Page 46 of Run Free

I felt like I should leave and let the two of them talk, but something told me Clara wasn’t letting me off the hook that easily. I was also a little nervous and curious about what she planned to tell people.

“Mom, I’ve been away for over a month. We met on the mission. He’s my true mate. Thomas was notified already, he should have made the announcement by now.”

“And you didn’t think to call and tell your own mother about this?” Cora asked, sniffling. “And wait, if Thomas was going to make an announcement then that means. . .” Her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped, looking back and forth between me and Clara.

“It’s really nice to finally meet you,” I managed to say, putting as much charm into it as I could muster.

Cora stared at me with a frown and then her eyes teared up. She pulled me into a hug. “A true mate. I can’t believe it. I’m shocked, and disappointed you didn’t tell me sooner, but I’m so happy for you, Clara.”

She tugged at Clara until she was embracing the both of us. It felt strange, but nice. When she pulled back, she let go of my mate and took my face in her hands to look me over.

“He’s very handsome, Clara,” she observed during her scrutiny.

Clara giggled. “Yes, he is.”

“Gage, do you have a last name?”

“Matthews, ma’am.”

She stopped and stepped back. “You’re Myra and Daniel’s son? Gage?” I watched the surprise flash across her face. “Gage. You’re the one who disappeared. Does your mother know?”

“My mother?” I asked. I looked to Clara, not knowing what to say or think. My mother was a traitor who had disrespected and cheated on my father. I had never considered the possibility he’d allowed her to live beyond that night. “I haven’t seen my mother in a very long time,” I said, still a little shocked we were having this conversation.

“You must call her. You have no idea how much it would mean to her. When my Madelyn disappeared, Myra helped me through the worst of it. She was the only one who truly understood what I was going through.”

I knew I was staring at her like she had two heads. My mother was still alive? I couldn’t understand it. It didn’t make any sense.

“What’s the matter?” Cora finally asked.

Clara wrapped her arms around my waist. “He didn’t know his mother was still alive.”

“Of course she’s alive. I just spoke with her last week. I’m sure you had your reasons for running away, Gage. The tragic death of your uncle and brother were hard on everyone. All wolf shifters grieved them. Your parents have spent every dime to their name exhausting any leads they found on you. They will be overjoyed to know you’re alive and well.”

There was no condemnation in her voice, only happiness and relief for my family.

“My uncle was a traitor to my father and our pack. Why would anyone mourn his death?” I wondered aloud.

Cora bit her lip. “I’d heard the rumors, but that’s not the story your father portrayed.”

I shook my head, anger filling me. “I need some air,” I said. I didn’t wait for acknowledgement, just turned and left. Once outside, I gulped in deep breaths. So much was whirling through my head. She was alive? My uncle was mourned? I couldn’t wrap my head around any of it.

I stripped and shifted into my wolf. I hadn’t done that in a while and I needed to stretch and break free of the walls closing in around me. I didn’t know the territory, but I didn’t care. I saw wide open spaces ahead of me and I took off in that direction.

I wasn’t certain how long or how far I’d run. I could tell by the smells I was still in pack territory, and yet, when I slowed down there was something slightly different in the scent of the air. I realized I had come to a town, but it didn’t look like Collier and I was pretty certain I hadn’t looped back around.

This place was run down and dirty. I sniffed the air. Shifters. There was no doubt about it. It was almost like I’d entered another pack’s territory, and yet I’d never heard of two wolf packs living so close together. I couldn’t even imagine the fights that would break out on a regular basis if that were the case.

Curiosity had me investigating the area. I crossed the railroad tracks and saw a rundown trailer park. I was quickly losing respect for Thomas Collier if this was how he allowed his people to live. The entire place should be condemned, and yet it was obvious people were living there.

I stayed to the edges and walked around the trailer park. Soon I heard voices.

“Where the hell is Luke?” one of them boomed, followed by a rasping cough.

“He’s not coming, Alpha,” another said.

Alpha? The man sounded far too old and sickly to be Thomas. I had to have crossed over into another pack’s territory after all.

“We need Luke,” the Alpha wheezed. “He’s already in with the Colliers.”

---