt and under my bra, teasing my breast. His touch nearly drove me wild.
“Oh, God,” I moaned, ready for him.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” He stilled, concern etched into his face. “I don’t want to take advantage of you after what you just went through.”
“Please take advantage,” I almost whimpered. I need you. I’d been craving more of him since two nights ago. Only a couple of days had passed since our first time, but so much had changed that it felt like weeks if not more.
Any hesitancy left his face, and his mouth crashed onto mine. I’m so glad you said that. His fingers pinched my nipples, kindling the fire inside me.
Need overwhelmed me, and my fingers trembled as they unfastened his jeans. I slipped my hand inside his boxers, enjoying the feel of him. He was ready, and I was right there with him.
He lifted me off the bed, removed my shirt, and unfastened my bra, discarding them on the floor. His mouth replaced his hand on my breast, and his tongue flicked, making me dizzy.