by Lane Whitt
“I assume you think I was being reckless, too.” I roll my eyes.
“You know what they say when you assume.” He smirks.
I pause, turning to him. “No. What do they say? And who is they?” I ask, curious.
“Uh,” he splutters momentarily. “It’s just a saying. Also, a play on the word’s spelling. The end of the saying is, “you make an ass out of U and ME,” he explains.
I give a minute and then start giggling. “That’s funny. I like that.”
“It’s good to hear your laugh again. To answer your question bluntly, no, I don’t think what you did earlier was reckless. I was around your father enough to grow used to these types of situations. He knew when he had a situation under control, and when he was beat. He was always two steps ahead of everyone around him. He had a knack for reading people and situations. I see the same in you.”
I smile sadly up at him. “I wish I knew him. Plenty of people have told me how great he was, or how I compare to him. I feel like I really lost out not having met him.”
“You shouldn’t feel that way. It wasn’t your fault you weren’t able to. If he was here now, he’d be proud of the young woman you’ve become,” he tells me softly.
I take his word for it, continuing our stroll in comfortable silence. Albert, in his full black suit, doesn’t appear to be affected by this heat. I admire that, seeing as I feel like a wet blanket is trying to smother me even if the air is dry.
“Albert?” I say after a few laps around the plane.
“Yes, my Luna?” he responds immediately.
“Do you think this information Kendrick wants to share will be worth it? I mean, if my mates agree that it’s in our best interests for me to go with him,” I add.
He takes his time answering. “I think so. I think it has to do with you. Him wanting to take you away on your own is cause for alarm. However, it wasn’t his words that I was paying attention to, it was how he delivered them. Anna wanted you to know whatever it is. Alpha Kendrick was reluctant. He said you have a “right to know.” That seems important.”
I’m already nodding before he even finishes. “That’s what I got, too. How could it be about me, though? I’ve never been to Australia; how could he have information about me?”
“Remember what I told you before? About your father spending quite a bit of time here?” he asks gently.
An electric shock seems to burst from my chest as I turn and grip his arms, nearly shaking him. “You think it could be about my mother?”
I don’t wait for his reply, already running for the stairs at full speed. I have to let them know that this could be about my mother. I can’t not go. Not if it could mean answers to questions I’ve had since I can remember having questions.
Once inside, I nearly collide with the table as I stop abruptly, panting hard and bracing my arms on either side of the phone lying between my two mates.
Ash stands, his eyes scanning for threats as Jace grabs me, placing me on his lap, caging me in with his arms. I wiggle to get free, my whole body shaking with nerves. “Remy!” I call out, too loudly.
“Kitten, Love. What’s wrong?” He sounds alarmed.
“No, everything’s fine.” I wave my hand, brushing the overprotective crap aside. “It could be my mom, Remy! I have to go, he could know my mom,” I tell him hysterically.
“Who? Slow down and start from the beginning,” he instructs.
“Kendrick. It was how he said it. The information he wants to share with me. It sounds personal. To me. The only personal information he could have for me would be about my mom. My dad was here. I might meet my mom!” I explain, albeit a tad stilted.
“Kitten…” Remy sounds wary, and sad.
“No! Remy, it makes sense. It really does. Trust me. Please,” I beg.
It’s Finn’s voice that greets me on the other end of the phone. “Oh, Kitten…sweetie. Let’s calm down and think clearly about this. Even if your mother were still alive, she must have…you were found in a dumpster…”
“I know, but there must have been a reason. Maybe she didn’t mean to, or…or if she did, then I can just forgive her and I can have a mom. I can have a mom, Finn.” I need him to understand how important this is to me. I’ve always wondered why I never had parents like other kids. I mean, I knew I must have had them, but I’ve never known what happened to them. Why I was left alone. I’ve learned what happened to my father, that he was killed by his own brother before I was even born. But no one, not even the wolf community, has been able to tell me anything about my mother. She could still be out there. Maybe here in Australia.
