Page 91 of Wolf's Endgame

Cass was sobbing quietly, and when I stepped back, she turned on her heel and ran to the stairs.

“And, Cassandra?” I called after her. “Tell your mate you’re carrying his child. Stop being selfish and grow up. In a very short time, you’ll be responsible for someone else.”

She didn’t answer me, and I heard the bedroom door close. Pissed off even more, I left the house before I had to punch Kris when he came charging down the stairs to avenge his mate. I’d take that punch and then ask him if anything I’d said to her had been untrue.

I walked the deserted streets of my town under the watchful gaze of the moon. Nikan had said I wasn’t to be alone since the attack, but what kind of alpha was I if I couldn’t even walk my town alone?

I felt a rumble of discontent through the mate bond and rolled my eyes. The sniveling little fool hadn’t gone to Kris, she’d gone to Kezia. That was a fight I didn’t need. Kezia was blindly protective of Cass, and I really had no idea why. Was it purely a loyalty that arose because the twins were the only two who had befriended her in that useless pack? Surely not.

You’ve never been lonely. You don’t know what it’s like.

Glancing at the moon, I almost flipped off Luna despite the thoughts being mine. Shoving my hands in the pockets of my jeans, I walked every street, enjoying the serenity of my home. Some houses were in darkness, while some still had lights on as pack members made their final preparations or relished the nights of peace.

I should have been surprised when I stopped outside the house, but I didn’t question it when Barbara opened the door and stood back to let me in.

“Can I make you a drink? Tea, Alpha?”

“No, thank you.” I took the seat she offered and watched as she poured herself a glass of milk. “I don’t know why I’m here.”

“Restless feet mean restless hearts.”

I waited but when she said nothing more, I frowned. “My heart isn’t restless.” How could it be? I had Kezia. She was everything I ever wanted. Which still made me marvel at the will of the Goddess.

“Restless mind then?”

I huffed out a non-answer, and the older shifter smiled as she sipped her milk. “Want to talk about it?”

Did I? Why would I be here? Why this female? “Why am I here?”

Barbara hesitated. “I thought we just established we never knew that.”

“I mean, why would I come to you?” I studied her. She was so utterly unassuming. I’d spoken to her twice before that afternoon Kezia found her.

Barbara widened her eyes as she shrugged. “You can leave?”

I barked out a laugh when she grinned at me impishly. “Yeah, I could.” Instead, I leaned back on her sofa. “My feet took me here, Barbara. I don’t know why, but I feel that I need to be here. Why is that?”

“The moon’s almost full,” she answered. “Luna may be weighing on your mind.”

“Luna is always on my mind,” I told her glibly. She put her glass of milk on the table, and I chewed my inner cheek as I watched the milk that coated the glass run back down. “Barbara…”

She was already on her feet. “Milk and some cookies?”

Milk and cookies. I wasn’t a pup, but damn if that didn’t sound delicious. “Please.”

I watched her fill her glass, pour me one, and place a plate of cookies beside me. They smelled fresh and delicious. “We need to keep Kezia away from these,” I told her seriously as I took a bite. “She’ll want them every day.”

Barbara flushed happily. “Kezia can have what she wants whenever she wants it.”

I was already shaking my head in denial. “No, that’s the worst thing to say ever. She will exploit you mercilessly.”

“Your mate would exploit me?”

“When it comes to food, yes.”

Barbara’s laughter was light and free, and it made me smile. “I think I was too harsh on Cass.” When she looked at me in confusion, I clarified. “Kris’s mate.”

“Ah.” Barbara ran her hands over her pants. “Andrea’s son.”

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