Page 16 of The Last Ultimatum: Part 1

I was a grown ass woman, and despite the lockdown treatment I was currently receiving, I was free to make my ownchoices. No one could force me to mate Aiden Campbell, but before I rejected him, I needed to know why I was being asked to do it in the first place.

That was the one and only thing that had me biting my tongue, packing my bags, and going along with this nonsense.

Lachlan

Chapter 5

The guys arrived much too soon. I wasn’t ready to be whisked away from my family, despite my agreement to be a part of this mission.

Bleary-eyed and tired, I wandered downstairs and into the kitchen following the smells of fresh eggs and toast. A plate of cheese and Vegemite sat on the table next to the food, making my mouth water. I piled eggs onto a plate and grabbed a couple pieces of toast, slathering on the butter, and then Vegemite before topping it with a slice of cheese.

This was not something I could get back home, and I planned to enjoy it every day while I could.

Sinking my teeth into the salty goodness, I let out a little moan of appreciation.

“What the hell did you just eat?” Michael asked, startling me.

I looked around the room to find him, Colin, Linc, Tucker, and Walker all staring down at me.

“When did you buggers get here?”

“You were walking like the dead and completely ignored us. I’m heartbroken,” Colin joked.

“It’s like you didn’t miss us at all,” Tucker added.

“Mum, did you meet all the team?”

“I did. They’ve been here for about an hour, but I didn’t want them to wake you. I know you and the kids were up late last night.”

Keeping up with the kids made me feel ridiculously old.

“Are they up yet?” I asked.

“I just heard them stirring. They should be down soon.”

“I’m assuming you want to head out soon, but first you have to meet the kids.”

“Kids?”

“Yeah, my brothers and sister.”

“You have siblings?” Walker asked. “I didn’t know.”

In truth, I spent most of my days listening to them and their lives. I rarely had time to share about mine.

“Michael was just telling me that you’ll likely be gone for just a few days and then they’ll return you for the rest of your vacation,” Mum said.

I knew she was going to get her hopes up, and a mission could go sideways in the blink of an eye, so I hadn’t given her a timeframe estimation. Now she’d be counting down the days and waiting up for me.

Four sets of footsteps ran down the stairs, talking excitedly, and then they froze at the kitchen door.

“Not yet,” Hannah whined as she raced into my arms.

“Afraid so, banana-girl.”

She wrapped her arms tightly around my neck until I had to reposition her before she choked the life out of me.

“Guys, this is my baby sister, Hannah. And these guys over here are my brothers: Toby, Jack, and Tom.”

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