“Kitten…Kitten, are you with us, sweetie?” Finn calls out, probably not for the first time.
“Yeah, yes, I’m here. I was just…thinking.” I snap out of my own thoughts.
“We just don’t want you to get your hopes up. Kendrick didn’t say this was about your mother, so it might not be,” he says calmly.
“But it could be,” I respond quickly.
“She’s most likely dead, Kitten,” he almost whispers.
“I know that!” I scream at him. “But we don’t know, Finn. We don’t know anything for sure.”
“Don’t yell at Finn, Kitten,” Kellan tells me sharply.
I release a rush of air. “I know, I’m sorry, Finn,” I say, deflating quickly. “I love you, and I didn’t mean to scream at you. I just…I thought you of all people would understand my need to know the truth. To have all the information.”
“I do get it,” Finn tells me, no anger in his tone. I think I offended Kellan by yelling at his twin, more than I did Finn. “I don’t want to see you heartbroken if you don’t get the answer you want.”
“Finn…” I breathe out, shutting my eyes tightly to block out the tears. I will not cry again. God, it’s all I do these days. “I grew up without my mom. I’ve always been heartbroken.”
I keep my eyes closed, knowing if I open them I’ll see looks of pity. I don’t want to be pitied. I just want a shot at finding out the truth. I’d like to think I’d keep my promise to them about not running off on my own anymore, but…could I really leave here not knowing?
“Kitten, I’m going to speak with the Alpha and his mate. See what all this is about. We’ll come up with a plan from there. I know this isn’t the answer you wanted, but it’s not an outright no. We do trust you, Love. Caring about your safety and the safety of our child does not make us unreasonable ogres. As our mate, you are still a woman who can make her own decisions, whether we like it or not. Our child is just that, our child. Decisions regarding our baby should be made together. Does that sound fair?”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Yes, that’s fair. I can respect that.”
Chapter Twelve
Reed
I can’t remember the last time I was this excited. Excited enough that Logan’s fake enthusiasm and his running around packing for everyone isn’t grating on my nerves as it usually would. I get where the dude is coming from. Trying to cheer up Tristan and pull him out of his funk, but damn can he act like a tweaker when he wants to. Don’t even get me started on Remington. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear he was heading to his own execution.
“You gonna be okay, little dude?” I ask Mikey as I crouch in front of him. Reaching out, I fix the collar of his green polo shirt with the Ivaskov crest on the chest sticking up at an odd angle.
He meets my eyes, searching for the truth. He’s like Kitten in that way. He’s good at reading people. “Are you sure she’s okay? You guys aren’t acting right. You’re gonna bring her back, right?”
I place my hands on his shoulders as I bring my face even with his. “Your mom’s a fighter, she’s always okay. Remember that. But she isn’t fighting right now, she’s safe. I promise. She has some things to take care of, then she’ll be home.”
“Then why are you guys going, too? And why can’t I come with you?” he demands.
“Well, we’re going because we are weak
men without her.” I joke halfheartedly, even though it’s partly true. “And we thought your Grandpa Maksim could use some looking after. He gets grumpy left on his own.” Also half true. The other half being if we put Mikey in danger, Kitten is liable to kill us all.
“You’re all coming back, though? With Mom, too?” The look he gives me stabs my soul.
I gather him up in my arms, hugging him tightly. “Oh, Mikey, I promise we’re not leaving you. We’ll be back. You’re ours, okay? We’re yours, too, you know? We’re family, and family stays together even when they’re apart.”
“Not my family. My old family,” he corrects.
“Well, they suck,” I joke, making the boy laugh. “We’re not like that. We will be back. All of us.”
“Fine.” He sighs. “But I’m not drinking any tea.”
