“It’s called a bond group,” I say to Livi, gleefully defying my mother now. Normally, I’m just an absent asshole, literally not around. But apparently, claiming Mirth has already changed me. Because I’m here, and I’m fighting for the family I want now. Whether or not they’re blood related to me.
“Not a pack?”
“Nope. Only three of us are shifters.”
“And … all of you are together? But, um … isn’t Rian …”
“My long-lost brother? Yep. I’m not obligated to get anywhere near his dick, if that’s what’s bothering you.”
Livi slaps me on the shoulder. Hard.
“That’s enough,” my mother hisses. “The girls don’t need to hear this!”
Looking my mother dead in the eye, I add, “It’s Mirth who has to juggle us all. Well, as many of us as she wants.”
Livi’s mouth opens and closes a couple of times. Then a big fucking grin swamps her face, and she giggles. “Right fucking on, Mirth!”
Mirth’s face, already a little flushed, goes up in flames.
My younger sisters, Sophia and Emily, chattering excitedly, choose that moment to pretty much tumble into the kitchen. All long limbs and blazing smiles, they rush me, both jostling each other to be first.
They’re within reach when their senses catch up to their impulses and they realize that Mirth is in the kitchen as well.
They stumble to a halt, shriek in unison, and slam their hands over their mouths. Then they bow. Deeply.
Livi cackles. Loudly, and as mockingly as only an older sibling can be without saying a word.
Practically panicking, Emily, the elder of the two at fourteen, realizes her mistake first. She quickly curtsies instead and tries to tug Sophia to follow her lead. Instead, Sophia collapses on top of her sister, and they go down in a tangle of arms and legs.
I side-eye Mirth, noting that she’s actually struggling to maintain a straight face.
My mother slams the hot plate of pancakes down on the kitchen island so hard the plate cracks in two. A few pancakes slide onto the floor, tumbling to land at Mirth’s feet.
Silence settles over the kitchen. The girls peer up at all of us, slowly straightening.
“What’s wrong?” Sophia asks.
“What’s going on?” Emily says, overlapping her sister’s question.
Livi crosses her arms, abruptly irate though she was laughing her ass off a moment before. She leans against the kitchen island and all but snarls, “Mirth and Bolan are soul bound. They’re part of a bond group that includes our half-brother, Bolan and my dad’s kid, who Mom knew all about and hid from us all.”
Emily and Sophia turn wide eyes from Mirth and me to Livi, and then to our mother. A look of utter betrayal filters across Sophia’s face even as Emily’s energy shifts to match Livi’s.
“A brother!” Emily explodes.
My mother throws her oven mitts on the counter, one at a time, then she sweeps a look over us all. Her voice is cold and full of vitriol when she finally speaks.
“Bond groups are unnatural. A true commitment can only happen between one man and one woman. James wanted to bring another, younger woman here. He insisted she belonged with us. That she was his chosen, like I should be. When she was really just another wolf willing to whore herself out for position. It’s her own fault she cheated and got herself pregnant.”
Every word that falls from my mother’s lips completely alters my perception of her, of my childhood.
A terrible, heavy silence threads through the room. It’s full of confusion and a deep sadness. Mostly from Mirth, I think, because it’s my darling perfect princess who speaks first.
“I’m sorry you feel that way, Adeline.”
My mother swallows, her icy demeanor faltering a little. As if it’s okay to spew that shit to her children, but not to Her Royal Highness. “I … I understand that you are awry, Mirth. The rules are different for you.”
“Different how?” Livi asks. “Lots of wolves are polyamorous.”
