Page 66 of Pumpkin Patch Pack
She waves this away as if I’ve mentioned a minor disagreement about dinner plans. “Oh, Emma, you’re so dramatic. When you’re in heat, you have no idea who’s fuckingyou anyway. What difference does it make? At least this way you’d be helping his career.”
I stare at her, disgusted and hurt. “Is that what you did, Mother? Sold yourself during your heats to the highest bidder?”
Her expression hardens. “Don’t judge what you don’t understand. I did what I had to do to survive, and to put food in your mouth.”
“And I’m doing whatIhave to do to survive,” I counter. “Which includes staying as far away from Marcus as possible.”
“This is absurd,” she hisses, gesturing at the farm. “Look at this place. Look at you! Working on a farm, for God’s sake. This life is beneath you, Emma. Beneath us.”
“No, Mother. This life is real. These people are real.” I straighten my spine, drawing strength from the ground beneath my feet, from the scents of my mates that linger on my skin. “I’ve found something I never had with you or Marcus: respect. Safety. Belonging.”
“What you’ve found,” she sneers, “is a way to hide from your responsibilities. Marcus is willing to forgive your… indiscretion. He still wants to marry you.”
“I don’t care what Marcus wants,” I say. “I want you to leave. Now.”
“Emma—”
“Is everything alright here?”
Liam’s deep voice behind me sends a wave of relief through my body. I see him standing there, his large frame radiating protective energy. Beside him, Rowan watches with narrowed eyes, and Theo moves to stand at my other side, completing a protective circle around me.
My mother’s eyes widen as she takes in the three men, her nostrils flaring slightly as she catches their scents. Understanding dawns on her expression, followed quickly by calculation.
“Oh,” she says, looking between them and me. “I see. You’ve found yourself a… situation here.”
“These are my mates,” I say, with pride. “My pack.”
She laughs, the sound brittle and dismissive. “Your pack? Darling, be serious. What kind of future is there for you here? Dirt under your fingernails, hay in your hair, playing house with three country boys?” She leans closer, dropping her voice. “Marcus can give you everything. Security. Status. A real life in the city.”
“This is my real life,” I say firmly. “The one I’ve chosen. The one that makes me happy.”
“You ungrateful little—.” She cuts herself off, composing her features with visible effort. “Fine. Have it your way. But don’t come crying to me when this little fantasy falls apart.” She turns to leave, then pauses, looking back with a cold smile. “Oh, and Marcus asked me to tell you he’ll see you soon. He has something special planned.”
With that parting shot, she stalks back to her waiting car, Marty scrambling to follow. I watch them drive away, my mother’s words hanging in the air like poison.
“You okay?” Theo asks, his hand finding mine and squeezing gently.
I nod, though I’m trembling. “I’m sorry about that. About her.”
“Don’t apologize for her,” Rowan says, his voice tight with controlled anger. “That’s not on you.”
Liam doesn’t speak, but his hand rests, warm and steady, at the small of my back. Maple butts her head against my leg, bleating softly as if to add her support.
This is my family now.
28
Maple
Bad smell woman gone.
Good.
Apple girl still has hurt-sad smell, like mud on hooves.
Pack-males make comfort sounds and gentle touches, but hurt smell lingers.
Maple knows this feeling. Before big warm Liam, there was Bad Place. People who said mean words, threw things.
