Page 8 of A Mate Betrayed

“Precisely,” Savannah replied.“Shifter children can’t integrate as foster kids.They have to stay with our kind.But finding homes for them can be a little tricky since most packs are isolated.”

Savannah walked behind her counter and grabbed a few more jars.Then, in a mortar dish, she added all the ingredients and mixed it with the pestle.Then she added the concoction to a mesh bag.

“Drink this tea,” she instructed.“It will sever that fragile cord and leave you free to find a chosen mate.”

Kinleigh smiled happily.“You have any hot water?”

****

Daire pulled his truckinto the garage of his house and shut off the engine.Grabbing several folders resting on the passenger seat, he hopped out of the cab and entered his house.The idea of a date night excited him.It’d been too long since he enjoyed a female’s company.

He tossed the folders onto his kitchen table and then made his way to his bedroom.Stripping off his dirty clothes, he tossed them into the laundry basket and stepped into the shower.Hot water cascaded down his body as he lathered up his hands to wash every inch of himself, while thoughts of Kinleigh Shire filled his head.He hoped they could have a little fun before she went back to her pack.

As he stepped out of the shower, his cell rang.Wrapping a towel around his waist, he hurried to his nightstand where his phone rested.The number that flashed made him pause.

Fuck!He really didn’t want to answer it, but guilt was a nasty bitch.Swearing under his breath, he accepted the call.

“Daire?”

The fragile voice made him cringe.He didn’t want to talk to her.Hell, he even went out of his way to avoid thinking about her.Guess he couldn’t dodge her forever.

“Hello, Evonne,” he greeted.

“Is she with you?”

He sighed.“No, Evonne.She’s dead.Remember?”

She was silent for a moment, then the sobs came through.“Not my baby.Not my baby.”

“Evonne, where is your doctor?”

She just kept crying.

“Evonne!”he said louder.“Where’s your doctor?”

Finally, some noise and the obvious sound of the phone being taken away.

“Hello?”a male voice asked.“Mr.Nolin?”

“Yes, Doc.”

“I’m sorry about this,” he said.“She’s allowed cell phone privilege once a month.”

“I know,” Daire remarked.“But I have no answers for her.Maybe you should revoke her phone privilege because she’s not getting better if she still thinks she can talk to Nicola.”

“Actually, I’m thinking about sending her to a new facility in upstate New York,” the doctor said.“Her psychosis is expanding.She’s living in the past more and more.”

“If you think it’s best, then I support that decision.”

“All right.I’ll start the paperwork and will send it when I have everything organized.Good night, Mr.Nolin.”

“Good night.”

He disconnected the call, and then stood there.His mind traveled back in time, to when he’d found his moon-fated mate and everything made sense.He’d been happy for an infinitesimal moment that ended far too soon.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed all that to the side.He was going to have a nice evening out with a beautiful woman.Maybe he would visit Savannah in order to finally break free from the lingering pain and sorrow festering in his soul.After all, how could he find happiness again if he was stuck in the past?

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