Page 53 of Run Free

“We completed the bond nearly a month ago, Dad,” Gage said.

“Oh, well, congratulations. We hadn’t heard.”

“Yeah, my parents hadn’t heard either when we spoke with Mom this morning. I’m not sure why Thomas hasn’t made an official announcement. At this rate, our trial challenge period will be over before he even gets things started.”

Gage shrugged. “Fine by me.”

“I spoke to Thomas on the drive in from the airport to get approval to enter his territory. He sent this address but didn’t say anything about your mating. We really need to stop by and say hi before we head out,” his dad said.

His mother seemed so much meeker than Gage had portrayed and that story his father had spun was crazy. My head was spinning trying to keep up.

“You’re leaving so soon?” Gage asked. I could sense how torn he was. I couldn’t even imagine what was going through his head just then.

“Oh, well, we don’t have to. I got the sense you’d rather us leave, and it looked like you were heading out when we arrived,” he said.

“We were,” Gage admitted. He looked at me with so many questions in his eyes.

I shrugged. “It’s your call.”

“Okay, we’ll stay if you will,” he finally said. I could see the small little boy within just hoping for his parents love and approval. I smiled up at him and he leaned down and kissed the top of my head.

“We have extra rooms if you’d like to stay here. Mom and Dad still live in the Alpha house. Thomas just uses it for his office during the week. They have plenty of room there, too, and I know they’d be happy to have you,” I offered.

Gage seemed to be holding his breath, awaiting their answer.

“If you’re sure it’s not a problem, we’d love to stay here and catch up,” his mother chimed in optimistically.

Gage relaxed, and I knew she hadn’t let him down. That was what he wanted. I smiled and nodded.

“We’ll need to get some dinner. We seriously just got home yesterday, and I haven’t been shopping yet. There’s a great diner just up the street. It’s within walking distance,” I offered.

“No,” Gage said a little too quickly. “Anywhere but there. We ate there for breakfast,” he added, like he was trying to counter his initial reaction. He shot me a “tell you later” look so I didn’t question it.

Just then my phone rang and I excused myself to answer it leaving them alone.

“Hey, Mom,” I said after seeing her name flash across the screen.

“Sweetie, I just heard that Daniel and Myra were coming into town, but Thomas also said you and Gage were leaving for work. I was hoping I could catch you before you left and perhaps we could all have dinner together tonight?”

“Um, yeah, sure. His parents are here now. We were just discussing dinner. That sounds great, if it’s not too much of an inconvenience.”

My mom made a weird dismissive noise. “Of course it’s not. Come on over whenever you want. I’m so happy he’s reconnecting with his family.”

I could hear the strong emotions in her voice and knew it was a sensitive subject for her. Madelyn had disappeared when she was sixteen, too. I could only imagine how close that would have made Mom and Myra as they mourned together, for who knew how many years.

“Great, I said. Thanks.”

“Do you know how long you’ll be gone this time?” she asked, and I realized she thought I’d been given a new mission. It was a good cover. “I hate that they’re taking you again so soon. You just got back.”

“Well, it’s kind of up in the air right now. I’m waiting to hear back for sure,” I told her. It wasn’t entirely a lie. I let her believe there was a mission when there wasn’t, but the rest was true. We weren’t leaving right away, that much was clear, and I didn’t know if or when we would now. Still, I hated even a tiny white lie.

“Oh, that’s wonderful news. I’ll see you soon,” she said before ending the call.

I walked back into the living room and Gage and his parents were actually laughing and talking. It felt like a lot of the tension had drained from the room, and I truly hoped I wasn’t the cause of it to begin with.

“Well, I guess that was good news. Mom invited us all to dinner. She said head over anytime.”

“Oh that sounds wonderful. Thank you, Clara,” Myra said, rising to hug me.

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