Page 143 of Demise

Liam cackles as he sweeps his arms out dramatically.

“After you,” he says to Rachel, and she nods approvingly before leading us to the back room.

Shelves are stacked all the way to the ceiling on either side of us, filled with extra jars, crystals and stones, as well as herbs. A small table is to the left as we move deeper, assumingly where Rachel assembles everything. Finally, we come to a small office. She opens the door and allows Liam and I to step inside first. Confused, I do before my feet cement into place.

What. The. Fuck.

At first, I don’t know what I’m looking at, because how can I be seeing this? This has to be a dream or a hallucination. Something. I grab the inside of my wrist, pinching hard. Shit, not a dream. That means…

“Mom?” I choke out, my eyes running over the blonde woman standing before me.

I’ve only ever seen pictures of her, but it’s like she hasn’t aged a day, and my god, people were not exaggerating when they said I look just like her.

Her green eyes instantly fill with tears as Liam whispers under his breath, “Holy fuck.”

“My girl,” she says before swallowing roughly.

That’s all she can do before I’m rushing to her, full on body slamming her as I wrap my arms around her and sob. Her arms encase me as she begins to cry. Her smell is so calming, like a mixture of vanilla, coconut and a hint of sandalwood. I find myself nuzzling my head into her neck as if I can get closer to her, cling to her harder, and she does the same to me.

Our bodies shake with silent tears before she pulls back and cups my face, looking me over before shaking her head.

“My Goddess, you’ve grown into such a beautiful woman.”

“So have you,” I say with a choked smile.

“My girl. My perfect baby girl,” she says as she cups my face.

I lean into her touch, a loud sob ripping out of me. Apparently, it was too loud because a commotion sounds, followed by several feet pounding through the shop’s wooden floors.

“NO!” Rachel shouts. “You can’t be back here!”

All the guys blow past her, spilling into the room to see what is the matter, but all stop on their heels when they see who is in front of me. Four pairs of eyes, all the size of saucers, as they stare.

“What the fuck is going on?” Ronan asks.

Wesley is shaking his head as Asher and Vincent continue to stare. My mom pushes me behind her protectively, standing in front of them with her shoulders back and head held high.

“She said leave.”

“It’s okay,” I say softly. “These are…well…”

“We’re her boyfriends, well, he’s her husband,” Liam says as he points to Asher before pointing to himself. “But I’m the favorite. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he says as he reaches his hand out for my mom.

Hesitantly, she takes it, shaking it slowly before her eyes assess all of the guys.

“All of them?” she questions.

I’ve never felt so insecure as I do right now. The idea of her not approving of them, of me, of how I’ve chosen to live my life. It gnaws at my stomach until her eyes come back to me.

“So many strong men to protect my baby. Have they done a good job?” she asks.

I smile softly and nod, and so does she, holding me to her once more. We stay like that for several seconds before I speak against her white cotton shirt.

“Mom?”

“Yes, baby?”

“How is this possible? I mean, how are you not dead? Even Steph believes you are. My dad definitely believes so…everyone does. How are you…not?”

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