Page 41 of Twilight Echoes
She burned her throat as she swallowed the scalding liquid, trying to cover a cough. “Just peachy.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Your mother and I were getting worried because you didn’t answer our messages.” He plopped a piece of bacon in his mouth and smiled. “Darrell was kind enough to, but it would have been nice to hear from my child.”
She’d seen Darrell’s text and it hadn’t said much. Only that they were awake and would be down shortly.
“Want to talk about it?” her father asked.
Sometimes coming from a close-knit family sucked. She remembered when her sister Amanda had moved in with Jackson so they could protect each other from black magic. Herfather had the nerve to bet how long it would take before they were sleeping together.
He won that bet. But it hadn’t been a fair wager. He had more information than her and the rest of her sisters. Had they known about the imprinting, they might not have believed it would have taken longer, if never.
“I do not.”
The oven timer went off. She grabbed the mitts and pulled out the French toast bake, setting it on the counter. It needed a few minutes to cool, and then she’d dig in. Her mother wouldn’t expect anyone to wait. Not on a morning like today.
“Darrell didn’t seem interested in discussing it either. I suppose it’s possible that the two of you were so preoccupied that you missed the double moon?” Her father waggled his brows. “When your mother and I were a young couple, we would?—”
“Oh my God. Daddy. I just can’t with you sometimes.” She covered her ears. “I don’t want to hear about my parents.”
“How do you think you came into this world?” He leaned against the sink, taking his mug from the counter, and lifted it to his lips.
“Not the point.” She shook her head, sucking in a deep breath. “How does this happen so fast? In the normal world, it would take a woman a few weeks before she knew. Not a few minutes later.”
“This is written in the stars.”
“Yeah, well, everything else happening to Darrell and his pack is not.” She opened the cupboard, grabbed a plate, and heaved a very large portion of carbs onto her plate. Normally, she wouldn’t dare eat like this right before the start of a new ballet.
But what difference did it make now.
“Nope. That’s black magic and someone’s evil will run amuck.”
“It’s so unfair and incredibly difficult to handle.” She set her plate aside and sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “One minute I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. The next I’m dying inside. It’s overwhelming, and as soon as I think I’ve processed it, my mind goes bonkers and my emotions run wild.” She swiped her cheeks. “And then Darrell starts in on the doom and gloom and wants to talk about what if he’s not here when… when… I can’t even say it.”
“Come here.” Her father held out his strong arms, and she succumbed to the need to be daddy’s little girl, even if only for a few precious minutes. He kissed the top of her head as he held her close. “I know this isn’t what you wanted right now. But are you going to look me in the eye and tell me that you didn’t want your soulmate to be Darrell? That someday you didn’t want him to return so you could fall in love, get married, and have a family.”
She couldn’t lie to her father. Not even if she wanted to. “Well, no.”
“Darrell’s scared. I suspect he feels as though he failed his father. Is failing as the alpha of his pack.” Her father tipped her chin. “And failing you. Add in the fact that right now, he’s technically dying and you’re pregnant. Well, that’s a lot for a young man to take on. He needs you and your strength. But he wants to be your rock. He’s an honorable man and feels as though it’s his responsibility to take care of you. To protect you. And his family. Him worrying that he might not be here to watch his children grow up is very real for him.”
“It’s very real for me too, Daddy.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
She bit back the sob that threatened to roar from deep in her throat. Last night had changed her life forever. She’d givenherself completely to Darrell. Nothing could change that, and she didn’t want to. “I don’t want to let him down, and I want to be there for him, but I can’t listen to him talk about it or make provisions for him not being around.”
“If today doesn’t go well, you might have to.” Her father squeezed her biceps.
Footsteps echoed from down the hallway.
“I need to go get changed,” her father said, stepping around her. “Eat some breakfast. I’ll be back down in about fifteen.”
He greeted Darrell with a nod. “Good morning, son.”
“Sir,” Darrell said.
Her father laughed. “Keep calling me that, and I’ll turn you into a toad.”
“Then Avery can kiss me, and I’ll turn into a prince,” Darrell said as he puffed out his chest and smiled with pride.
