Page 220 of Dream Mates
I made the introductions. Mercy and Riley were deep in conversation. Tru trotted over to the hole Riley had dug and picked up some of the sand toys.
“I’m sorry to crash your pack beach day, but Tru was crying last night because Creed wouldn’t bring her to see you, since he has to get back to Natty for finals and shit. And well, when Mom rolled in drunk this morning, things literally started to fly. Dare took Pax and Chance to the park, Verity took Hope to the arboretum, and Mercy and I took Tru because they don’t need to see that shit,” Hale told me quietly.
“Oh. I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause problems with your pack.” My belly twisted.
Wes put his arm around me, sending me love through the bond.
“This isn’t your fault,” Hale told me. “Mercy and I don’t want to be around Mom right now, anyway. Besides, I want to work on my tan.”
“Are you Adriana’s? I don’t know the whole family tree yet,” I said softly.
“Yeah. Creed’s Dad and Mumsy’s, Mercy and I are Mom and Dad’s, Verity, Dare, and Chance are Mama and Baba’s, and Tru, Pax, and Hope are Dad and Harry’s,” he explained. “Well, Dad and Harry had help, but you know what I mean.”
So much to remember.
I looked over and saw Mercy and Riley helping Tru build a sandcastle. If they were staying, I should order them some food, since our lunch would be here soon.
“Well, welcome,” Brennan said. “It’s probably best to get the younger kids away from any fighting.”
“Yeah, yesterday was scary enough,” Hale replied. “At least the littles didn’t really understand. It freaked Mercy out though, since she just had that assembly.”
My shoulders rounded. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s Mom’s fault.” Hale made a face. “I don’t know why she’s so upset. You’re an adult, it’s not like you’d come live with us.”
I’m sure she hoped I had inherited those illegal genetics, and then she’d be rid of me and whatever problems I represented. But I wasn’t about to say that.
“I’m glad Dad finally found you, and…” For a moment Hale looked anxious. “He really wants to get to know you. For all the mistakes he made when he was younger, Dad really tries to be a good guy. Also, Harry’s made him a whole lot better.”
“That’s nice to know. I’d like to see him when he comes to Rockland. Maybe I can show him my work,” I replied.
Hale laughed. “Oh, you should. If Creed gets the job, you should absolutely hire Mercy and Dare as interns. Might be good for them to get away for the summer.”
“That’s a thought.” Maybe Mercy and Riley could go to skate smash camp together. I still felt awful at the idea of their pack fighting so badly the older ones got the little ones out of the house.
“Come build a sandcastle with us,” Riley yelled, waving me over.
“If you’ll excuse me.” I turned.
“Grace?” Hale’s voice went rough. “What happened?”
Right, I wasn’t wearing my cover up, so the scars on my back were on display.The woman your mother gave me to did this.But I couldn’t bring myself to say it. It wasn’t his fault.
“It was a long time ago.” I squeezed Wes’ hand then went over to the girls. “Mercy, Tru, we just ordered lunch, do you want something?”
They told me what they wanted and what to get for Hale, and I went inside the cabana to place the order.
Wes’ arms wrapped around me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I should try to get to know my siblings. I just feel awful that everyone is fighting.” I finished entering the order on the wall-mounted order tablet.
“Not your fault, Grace. That pack sounds like it has issues.” Wes kissed my neck.
“Do packs get divorced?” I frowned, leaning into him. Through the doorway I saw Hale playing flying disc with Jett and Evan. Would the other kids resent me if I was the reason their family broke apart?
“Sometimes. It all depends on how it’s formed and who’s bonded to whom,” Wes said. “My dad just picked us up and left. Given what you told me, the professor probably has legal grounds to un-bond Adriana. They might kick her out, or he could just take the younger ones and move with whatever mates he wants to stay with.”
“It’s all so much.” Closing my eyes, I sighed. The cabana still smelled like sex and anxiousness shot through me.
