Page 17 of Broken Chains

I could see the tips of Peyton’s ears turning red even though she wasn’t looking at me.

“It’s no big deal. I just thought if she was going to be hanging out here with Kenneth on a regular basis then she needed a safe place.”

It sounded logical, but I knew the cost of baby stuff, and this room hadn’t been cheap.

“It’s too much,” I said. “I don’t mind Eve coming here if she’s really not a bother. You obviously take very good care of my daughter, but I have to pay you for your time.”

She stubbornly shook her head. “I’ll take it out of Kenneth’s paycheck.”

“No, you won’t. That’s his money. She’s my responsibility.”

Eve started to fuss while we talked, but Peyton never missed a beat as she took the bottle, tested the heat of the fluid, and seeming satisfied, popped the bottle into the baby’s mouth and walked around with her until she settled.

“I’m not taking your money,” she said.

“Fine, then Eve isn’t coming back over here, Peyton. It’s not right. We don’t take handouts.”

She stopped walking and honey-colored eyes with so much hurt in them stared back at me. I wanted to take it all back and do whatever it took to make certain she never felt that pain again.

“Your brother works his ass off for me. Anything I ask. No questions, he just does it. I’m not giving him a handout and it’s insulting not just to me but to him to assume so,” she said, and I felt the same protective ferocity in her towards Kenneth that I had already witnessed with Eve.

“I didn’t mean to.” I stopped myself, unsure what to even say. “I wasn’t trying to insult anyone. I appreciate everything you’re doing for my brother. I really do. I got an email just last night from his teachers saying he hasn’t missed a class in two weeks and got an A on a test yesterday.”

“The history test?” she asked, sounding excited.

“Yeah, the history test,” I said, realizing I’d never in all my life had someone to share good news with before. It felt really nice.

She squealed softly. I noticed Evie was drifting off to sleep and Peyton clearly didn’t want to disturb her. It made my heart soften a little more towards her.

“I knew he could do it! We studied all weekend for that test. I told him he was ready. Does he know yet?”

“I don’t know. He could have gotten his grade back today. I hadn’t told him yet,” I admitted.

She shook her head. “He would have told me if he had,” she said with certainty.

“You really helped my brother study for a test?”

She shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t know. I don’t understand why you’re doing any of this,” I told her honestly. “My brothers talk nonstop about how amazing you are. It’s all I hear about. I can see what they mean. You’re like a fairy tale or something. People like you don’t actually exist.”

Peyton

Chapter 7

"People like you don't actually exist." That's what he said to me. I knew Eve was asleep and I should lay her down because she slept better that way, but she was also a sort of shield protecting my heart.

Oliver was my one true mate. Everything in my being knew it. My wolf was on repeat in my head.Mate! Mate! Mate!Yet Oliver was showing no signs that he was feeling the call. How could it be so one-sided?

There was that brief moment when he stepped in front of me when Bran walked in, but I realized after the fact that he was just protecting Eve.

I needed answers, but I didn't want him running for the hills on our first day together.

When I met Oliver Smith in the grocery store, I was immediately attracted to him. I thought I had felt the pull of a true mate, but then I had also hit my head and was able to convince myself I'd just imagined it all.

I was glad I had gone back to Powell's to look for him, because I'd stumbled across Kenneth there and he was exactly what I needed to get this place operational, something I'd been putting off for far too long.

He was already working so fast and efficiently that I was going to run out of things to do and wondered if I could justify keeping him around just for daily upkeep and maintenance. I was certain I'd find something else for him if not.

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