Page 28 of Forever Mine

“Well, I do care, Liam. If my situation was different in any way, we’d be having a much different conversation. You know that, right? I really need to know you understand. This isn’t easy on me either, but I have to do what’s best for me and Oscar.”

“And clearly that’s not me, or doesn’t leave any room at all for me in your lives. I heard you, loud and clear.”

She was getting more aggravated than upset.Good, I thought.

We made it back to the hotel without another word. I thought we’d say goodbye there and that would be the end of things, but to my surprise, Maddie followed me to the elevator. I briefly heard the receptionist call my name as the doors on the elevator closed. Being confined with Maddie in the car had been difficult because her scent had been everywhere, but stuck in the elevator with her was far worse. Not only was I consumed by her scent, but there were other male smells throughout which only heightened my awareness and fueled that stupid need to protect her.

As the doors opened she spoke. “Liam, I don’t want us to part angry.”

“I’m not angry, Mad. I’m hurt and in shock, but I don’t think I could ever truly be angry with you.”

“It’s still early, and Oscar’s going to worry if I come home too early.”

She was fidgeting with the seam of her shirt and wouldn’t look me in the eye.

“You can hang out in my room until enough time has passed.” The second the words were out of my mouth, I wanted to kick my own ass. I didn’t want more time with her like this. I wanted to curl up and lick my wounds.

She followed me down the hall to my room. I opened the door and held it for her to walk through. It was followed by the loudest screech I’d ever heard. My wolf leaped for control, which never happened with me, not since I first changed at the age of seventeen and learned to control him.

My only thought was that my mate was in trouble. I quickly shielded her, pinned against the wall as the door shut behind us and I carefully examined the room. Sitting on the small couch was a very pale, very shocked Lily.

“Dammit, Lil, what are you doing here?” I asked, trying to get my body to relax without much success.

Maddie was trying to push me out of the way and scramble for the door, but it was too late.

“Maddie?” Lily asked, tears already streaming down her face. “Is that really you? Liam, tell me I’m not seeing ghosts or something.”

I sighed. “Lil, this is my friend.” I hesitated. “Jane. And I’m pretty sure you just scared the life out of us both.”

She tried to approach as I continued to shield Maddie.

“It’s uncanny really. Look at her, Liam, and today of all days. Wow,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, you just remind me of someone.” She sighed. “Sorry, I can’t help but stare. Tell me she doesn’t look just like MC, Liam.”

I followed my sister’s gaze to my mate. Despite herself, Maddie smiled, and then tears started to spring to her eyes at the use of her old nickname that I’m pretty sure only Lily and my siblings ever called her.

Suddenly my vision started to darken around the edges and my palms began to sweat. As my heart started racing it dawned on me that I was fine, because it wasn’t coming from me. I was feeding off my mate.

“Shit!” I yelled, picking Maddie up and moving to the couch where I cradled her on my lap. “Just breathe, sweetheart. Deep breaths, in and out. Listen to my voice.” She clung to me, hiding her face in my shoulder, but my touch was calming her and slowly bring her back before her panic could fully set in. Knowing she was going to be okay, I just held her close to me. “Lily, back off and give her a minute.”

“What’s wrong with her?” Lily asked after heeding my request.

I hugged her close. She was the most precious thing in my life and I was already back to never wanting to let her go. “She’s just been through some shit. Sometimes she has a hard time dealing and you freaked her out, screaming like a banshee.”

“Sorry,” she said to me, then addressed Maddie. “I’m really sorry. You really do look a lot like an old friend of mine.” She sat down on the couch next to me. Lily always did have issues with personal boundaries. “I just really miss her. She disappeared eight years ago today. It’s always just a hard anniversary for me, so I drove up to see Liam. He always cheers me up on this day and I missed him.” She elbowed me hard. “You could have warned me you were sneaking off to meet a girl.”

“You could have, I dunno, actually asked first,” I said.

“Why would I have any reason to suspect you’d have a girl up here? You haven’t even dated since coming home from college. You’re all work, work, work these days, so when you said you were coming up for ‘work,’ why would I think anything else?”

“Maybe it’s just none of your business, Lil, and you don’t need to know all of my personal business.”

She snorted. “Yeah right, like that’s gonna happen. Dream on. No offense, lady, but I can already tell you’re calming down, so you have about three more minutes before the interrogation begins. This is my twin brother”—she overemphasizedtwin—“and it is my duty to make sure no one is going to hurt him. I take my twin duties very seriously, and just so you know, no one is ever going to be good enough for him, so the odds are already stacked against you. Jane, was it?”

Maddie giggled and sat up to face Lily. Her eyes were still filled with tears, but they looked like happy tears this time. She lunged off me and threw her arms around my sister, shocking us both.

“I love you, Lily Ann Westin,” she whispered. “Eight years, and you even remember the day?”

“MC? Is it really you?”

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