I laugh with him, knowing the traditional Russian will no doubt try to convert Mikey into a tea-drinker while we’re away. Honestly, I think the time together will do Maksim good. His backward thinking when it comes to bloodlines needs fixing if he’s going to continue being in Kitten’s life. She won’t put up with him favoring the baby over Mikey, and neither will I. He may be our adopted son, but he’s our son nonetheless.
“Logan laid out some outfits for you in your closet, but you don’t have to wear them if you don’t want to. Tristan put several meals in the fridge and freezer for you; do me a favor and eat those, okay? It’ll hurt his feelings if he comes home and sees them still there. Finn didn’t leave any lessons because he knows Maksim will try to teach you Russian and will skip your lessons anyway. Just go play with your friends when you need a break.”
“I got it,” he says with an eyeroll.
“One more thing?” I implore seriously. He nods his head, waiting. “Be safe. Don’t get hurt or your mom will hurt me.”
He giggles. “I know. I will.”
With that, I leave to see if the others are finally ready. Before I turn the corner, I call back to him. “Hey, love you, kid.”
Swallowing thickly, he responds, “Love you, too, Dad.”
My heart nearly stops, but I manage a smile and a quick wave before taking two steps at a time to the lobby. Damn, that felt awesome. And scary at the same time.
Feeling like I’m flying, I come across Kellan and Finn talking quietly by the door. They stop talking as I come to stand next to them. Finn raises a brow in question. I beam at him. “Mikey called me ‘Dad’.”
“Yeah?” He beams back at me.
“Yeah,” I say proudly. Kellan clasps my shoulder in a quick move of understanding the gravity of the boy’s acceptance.
We do the “guy thing” and leave it at that as we wait quietly for the others to join us. A subdued Tristan is the first to join us, along with Logan, who talks his ear off even though Tristan isn’t responding. Looking as if he’s riding to battle Remy is the last to join us, striding right for the door with us following behind him.
Outside, the whole pack has congregated to see us off. It’s a humbling sight. They wish us luck and safe travels, along with their wishes for our quick return. The deference never sits well with me, but this overwhelming show of support for something as simple as a trip abroad gives me hope for this pack. They came together for us today, now all we have to do now is get them to do this for each other.
Starting off on what’s sure to be the most awkward trip of my life, I wave goodbye to the well-wishers and settle into the back seat for the trek to the airport.
Our pitstop in Miami is short, but not short enough. Tristan came to life long enough to go to a local market, stocking up on supplies for meals he wants to make for Kitten, and Logan dragged Finn with him to search for a variety of swimsuits for the lot of us, claiming that it would be a sin not to hit the beaches Down Under while we had the chance. That had me pretty excited, as Australia has some of the best surf in the world. I’ll wait until we’re there to get a board, though. If I’d thought about it, I’d have brought one of mine. Just as I’m about to ask Kellan if it’s safe for pregnant women to surf, we got the call.
While I’m proud of our girl for ending this so-called war against us, I worry about her execution style. I’m convinced she enjoys giving us all panic attacks. Though, I have to admit that her steamroller antics sure do get the job done. I absolutely adore her ability to set a goal and work her ass off to achieve it. Somewhere between our debating the need for the information the Australian Alpha possesses and when we were supposed to give them an answer, Kitten’s emotions flood my own, drowning me.
“Reed? What’s wrong?” Kellan asks as I dive past him for the bathrooms.
I almost don’t make it to the toilet before I heave my guts out, barely able to catch a breath between the puking and the sensory overload. “Something’s wrong,” I gasp out.
“No shit. You’re experiencing flu-like symptoms or food poisoning maybe, even though we don’t get those,” Kellan points out unhelpfully as he presses his hand against my forehead. “Christ, you’re burning up!”
He leaves me to dry-heave on my own, the contents of my stomach long gone at this point. I try to shut the door on whatever bond connects me to Kitten as I sprawl out on the floor, my body trembling. There are too many emotions coming from her. Strong ones. Hope, happiness, relief, suspicion, need, guilt, excitement, and panic all pulse from her into me in crushing waves.
