Melinda

Leander shifts in his seat. “Did your mother’s wolf never fight back?”

I cough a little, scared of what Leander will think when I tell him the truth.

“My mother isn’t a wolf.”

Leander squints his eyes. “She’s human?”

I shake my head. “No, she isn’t human. I found out when I was five that my mother is a hybrid. She has a wolf, but she’s also a feline.”

“Wait, what?” Sara gasps. “You’re mother is a feline shifter?”

“Yes, a Lion shifter.”

“Wow.”

“How is that your mother happened to mate with a wolf? That doesn’t even make any sense.”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I really don’t know; I just remember my father screaming how my mother would never find her way back to the King of Lions. I’ve never seen my mother shift into her animal form. She told me she had a wolf but was too weak to shift. With what Mike said about the King of Lions, I assumed Mike meant that Mum was also a lion.”

Leander and Sara seem to be mind-linking, so I sit quietly for a moment.

I sigh just as Jessie lifts, sniffing the air, and struggling in my arms.

“Jessie, what is it?”

“My Alpha!” She screams, jumps off my lap, and runs towards the door.

I get out of my seat as the door swings open, revealing Alpha Lorcan and Luna Gianna. Jessie jumps into the air and right into Lorcan’s arms.

Jessie is a different kind of wolf; she has crazy speed and can leap much higher than any wolf I’ve ever known. She can also read minds, or it seems that way.

Yes, my sister is very different, and I’m scared to death that the King will find out. If that happens, Jessie could be taken from us. Until recently, Mike hid Jessie away from the pack; he didn’t want anyone getting too close and finding out that she wasn’t his child.

However, Jessie got out of the house this morning and ran into Lorcan. I ran after her and was stunned to see the Alpha holding my sister. They were smiling at each other, seemingly talking through the pack link. Then Lorcan pressed his forehead to Jessie’s, and she giggled.

Lorcan looked at me, and that’s when he demanded that I tell my parents he wanted to see them in his office. He didn’t want any excuses, and he wanted it right then.

Goddess, how did we end up like this?

I had to save my mother; regardless of going behind my Alpha’s back, I had to. I pray that he understands.

“My Alpha,” Jessie mumbles while holding Lorcan’s face between her hands.

Jessie acts so familiar with Lorcan as if she’s known him for years and they’re best friends. I didn’t realise a child could be so attached to someone so quickly.

Lorcan smiles. “Hello, little one.”

“Did you come to save me?”

My stomach churns, and I clasp my stomach with my hand. I look at Frankie, who smiles slightly.

I am terrified of what Lorcan will do to me for leaving with Jessie. He seemed to take a shine to her, and as we never got to his office, I’m worried he’ll punish me. Jessie and I are still members of his pack, and no one is to take a member of Lorcan’s pack without his permission. It doesn’t matter that Jessie is my sister; I still did the wrong thing and went against my Alpha.

“Lorcan, Gianna.”

“Leander,” Lorcan tips his head at his brother as Gianna and Sara embrace.

“I got here as quick as I could. Thanks for informing me as to where they went.” Lorcan looks directly at Kit and Frankie with anger burning in his eyes. “What the hell were you thinking, Kit?”

“I’m sorry, Alpha. Frankie said she needed to help her friend, and I didn’t think twice. I know I should have brought the family to you, but Mel was afraid of Mike finding them. That and Alison was in such a bad state,” Kit sighs. “I did what I thought was right. I was going to contact you, but Leander beat me to it.”

“Regardless of why you did it, Kit, you took a member of my family off pack grounds.”

I narrow my eyes.

What the hell is he talking about?

“Lorcan,” My Alpha looks at his brother, who is now standing behind his desk. “She’s safe, so don’t be too hard on your Gamma; he only did what he thought was right at the time. However, there is a lot for us to talk about. Why doesn’t Jessie go with Mel, and I’ll have someone show them to a room?”

“No, No!” Jessie yells while wrapping her arms around Lorcan’s neck. “I want to stay with my Alpha. He’s my best friend and cousin like you, Leander.”

My eyes widen in shock, and I think I can feel myself falling. . .

“Here, honey, drink this.”

I smile at Sara while taking the glass of water from her hand and taking a sip. It seems that I passed out for a minute there. Sara and Gianna helped me to the couch; Gianna sat on one side of me, and Frankie on the other.

Now Gianna is stroking the back of my head. Frankie is holding my hand while Sara is sitting in front of me.

I don’t know where everyone else is, but it seems Lorcan has taken my sister with him. I hope Jessie is okay, and I pray Alpha Lorcan isn’t too angry with me.

I also need to get to the infirmary to see my mum. The doctor sent word that Mum was in a critical condition because I wasn’t allowed to go with her. She still isn’t healing, and she’s not responding to treatment.

I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose my mother!

“I’m so sorry I caused all this trouble.”

“Melinda,” I look at Gianna as she speaks my name. “You haven’t caused trouble; you were trying to help your mother.”

“I know that I should have come to you or Alpha Lorcan or both. But I was so scared, Luna.”

“Shh. . .” Gianna wraps her arm around my shoulder, and I rest my head on her shoulder. “We’re not angry with you, Melinda, just worried.”

“I’m sorry, too, auntie Gia,” Frankie sighs. “I should have told you that Melinda and her family needed help.”

Gianna smiles. “Let’s not talk about it now,”

“Is Lorcan going to want to take them back to Silver Paw?”

I shake my head at Sara, but she’s not looking at me; she’s staring at Gianna.

I jump out of my seat with my hands clutching the sides of my head. “Please don’t send us back there.”

“Mel,”

I shake my head at Frankie. “Silver Paw is a happy place for you, Frankie. But it was hell on earth for me and my mum and sister. No one ever liked me, no but you and even that hasn’t been all that long.

“My mum and sister, they need protecting. I know Alpha Lorcan would do that, he’ll probably kill Mike, and we could go home. But for now, Luna Gianna, Luna Sara, please let us stay here so my mother can try and get better.”

Luna Gianna gets out of her seat and hugs me. I’m shaking with fear and adrenaline as I cling to her.

“Everything will be okay, Melinda. Lorcan and I will leave you in Leander and Sara’s capable hands until your mother is better and Mike has been dealt with.”

I nod my head and sniff back my emotions.

I don’t want to cry, but Goddess knows it’s not easy.