Page 51 of Mismatched Mates

“No,” Mom said firmly, stroking my hair. I needed to pull myself together for when the boys came home, but right then, they weren’t there and I didn’t have anyone relying on me.

I felt like an old tree, cracking and bending until it finally broke.

If this was what it meant to have a mate, I didn’t want one.

JANE

Two weeks later

The door swung open, and I was hit by a wall of noise and warmth that made me want to retreat back into the frigid evening air. My house had apparently been invaded by a small army while I was at work.

"Mom! You’re home!" Lance's voice cut through the racket as he barreled past me. Brandon, hot on his heels, slid across the hardwood floor. Apparently they were engaged in an impromptu chase of some sort.

I blinked, trying to process the scene before me. Toys were strewn across every surface, the air thick with the rich aroma of beef stew simmering away. And there, lounging in the living room like they owned the place, were Luke, Victoria, and... my mother? Two times in two weeks was a bit much.

"Surprise!" Mom chirped, her smile a touch too bright. "We thought we'd pop by for a visit."

I narrowed my eyes. "All of you? At once? How... convenient."

Luke chuckled. "Come on, Jane. Can't a guy just want to hang out with his favorite bear?"

"Sure," I drawled, kicking off my boots. "And I'm secretly a unicorn shifter."

As I moved further into the living room and towards the kitchen, long shadows danced across the walls, courtesy of the early winter sunset outside. It should have felt warm, inviting. Instead, my stomach churned with suspicion.

"Alright, spill," I said, crossing my arms. "What's really going on here?"

Victoria, bless her, at least had the decency to look a little guilty. "We just wanted to check in on you, sweetie. See how you're doing."

"Uh-huh." I raised an eyebrow. "And it takes all of you to do that?"

The boys chose that moment to race back into the room, a whirlwind of energy that made my head spin. How did they still have so much life in them after a full day of school and soccer practice?

“Sit down,” Mom fussed, steering me away from the kitchen and back into the living room. “Let me put the TV on.”

“What?..”

“Good idea,” Luke said too enthusiastically, squishing up beside me. “Here, you switch it on, Tori.” The three of them were exchanging glances, a silent conversation happening right under my nose.

Victoria snatched the remote out of the air from where he tossed it to her, and switched the TV on to the local news channel.

"Okay, seriously," I said, planting my hands on my hips. "What aren't you telling me? Because if this isanotherintervention, I swear I'll shift right here and hibernate until spring."

Lance and Brandon fought over the armchair in the corner, only for both to end up taking it, squished together awkwardly.Mom hovered in the doorway, and Luke put his arm around my shoulders. “Just shut up and watch,” he said, nudging me in the side.

I opened my mouth to argue back, but at that precise moment, the picture changed to one of Grant—a face I'd been trying desperately to forget.

Grant Elston, looking unfairly handsome and composed, smiled into the camera. My heart did a traitorous little flip in my chest.

"Oh," I managed, my voice suddenly hoarse. "I see.” And just like that, I understood why my living room was currently hosting a small shifter convention.

It was clear that this was halfway through an interview, with Grant standing outside Sentinel headquarters. The building loomed like some sort of futuristic fortress, all gleaming glass and sleek angles. A largeSadorned the front, making it look like some kind of supervillain’s lair.

I turned to Luke. “Turn it off. Please.”

“Now, there have been some rumors about your current relationship status,” the interviewer asked, and I went cold all over. Goosebumps erupted across my skin. Now my personal life was going to be aired on local TV. Perfect. Everyone was going to know that he had publicly fucked me over.

Grant tilted his head, a little like he was cracking his neck.

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