Page 31 of Forever Mine

“Do they know about you? I mean, that you’re a wolf shifter and all? How do you hide that from them?”

“They don’t know, and it’s been easier than you’d think.” I almost laughed in light of the situation. They didn’t know about me because there was nothing to know, but I wasn’t about to tell her that.

“Does Liam know why you left and stayed gone?”

I took a deep breath and met Liam’s gaze. “Yes.”

“Does anyone else know? Like this Annie and Jacob?”

“No. No one,” I whispered.

Lily gave an evil grin I remembered all too well. It was the one she used when playing games that basically signified “checkmate.” “So Liam’s your one true mate then, huh?”

“Lily,” Liam growled in warning.

My cheeks flushed and I didn’t know what to say.

“Oh yeah, my twin, you got it bad,” she continued to tease.

“Lily,” I started to plead, but then shut my mouth, ?cause honestly what was I supposed to say?

“Are you happy about it?”

I know my face gave away my sadness. Was I happy it was him? Yes. But he knew the situation, and I couldn’t back down from my stance to not accept him. I could never be a proper mate for him. He deserved so much better than me.

“It’s, um, it’s complicated,” I told her.

She frowned back at me, then rolled her eyes. “Been through this a time or two already. Seriously, what is wrong with you people? Frist Kyle, then Elise, now you two? When will you all learn that you can’t hide from your fate? If you are true mates, just accept it and be happy. It always leads to happiness, so stop being stupid and just go with the flow.”

“Like you’re going to do when you finally find your true mate?” Liam laughed. “I can’t wait till that happens and we all get to remind you just how simple it really is.”

“I can’t believe Kyle and Elise have taken mates. That’s awesome,” I said in a lame attempt to change the subject. “What are their mates like?”

“Oh, you’re going to love them!” Lily said excitedly, like it was inevitable I’d be meeting them, but I didn’t want to tell her I was rejecting her brother and going home to suffer in silence for the remainder of my life, so I encouraged her to keep talking. “Kelsey is the best, and she is one badass Pack Mother. Did he tell you Kyle took over as Westin Alpha?”

“Yes, he did,” I confirmed.

“Okay, good. So, yeah. Kelsey grew up in the human world, too. Doesn’t seem to have hurt her any. She’s really cool. But she didn’t even know she was a shifter. It’s a long story. She and Kyle worked side by side for two years fighting the mating call. Then Elise’s mate, Patrick, he actually came from Ireland to challenge Kyle for Kelsey. That lasted right up to the moment he got a whiff of my sister. It was pretty funny. Everyone was so shocked when he reneged on the challenge then stayed to hunt her down. Her dumb ass hid for as long as possible, but in the end it all worked out. So again, why are you even bothering to fight this?”

“I told you,” I said, unable to keep the sadness from my voice, “it’s complicated.”

I was so grateful when there came a knock at the door and the pizza delivery man arrived. Liam answered and paid for it. Sitting down to eat, he made Lily promise to cease with the questions, so it broke some of the tension in the room. I wanted to know what Liam was thinking. I couldn’t read the expressions on his face as Lily grilled me. I knew I didn’t have a right to know, but it didn’t stop me from wondering.

We talked about lighter things after that and the time melted away. I stifled a yawn.

“Sweetheart, it’s after midnight. Lil, I think that’s enough for today. Tell you what, why don’t I take Oscar out tomorrow and give you two some time alone?”

I was floored by his generosity. I had seen the hurt and pain I had already caused him, yet he would do that for me? Why? I couldn’t help wondering. I looked to Lily to see what she thought.

“He’s great with kids; Oscar will be fine.”

I laughed. “I have no doubts on that. Would you want to hang out with me tomorrow?”

“Duh, of course I do. I’m scared if I let you walk out that door I’ll never seen you again, though. Can’t you just sleep here?”

“No, she can’t.” Liam intervened. “Oscar will freak out and worry if she’s not back before he wakes.”

Dammit, every time I thought I had a handle on him, he did or said something that made my heart melt again. I didn’t know how to fully harden it with him around. I needed space and distance, but didn’t think I was actually going to get it, no matter what I said to him, until this trip was over.Just don’t fall in love in with him, I scolded myself, even knowing it was already too late for that.

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