Page 62 of Siren in the Rain

As I’d predicted, Griffin was happier than a puppy with a new toy when I invited him to join me for a weeklong visit with my mother’s sept.

We had spent a couple of days taking care of things at the compound before leaving, and Wolf Boy was practically bouncing off the walls from his eagerness.

“It’s our first romantic getaway together!” he’d told me at regular intervals, big cartoon hearts in his eyes.

Not sure how he thought visiting my family and dealing with my trauma is a romantic vacation, but I couldn’t seem to say anything that would disillusion him. I swear, he disables my snark button more and more.

Consequently, I simply kept humoring him until our departure with a well-placed, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever, weirdo,” whenever he brought it up.

He wasn’t fazed in the least.

While Griffin wrapped up some things with the team, I packed what little I had and met with my therapist, who agreed that this short trip was a good idea. I also had a follow-up exam with the doctor I saw when I first escaped and he signed off on me being healthy enough to travel.

Swimming in the ocean every day seems to have revived and strengthened me in the last few weeks. There’s still so much I don’t know about my siren heritage, but I’m looking forward to talking with my grandmother and aunt and learning more.

My mother had been reluctant to tell me too much, especially within my father’s hearing, when I was young. However, she’d always promised to share more as I got older.

But that never happened.

I’m still struggling to wrap my head around the notion that she could still be alive and out there somewhere. No doubt suffering like I had.

Honestly, I’m hoping this trip away will help get my mind off some of my anxiety about her situation. The investigation on MEOW Squad’s end is going slowly, but Cal and Dallas have been spending a lot of late nights working in the compound’s state-of-the-art computer lab. Meanwhile, Harper has been consulting with various contacts so much that I’ve hardly seen him more than in passing. Even Ruby and Emma have been doing what they can, reaching out to other healers and Potion Masters in LA who might know something.

Everyone’s dedication to helping me and my mother is so heartwarming that it makes me a bit uncomfortable. I recognize my burgeoning affection for the entire MEOW Squad and I have no idea what to do about it. When it comes to these kinds of emotions, ones I’ve closed off for so long, I’m at a loss.

Needless to say, I’m awkward as fuck, like a nerdy loner character in an anime. Ugh.

The team’s hard work is paying off as they slowly unfurl an ever-growing web of secrets that my father and stepmonster have been spinning for well over a decade. It’s clear Margaret is the brains behind everything, but Bryce is fully involved at every level.

However, as Harper and I suspected, they’ve been very careful about covering their tracks, so it’s taking time to unearth critical details.

It’s frustrating, but there’s not a lot I can do to assist anyone right now. I don’t have any particular talents or expertise apart from being able to sing, which won’t help us at the moment.

At the same time, everyone’s still being hyper-vigilant about my safety, especially since Cal and Dallas discovered that Emma’s apartment had been broken into and thoroughly searched. Harper’s network of contacts around the city have been keeping tabs on a slew of private investigators and less savory individuals combing LA for me. Apparently, my father and Margaret are getting more and more desperate to find me and have actually escalated their efforts. I’m sure they’re facing pressure from a number of their business partners by now, particularly regarding deals they’ve negotiated for Bella’s music career.

Speaking of. My wicked stepsister seems to have been keeping out of sight of the paparazzi. The official statement from her management—aka Margaret—is that she’s taking time off for undisclosed health reasons. Every time I see a story about it pop up on the cell phone Dallas procured for me, I can’t help but cackle with evil laughter.

Serves Bitchface Bella right.

I can just imagine how irate they all are. But my spoiled stepsister is probably losing her fucking mind because the fame she loves would disappear if the truth about her was ever exposed.

Is it wrong that I seriously can’t wait for the day that happens?

Dallas had told me that this little trip I’m taking couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. Getting me as far away from the reach of Margaret and her network of people is for the best right now.

While I don’t love feeling so helpless in this situation, I appreciate how important my well-being is to him and the rest of the team. Even though I haven’t known him long, I already understand why all of MEOW Squad loves and respects Dallas so much.

Although I haven’t actually addressed him as Papa Bear to his face, I can’t deny that I’ve started thinking of him that way in my mind. The silly nickname is perfect for him.

I’m sort of surprised that a man like Dallas doesn’t have a partner, but Griffin’s explained that Bearkin also have fated mates, and that Dallas just hasn’t found his yet. Given his unusual but stupidly cute obsession with all things feline and nature, I just hope for his sake he ends up bonding with a cat-lover.

“This is so cool,” Griffin says, jarring me from my thoughts. Pressed up against my side, his whole body vibrating with obvious excitement, he leans his elbows on the ship’s railing as he looks out toward the island that’s getting closer with each passing moment.

I don’t bother stepping away to put any distance between us. For one, I don’t really want to—I’ve come to enjoy his solid presence at my side and I need that now more than ever. Also, Griffin has eroded most of my grumpy defenses. Damn Cal, but he was totally right. Who wouldn’t succumb to Griffin’s KO cuteness combo of puppy-dog eyes, big fluffy ears, and overly expressive tail?

I reach up and pet Haku on my shoulder. He too is shivering with anticipation. I can tell this is as much an important homecoming for him as it is for me.

Haku more than deserves a vacation and time with his family. Without him, I don’t think I would have stayed alive and sane for this long. I’m happy I can give him this visit, even if it’s far from adequate repayment for his steadfast support and companionship during the hardest years of my life.

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