Page 84 of Fractured Mates

I want to go to my mate. The desire to hold her and have physical proof in my hands that she’s okay is stronger than I would have ever thought possible. Yet I can’t stand the thought of interrupting this moment with her sister.

You came back too quickly, Sophie says without looking at me. Did you not find the trail of the shooter? I saw blood leading down the stairs.

No, but he did lose his heart before I found him. I nod at Jules. Based on the blood on your sister’s hands, I think she might know where it is.

That has my mate smiling. She turned out pretty amazing, considering who she was left with.

She did, and she can be even better, I say with sincerity. We can take her back to East Texas with us if she’ll go.

Finding her mate so young isn’t normal, but River’s a good man. I’m not worried about him respecting her age and making sure she has the opportunity to grow up before officially becoming his mate. But that’s not for us to worry about today.

Andie finally stands and grins widely. “The bleeding has stopped, and his wolf shifter healing has taken over what I started. Whoever knew to put pressure on that wound, keeping everything intact, saved his life.”

Jules peeks her head up from Sophie’s shoulder and lets out a strangled laugh. “I thought I was hurting him, but I was so fucking scared.”

Sophie’s mouth drops open. “Language.”

That has everyone but me laughing. I’m groaning along with Jules because I know this is just the beginning. The beginning of Sophie stepping in as the parent and not realizing that her sister is no longer the five-year-old she last knew.

River starts to wake up, and this time, nobody stops him. Sophie releases her sister, and we watch, a little uncomfortably, as she launches herself at him.

Jules is only seventeen and River is in his early thirties. That’s quite the gap, but when he looks at me and grimaces, I can see the same worries on his face. He’s found his mate, but this isn’t going to be easy. He’s going to have to let her go for a while, and we’re going to have to convince the already-traumatized teenager that it’s for the best.

Basically, we’re asking for hell, but Jules needs to learn healthy relationships before going out into the world, regardless of how much we can trust River. Her “parents” never could show her that, and who the hell knows what Astor has done to her.

It wasn’t my intention to share Sophie with anyone anytime soon, but for this, for her sister and my friend, I think I can manage.

With Jules not needing Sophie at the moment, I go to my mate again and wrap an arm around her waist, holding her to my side. My earlier rage is slowly subsiding, especially when I know her body is healing and the threat to her life should be over.

Though, we still haven’t heard what else the alpha Joseph might have to say. He had remained in the room, but I think it’s time we found him and got some answers on why he abandoned his people. More than that, how did he know to show back up tonight of all nights?

“Let’s go find the alpha,” I tell my mate, but it’s Maciah who responds first.

“Yes, I have more than a few questions for that man.” There’s a rumble to the vampire’s voice, one I’ve heard before and am glad is not directed at me.

He and Amersyn start to head back into the room, but Andie grabs the latter’s arm. “I’m going to go outside, see if anyone else needs help healing, and then head home. Foster might have yelled at me as I teleported away, and I may have not told him I was leaving for River in my panic.”

Maciah shakes his head. “Call that man and put him out of his misery, please.”

“But maybe he deserves it a little.” Andie smirks and winks at Amersyn. “Fine. I’ll call him, check on the others, and then go back to my date night. See you guys next week for Dawsyn’s ceremony?”

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Amersyn says with a sense of pride that I assume is for the soon-to-be Alpha.

I was never part of a big pack, and I’ve never been close with my parents. In fact, I haven’t spoken to them since the day after Cara died when they tried to tell me maybe it was for the best—that I had been too young when I met her anyway—but seeing the connection between Sophie and Jules, then Maciah, Amersyn, and Andie showing how much they care about River and even Dawsyn… I’m even more ready to quit my job and see what life is like in a pack that has already shown their kindness by taking my mate in.

My hold on Sophie grows tighter as I’m reminded once again that life is short. I won’t be wasting another moment of my time. No more living in the past. No more running from my grief.

Sophie tugs at my shirt and pulls me toward her with narrowed eyes. “You’re blocking me out now.”

I completely forgot that I’d done so earlier while I was still shaking on the inside with unfiltered ire, but now that she’s said something, I can sense the wall I’ve created. Without needing to think twice, I let her back in. The amount of warmth I’m filled with proves what idiots we both were for thinking that we didn’t need the other at any point tonight.

She pushes up onto her toes and kisses me. “That’s better. How about we try not to do that again?”

“I think I can manage that,” I tell her, allowing the strength of our bond to remove any lingering fear within me.

Sophie pulls away again, but she doesn’t go far. My mate kneels beside River and Jules, who are still on the ground, hugging.

“You saved her before you knew who she was,” Sophie says, her tone indifferent, “but we have a lot to discuss.”

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