Page 72 of Ascension of the Pack

Rosie’s was wonderful as always. Maxwell hung out with Greg and me, and the boys had some beers together.

Life almost felt normal again, as if I were a regular person and not a werewolf queen with a power-hungry organisation that had her in its sights. Like Voltaire, I now fully accepted that bringing down The Order would be a lifetime’s work, and I was game for it. I had never shied away from hard work.

As we drove away from Rosie’s, I realised we weren’t heading back to the mansion. ‘Where are we going?’ I asked Greg.

He shot me a grin. ‘You only just noticed we weren’t going home?’

It warmed me that he called it home, so I ignored the jab at my woeful observational skills. ‘I was wool-gathering,’ I admitted.

‘I thought we’d go to your parents’. Check on your dad.’

‘I love you.’The words came without restraint. How did he always know exactly what I needed, often even before I did?

‘And I you, Peaches.’ His hand left the steering wheel to squeeze my thigh.

I blew out a long breath. Ididneed to see Dad, and Mum, too. I was feeling so emotional; I so needed a hug.

‘I asked Ben to come,’ Greg said, glancing sideways to check my reaction. ‘And Noah, if he wants to bring him. Is that okay?’

I smiled. ‘That’s perfect.’

When we drew up to my parents’ house, Ben’s car was already in the drive. I hopped eagerly out of our car and knocked on the front door. Dad opened it with a flourish, the symbol of the Other realm on his forehead and clarity in his eyes as he looked at me.

Tears threatened again as I flung myself into his arms.

‘Lucy?’ Alarmed, he looked over my shoulder at Greg. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘It’s fine,’ I managed. ‘I’m so happy you’re okay.’ And back with us properly. It was such a blessing to be able to talk openly to both my parents about my life again.

‘Greg rang to say you were alright after that attack,’ Dad mumbled. ‘But you’re obviously not.’

It hadn’teven occurred to me to ring them. I was a dick daughter. ‘I’m okay,’ I promised. ‘Just a bit emotional. I’m so relieved to see that damned triangle on your head.’

His eyes softened. ‘Me too, kid.’ He wrapped an arm around my waist and led me into the lounge. There was a new carpet on the floor but in my mind’s eye I could still see the spot where Ben had been bleeding out.

Dad followed my gaze. ‘Me too,’ he murmured again. ‘Your mum and I have been talking about moving. It’s been hard seeing the reminders. I think we both may have a little bit of PTSD,’ he admitted. ‘We’ve been having nightmares and flashbacks. That was the one good thing about the clearing,’ he admitted wryly. ‘I got a decent night’s sleep. Anyway, we’re looking into seeing someone to talk about it.’

‘That’s a great idea!’ I enthused. ‘I’m sure I could find you an Other psychologist, someone you can talk to abouteverything. I doubt counselling would work well if you had to censor yourself all the time.’

‘Maybe,’ Dad conceded. ‘But wouldn’t we risk telling them sensitive information about you?’

I grinned. ‘We can get a magical vow of confidentiality. If they break it, they die.’

He blinked. ‘Well, that would makemehold my tongue.’

‘Exactly.’ I pulled out my phone and texted Amber.

After all the stuff with Geneve and Mindy, I wanted to move away from using my brethren contacts. I knew it would be hard for Greg to let that side of his life go, but I was starting to see that it was necessary. The brethren’s loyalty was to their dragon, even if their dragon turned out to be a malevolent master of malice. Say that three times fast.

Mum bustled into the lounge with Ben and Noah. I squeezed Dad one last time and turned to the others. ‘Noah,’ I greeted him, embracing him briefly. I turned to my brother. ‘Hug?’

He pulled me in and held me close, but we were careful not to let our skin touch; I didn’t need him having more visions of my future right now, and evidently neither did he. He was an undercover seer without the purple skin to warn people that he could see what was coming. In that sense, we were alike because I had my piping skills that no one could be forewarned about. We were both dangerous in our own way.

Ben held on to me for too long and I was happy to let him as I felt something between us settle. ‘I love you,’ I said as I pulled back, tears filling my eyes again. What the hell was wrong with me? My emotions were all over the place;that wasn’t unusual but they weren’t usually so close to the surface.

Mum noticed. ‘Okay?’ she asked softly.

‘I’m just a bit emotional,’ I sighed.

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