Kellan returns with Remington and his bag of tricks. As he takes out a blood pressure cuff and places it around my arm, Remy slides a bag of ice under my head like a really uncomfortable pillow. Their voices blur together as they try to talk out what could be happening and assure me that I’ll be fine. I concentrate on trying to unlock my locked jaw and tell them what’s happening, but my muscles seem to have a mind of their own.
Remington’s phone rings loudly in the background, only adding to the chaos.
“Her,” I grunt out.
“What? I can’t understand you, Reed,” Kellan says, forcing me to try again. I close my eyes, body feeling like a taut rubber band. “Not me. Her.”
The two of them pause, just staring at me, the phone going off once again. “Answer it,” I grit out.
Remy rips the phone from the back pocket of his jeans, swiping the screen to connect the call. As his voice responds to the person on other end of the line, my body is released from whatever hell had taken hold of it. I can still feel her emotions, the same ones as before, but it’s as if she’s reined them in to be able to speak to Remington.
Kellan eyes me warily as I melt like a puddle of goo on the floor as my muscles fully relax. I can finally breathe normally and listen in to Kitten’s voice. She sounds just like she feels. Erratic and frayed.
We move the call to the seating area, just as the other guys come back from their shopping. With Remy’s promise to come up with a plan that will make us all happy, he ends the call and looks to me. “You okay?
“The hell if I know,” I answer honestly. “I feel like I was attacked by dragons. How the hell is it that she was able to bear that but it almost killed me?”
“She’s a woman,” Kellan answers simply. “They’re strong in ways we will never comprehend.”
There’s a moment of silence where I’m pretty sure we all fear the abilities of womankind before Logan speaks up. “So, what shitstorm are we in now?”
I leave the others to fill in the blanks as I go get myself cleaned up. Tentatively, I reach for Kitten’s emotions again. Feeling only guilt with a trickle of fear, I close my eyes and hang my head. This girl.
Joining the conversation once again, I air my thoughts. “She going to go with him, no matter what we say.”
My words are met with a scowl from Remington. “She asked for our trust.”
“You’re right. She did. But she’ll still go,” I tell him. “I can feel it.”
He stands to pace the aisle. “This is so infuriating. She’s infuriating. Young or not, she has to learn what it means to be part of this pack, this family.”
/> No one argues with him on this. “She does.” I nod slowly, chewing over how to say what I want to say next. “At the same time, we have to learn what it means to have her with us.”
“Well, now that you’ve made that clear,” Logan says sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
“What I mean,” I growl towards him before turning back to Remy, “is that trusting her doesn’t just mean we trust her to do what we say. If we tell her she can’t go, that it’s too dangerous, and she goes anyway…yes, that’s her breaking our trust. So is her telling us that she needs to do this and us telling her no. That’s us breaking her trust. Who are we to tell her what she needs?”
“We’re her mates, it’s our right and our duty to keep her safe,” Remy responds angrily.
“No,” Finn jumps in calmly. “It’s our wish to keep her safe, it’s our duty to keep her whole. If we convince her to fight her own instincts, she won’t be whole. She’ll second-guess herself and look to us for answers. She’ll end up a mirror, just a reflection of each of us. It’s not our job to stand in her way. It’s our right to stand beside her, no matter where she chooses to go.”
“So, we just let her do whatever she wants no matter how it affects the rest of us? That’s not how we work,” Remy replies, voice strained.
“I think the point is not “anything she wants, and damn the consequences”, but more that we trust her to know when to push and when to back off, just as we do each other. We don’t contemplate your safety when you make work trips, Remington, or when Logan spends a month or more in Europe with half-dressed females. We know the score on both of those situations. With her, we panic and send out a search party if she spends too long in the bathroom. She’s independent, just like we are. So far she’s experienced what it’s like to fit into our group, but we haven’t given her any leeway to operate outside of that in ways that benefit us all,” I try to explain.