Page 3 of Destined Bear
Mom may have thought she was the only one suffering out there in the loneliness of Nottery, where the exiled and unsavory usually go to live out their lives without the benefit of any pack’s protection. But that wasn’t the reason I went, and my mother had followed me.
My reason for moving there had been a point of pride, a silent plea to Emeric to do the right thing.
I should have known that day would never come, every day a stabbing reminder to my heart that he had never cared about anything more than his own giant ego.
My lack of response speaks volumes to my mother.
“Oh, get over yourself, Viv. It’s been more than five years. It’s time you moved on. I’m sure Emeric doesn’t even remember what happened anymore.”
I bet he doesn’t, but I sure do. Knowing Emeric, he probably doesn’t even remembermeanymore.
Eager to change the subject, I turn my head toward the cluttered, messy bedroom, a scowl touching my lips.
“This place is a pigsty.” I look over at Millie, who hangs her head in shame, and another flash of guilt slices through me, even before my mother lets me have it.
Mom’s eyes narrow into slits, anger shooting sparks in my direction. “Maybe if you’d come sooner, Millie wouldn’t have had to bear the brunt of taking care of me all on her own.”
I should have seen that coming, but in my haste to shift topics, it was the first thing I could think of to say. It was uncalled for, but I can’t bring myself to apologize. I’m always the one who’s expected to apologize.
“Let me bring my stuff in, and I’ll make something to eat,” I mutter. “And start cleaning up.”
“No. You’ll go make your presence known to the Alpha.” Mom’s voice is stronger than it’s been since I arrived. “I won’t have anyone thinking I’m harboring a fugitive here.”
My eyes pop at the ridiculousness of her statement. “Fugitive?” I repeat. “I’mnota fugitive!”
“Then stop skulking around like one and go to Emeric’s ranch.” I walked right into that setup.
“No!” The word slips out before I can stop it. Mom struggles to sit up again, and I press my hands gently against her shoulders to set her back. “Lie down. Stop being crazy.”
Her eyes glitter as she studies me. “I have a certain reputation to uphold here, Vivienne. Why do you think I came back? I am an elder, and as such, I bear certain responsibilities to the Willow Grove pack. They put the historical society back together for me, and now look at me!” She gestures vaguely at the bed where we sit. “I stayed in Nottery with you for five years, but my place is here, with my pack. I won’t have you sully our family’s name.”
I bite my tongue so hard, I’m shocked that I don’t taste blood. How is she supposed to do anything while she’s in this bed, hooked up to machines?
As if she’s reading my mind, she adds, “And if I can’t maintain our family’s good name, you’ll have to take over.”
My jaw slacks, not fully comprehending her meaning. “What’s that supposed to mean? I only came back here to help take care of you. I am not taking on any kind of official role in the pack!”
She snorts loudly. “If you’re so concerned about me, where have you been all these months?” Sarcasm drips from her words.
More shame washes through me, and I glance back at Millie, who averts her eyes. “Mom?—”
“I don’t need your excuses,” she cuts me off. “Go to the Alpha. Do you know he almost mated with someone from the Ember Hollow pack?”
An unexpected pang of jealousy cuts through me so intensely, I almost cry out. I had most certainly not known that. “What?”
She isn’t saying it to be cruel, but to show me how close I’d come to losing Emeric. But I had already lost the Alpha long ago when he had rejected my suggestion of a truce with Ember Hollow. My position had been demeaned and belittled, showing that I meant nothing to the pack, and even less to him.
His ridicule still stings all these years later.
“It didn’t work out between them, though.” Mom yawns loudly. “Lovely female, but she was a fated mate to another Alpha.” Mom’s eyes close now, telling me that the conversation is draining her. “Go to the ranch and don’t come back until he knows you’re here inourhouse.”
Her breathing slows, and the light snore indicates she’s sleeping already. I gesture for Millie to follow me out of the bedroom and into the hallway, out of Mom’s ever-vigilant earshot. Even though I’m almost certain she’s asleep, you never really know with Circe.
She is an elder, after all, and those folks have all kinds of tricks up their sleeves. For all I know, she absorbs every word we speak in her sleep, anyway.
Like I could ever fill Mom’s shoes if anything were to happen to her. It would take far more years of wisdom for me to keep up with that—if not decades. I’m not sure I ever could.
“What’s going on?” I ask Millie as we head toward the front of the house. “I don’t want vague answers.”
