Page 42 of His Place in the World
“I’m not going anywhere,” Angus promised.
Del believed him.Angus was nothing like Del’s mother, and he wouldn’t abandon him.Hell, he’d had trouble leaving the Wakefield pack, and they weren’t even his family.
The house was silent as Del walked inside.It was unusual, and he wondered where his sister was.Maybe with their mother.Del had a hard time believing Pamela was here for him and Doyle, but he could believe she was here for Cora.Cora was only six and cute as a button.If Pamela wanted to be a mother, Cora would be the easiest way for her to make that happen.
“Cora is at a play date,” Matt whispered as they walked into the house.“And I asked Tyler to stay in his room.”
Del breathed easier.“That’s good to know.Are the other child’s parents aware they shouldn’t bring Cora home?”
“I texted them and Cam to let them know what was going on.”
With that out of the way, Del felt more confident as he walked into the living room.He wasn’t surprised to find Pamela there rather than in the kitchen.The kitchen in their house was where the family gathered most often, and it would have felt too intimate for Pamela to be there.
She was scrolling on her phone, but she looked up from where she was sitting on the couch when she heard Del.For a moment, there was no recognition in her gaze.She looked almost bored, but then her eyes widened, and she got to her feet as she put her phone away in her handbag.
“Del?”she asked.
Del stopped where he was.He wasn’t about to hug her or anything like that.He didn’t trust her, and the only thing he wanted from her was for her to leave.
“You’ve grown so much since the last time I saw you.You had to be ten or eleven.”
Del gritted his teeth.“Fourteen.It’s when you brought Cora home.”
Pamela didn’t seem offended.“I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”Del asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Everything.I was never a mother to you and your siblings, and I realize now how wrong it was.”
“Is that why you’re here?To be a mother?”
“If you’ll let me.I want to atone for what I did to you.None of it was right, and I hope that eventually you’ll forgive me, but I won’t push for you to.I only ask for a chance to make you see that I’ve changed.”
Del didn’t believe one word she was saying.He didn’t care how eager she appeared.There was no way she was here just because she wanted to be a mother.
She’d had fifteen years to do so.Even when she’d still lived with them, she’d never been a real mother.Del hadn’t really missed her after she’d left because she’d always been distant and uncaring, maybe because she’d been so young when she’d had Del and Doyle.Del didn’t care why she’d behaved that way.Matt had been young, too, but he’d always been a great father.
Del wanted to tell Pamela to leave and that he never wanted to see her again, but he couldn’t forget what his father had said.Would Pamela really try to take Cora away if they didn’t go along with what she wanted?Del had no idea.He didn’t know his mother.He didn’t know why she was here or what she was planning.He just knew there was something more to this than what she was saying and that he probably wouldn’t find out unless he acted as if he was giving her a chance.
He sucked in a breath.“I don’t know if I can ever forgive you,” he said slowly.
“I just need you to try.It’s a lot to ask for,” she said, her voice soft.
She moved around the coffee table and toward Del as if she was about to hug him.Del’s skin crawled at the thought, and he reached back, pulling his mate forward.He wrapped an arm around Angus’s waist and held him close, thankful that it meant Pamela couldn’t hug him.
She wrinkled her nose.“And who’s that?”she asked.
“My mate.”
Her eyes widened.“Is that why you moved here?I was surprised when I realized that you and your father left with the pack.”
“We live here because it’s home.”
“Of course.”But she seemed perturbed, which in Del’s eyes was yet another sign that suggested she was up to something.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Angus said.“I’m Angus.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, too.I can’t wait to get to know you better.What kind of shifter are you?”
