Page 43 of Knot Their Valentine

“Quin didn't deserve that,” I start as I step into the kitchen and stand before them. Both of their scents are sour with hurt and anger. The most prominent thing I sense, though, is guilt.

“I'm so sorry,” my mother shakes her head, swiping at the tears streaming down her cheeks. She sniffs, so I reach for the box of tissues we keep on the counter, handing them to her.

“I believe you.” I don't tell her that it's okay because it's not. I don't say I forgive her because I don't. I can't.

Because I choose my pack. I choose my mate. I choose the life that we could have with Harlow.

And I do choose Harlow. Not because her mother wants me to, not so that we could, maybe, one day have babies.

Not for any reason other than the fact that we just care about her.

We love her.

We want to be with her.

We want her in our pack.

And I'm sure as fuck not going to let these two ruin that.

“But believing you doesn't make what happened any better. It doesn't change the years that you've spent resenting Quin. It doesn't change the amount of time you’ve spent trying to force me and Harlow together. It doesn't erase the last eleven months I spent wondering how I was going to convince you to accept Quin.” I shake my head, crossing my arms over my chest because at the end of the day, I'm still an Alpha, and I don't enjoy watching my mother cry.

My instincts are urging me to hug her. To offer her comfort when I know the best thing for her right now is for her to sit with this feeling.

To let it sink in.

“I can't offer you forgiveness. That's not for me to give you. What you've done has hurt me, yes. But more than that, it's hurt my pack. It’s hurt my mate. And it's hurt Harlow. Quinton is the only reason that she agreed to stay in this apartment. He's the one that was here when she needed someone. He comforted her and offered her support. Friendship.” I point down the hall behind me. “That Omega down there, loves Harlow,” I tell them what I've known all along. “He is her center, and she is his. Without both of them, Lachlan and I have no center. No pack. No bond.”

I shake my head at them in disappointment.

“I didn't realize…” Emily murmurs.

“How could you? You spend half your time trying to convince yourself that Harlow is someone that she isn't and the other half trying to turn her into someone else. You've never considered simply accepting who she is.” I let out a long sigh when Emily flinches.

“I understand. I'm-I'm so sorry, Caelum.” My mother nods her head, tightens her hold on her purse, and turns to Emily. “We should go.”

Emily nods, but as they turn to leave, I clear my throat.

“The key,” I say, holding my hand out, palm up. My mother nods, pulling the key out of her purse and placing it in my hand. “This was supposed to be for emergencies, not so you could just barge into the apartment at any point just because you felt like it.”

“We just wanted to see how Harlow was settling in…” Emily trails off when she sees the look on my face. “Obviously, we were misguided, and overstepped our boundaries, I suppose.”

I raise my brow at her, “You suppose?”

I let the corner of my mouth tip up slightly, not quite a smirk or a smile but just enough to lighten some of the tension between the three of us.

I'm not letting either of them off the hook, but I also don't want them to think that I'm not willing to give them another chance. Of course, that's entirely dependent on what Harlow and Quin decide they want.

“I'll see you both soon.” I nod, escorting them out the door. I give them a few moments to get a few steps away before I shut the door and lock it. I'll have to change this lock, of course, because I know both of those women certainly have a copy of the key.

And I wouldn't put it past them to absolutely use it again if we are able to successfully repair this relationship.

They are still our mothers, after all. And we can only expect them to change so much. They do have their limits, I think.

I take another deep breath, steadying myself. Walking back to Harlow’s room to get my pack mates, I’m ready to claim our girl. I'm not sure where Harlow’s run off to, but we'll follow her scent.

And then we'll bring her home and make her ours for good.

Chapter Twelve

---