Page 54 of Run Free

Gage

Chapter 25

Seeing my mother hugging Clara was so surreal. I felt like I was living in some sort of warped dream and half expected Mark to walk through the door at any moment. Life was moving and changing so quickly around me. Clara was the only thing grounding me to reality.

For a moment when she’d left, I wondered if maybe I had died back in that cage in Oklahoma and everything since had been just a dream in heaven. Then she returned, and I knew I’d made it. I was a survivor and she was my savior, giving me a second chance at life. I didn’t want to blow that.

Now here were my parents, together, happy from the looks of it, and I didn’t want to ruin the opportunity to know them and hear their bizarre story that had me feeling like I was living in a paradox.

And then there was the reality part slamming back into me again—we were going to have dinner with her parents and I hadn’t even met her father yet.

“What’s wrong?” Clara asked me.

I looked up to where she stood above me and sighed. “I have to meet your dad tonight.”

My parents laughed.

“You haven’t met Zachary yet?” his father asked.

I shook my head.

“Remember, we just got home yesterday. He’s only briefly met a few of my siblings and my mother,” Clara said.

I knew I hadn’t left the best impression with any of them, either, and all that needed to change too, starting now.

“Well, I’m sure he’s going to love you,” my mother said.

“Myra, please. It’s the girl’s father. No father wants to hear his daughter has taken a mate,” he said. “Trust me on that.”

I laughed. “How would you know? You had all boys.”

They shared a look that left me with an uneasy feeling.

“Actually,” my mom started. “You have two little sisters, Gage. Freya is fifteen and Athena just turned twelve.”

It was clearly just a day for surprises. I thought the news of my mother being alive was the biggest shock of my life, but now this. Sisters? I had sisters?

“Do they know about me?” I blurted out.

“Of course they know about you, and they cannot wait to meet you. We felt it best if they stayed back in Virginia for this trip, uncertain what to expect seeing you after all these years,” she said

I nodded. “That’s understandable. I’m here and still not certain what to expect. Just one surprise after another today.” Clara had taken the seat next to us and gave me a look of concern, but I wrapped an arm around her and tucked her close to my side. “I’m fine,” I reassured her. “How’s Jeremy?” I asked my parents. ”Any big surprises with him, too? Has he mated? Kids?”

“Yes, actually,” my father said. “Your brother mated shortly out of college. He and his mate, Amy, have three sons.”

That was the first thing I’d heard all day to bring me true relief. If Jeremy had three heirs, my pack status in Virginia was negligent. I no longer needed to carry the guilt of abandoning my responsibilities to them.

“That’s good. I’m happy for him,” I said honestly.

An awkward silence fell across us. Clara finally broke it.

“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starting to get a little hungry. How about we head over to my parents’ place now?”

“That sounds lovely, Clara. I can’t wait to see your mother. Do you know we’ve never met in person? We talk on the phone nearly every week, even still, but it’s simply never worked out for us to meet,” Mom told her.

“Well, what are we waiting for then?” Clara asked.

Clara led the way back out and I brought up the rear, closing and locking the door behind us.

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