Page 13 of The Wolf and the Chimera
“Good.” She smiled softly. “We’re on the same page for once.”
The front door opened, and the Sovereign’s voiceboomed in a sickeningly cordial greeting. Judging by his boisterous laughter, one would’ve thought he was stopping by to chat with old friends, not here to wreak havoc on the family he’d broken apart years ago.
“I don’t want to go anywhere with that man,” I said, “for your or my sake.”
Elle squeezed my hand. “Do you have a better plan?”
As my frustration boiled over, my skin itched with the urge to shift. I focused on Elle’s delicate hand in mine and forced down the instinct.
“We’ll go with them,” I decided, “but we give them no information—not about Cordelia, your magic, or the sorceress. I don’t think my mother would intentionally hurt me.”
She’s never cared enough to do that.
I silenced the pitiful thought and continued. “But we need to have our guards up, and we only stay with them until we figure out our next move.”
Elle nodded, and a warm hand clasped my shoulder in a gentle grip. With a face lined by determination, Maren stood over me and tucked her long, graying hair behind her ear.
“You’re not alone, pup,” she promised. “Your father is doing what Alphas do and making the best decisions for the pack, but he forgets it isourchoice to risk our lives for you and the one you love, not his.”
Others nodded solemnly and gathered closer to us. Their devotion stunned me. I couldn’t speak past the weight in my chest.
“Your loyalty is inspiring,” Elle said with a teary smile. “I hope to one day be deserving of it, but I will not risk such wonderful people so I may hide a while longer.”
I looked over each and every familiar face. Some of them were cousins, but all of us were family. These people had raised me and loved me, even when my own mother failed to do the same. I couldn’t put them at the High Witch’s mercy.
Though I hated it, Dad was right.
The dining room door swung open, and there she was.
My mother.
Standing in the doorway, her brownish-red hair was swept into a messy ponytail. As her gaze immediately found mine, a smile lit her pale face, and she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. She wore oversized Levi’s jeans and a Pink Floyd t-shirt, both of which were stained by paint. I guessed losing contact with her oldest son hadn’t killed her artistic streak. The only thing about her that had changed in the four years since our last interaction were the laugh lines around her green eyes.
I guessed she spent a lot of time laughing with her second family.
“Ryder,” she greeted.
The wolves between us gathered closer, and Maren placed herself in front of me.
“Come on, you guys,” I forced myself to say. “Let’s give the Sovereign’s mate a proper greeting.”
For a moment, I feared they wouldn’t listen. Tension hung in the air, and nobody moved. My heartrate sped. If they failed to show my mother the appropriate respect, I feared the Sovereign would punish them.
Maren bowed her head. “Welcome, Lady Kalli.”
After a beat of hesitation, the other murmured similar greetings and filed into the foyer to meet the Sovereign. As they left, my mother nodded and offered her own greetings, but her gaze hung on Elle.
“Elle, right?” my mother said. “It’s lovely to meet you. I’m Kalli.”
She stepped closer, and I moved in front of Elle.
Kalli stumbled to a stop and swallowed.
“I would never hurt you,” she promised. I fought back a bitter laugh. “Neither of you. We’re here to help.”
“Whereisyour delightful other half?” I asked. “He doesn’t want to see us?”
Kalli crossed her arms. “I asked Lyall to let us talk first.”
