Page 30 of Howling With Wolves

Tears poured down my mother’s face as she nodded. “Jonathan.”

“We’ll leave you with your family,” Cyan said and turned to leave.

“That includes you.” My mother stood tall and proud as she stared at her oldest son. “I know you probably hate me, and I don’t even blame you. But Sam and Emma are your siblings. I hope you’ll accept them.”

Cyan didn’t say anything.

“I’m hoping you’ll allow me to stay long enough to meet Emma’s mates.” She offered my mates and I a weak smile. “I won’t stay long.”

“Where do you plan to go?” Sam asked. “Our old pack is gone.”

“I…” Mom swallowed. “I’ll find somewhere.”

“Stay,” Cyan said. “Emma’s part of the James Pack. I know she wants you to stay.”

“I do. I’d like to have you here with me,” I said.

“What about you?” Mom asked, keeping her gaze on Cyan. “Will it bother you if I’m here?”

“Did you know my father planned to mate you?” Cyan asked.

“What?” She shook her head. “How did you—”

“Did you know?” Cyan asked again, interrupting her.

“Yes,” she whispered, and more tears fell. “Yes, I knew. Your father was the love of my life.”

Cyan nodded as if he’d known that or at least, thought it. “Why did you mate Clayton?”

She glanced between Sam and me, and I knew she didn’t want to say anything negative about our father. It wouldn’t matter, though. We both knew the type of man he’d been. Both of us had the scars to remind us.

“I…”

“It’s okay, Mom,” Sam whispered. “We know the type of man he was.”

“I didn’t have a choice. When Clayton Richards decided he wanted something, he took it. No matter what stood in the way.”

“You sent me away to protect me,” Cyan stated, and I didn’t hear any doubt in his voice.

“Yes,” she agreed. “He would have killed you. I knew that. Just as I knew he wouldn’t let me go.”

“Did Dad force you?” Sam asked, and I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the light die out of hers.

“I…did what I needed to. I always hoped I’d be able to escape and find Cyan. Then I was pregnant with Johnathan. Clayton thought he could tie me to him with his children, and he was right. I’d already been forced to give up Cyan. I couldn’t do that again. Then I had you, Sam. Then Emma. I tried my best to keep you safe, to protect you.” Her voice broke off, and I opened my eyes as a sob caught in her throat.

“You had to know he was always going to come after me,” Cyan said.

Mom shook her head emphatically. “He should have let you go. He should have let us go.” She pushed out of Sam’s embrace and walked across the room, isolating herself from the rest of us. “He had what he wanted. He was alpha. His blood would be the next alpha after him. But it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. He started seeing enemies everywhere. He… God! He killed Jonathan, and I couldn’t… I couldn’t stop him. They held me back while he…” Her sobs filled the air. “He killed my son, and I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t…breathe. Then Sam was gone, and Clayton took Emma.” She turned to me. “He hurt my baby. My beautiful baby girl. And he was going to hunt down Cyan. And I couldn’t breathe.”

Cyan moved then, tears wetting his checks. He stepped up to Mom, ran his fingers along her cheek, then pulled her into hischest where she fell apart. I tugged free of my mates and walked over, unsurprised when Cyan pulled me in, as well. Then I felt Sam’s hand and glanced up to see him joining us.

“Ivy,” Cyan called, and she clung to his side, burying her face into his chest as she shed tears of her own.

Anthony and Donovan were at my back, strong and fierce, loving and supporting me while I sobbed. I turned my head into Anthony’s chest, felt Donovan’s lips on my temple, and though there was sadness and tears, something more powerful emerged. Hope.

We hadn’t all survived my father’s wrath. Cyan and my mother had both lost Cyan’s dad. We’d lost Jonathan. But we had each other, and maybe, with time and love, we’d be able to heal. Together. As a family.

Chapter Fourteen

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