Page 39 of Becoming the Alpha

“Lily?” Jessica’s small voice called. She looked at me in disbelief, her small face covered partly by her limp brown hair. There were dark circles under her eyes and dirt smudged all over her. I turned to the older woman to the right of her, noticing that she was as dirty as my sister. My mom looked on the verge of passing out, her face terrifyingly pale. She was basically skin and bones, like she hadn’t had enough to eat the entire time I was gone. She reached out to me, her arm straightening half way before she quickly retracted it.

“Mom?” My voice broke. That’s all it took for the spell to break and all three of us flew together, tears falling freely. My mom kissed my head and face over and over. Jessica wrapped her arms around my waist and gripped me tightly, sobbing into my shoulder. I wrapped an arm around my mother kissing her back and an arm around Jessica, kissing the top of her head.

“Lily?” Jason’s voice floated toward me. I turned to look at him over my shoulder. He gave me a soft look. “We’re going to head to the dining room. Join us when you guys are ready?”

I nodded, mouthing THANK YOU as everyone behind him slipped out. He put both hands over his heart and dipped his head toward me, keeping eye contact. He slipped out and closed the door softly behind him. I turned back to my mom and sister, wiping my tears off my face.

“When did you guys get here?”

Jessica rolled her eyes, smacking me lightly on the shoulder. “I haven’t seen your ass in a year and a half after watching you get dragged away, kicking and screaming, and that’s the first thing you have to say to us?”

My mom clicked her tongue and narrowed her eyes at Jessica. “Language, Jess.”

“Come on, Mom! You know I’m right. It’s bullshit!”

“Jess, come on. I know you’re upset.”

“No!” Jessica whipped away from us, standing up and pacing the room. She shoved her hands through her hair. Her eyes were wide and wild. I glanced at my mom who just gave me a sad smile and softly shook her head. I cleared my throat and stood up, approaching Jessica like she was a wild animal.

“Jess? Jessie?”

“You don’t understand, Lily. You have no idea how upset I am. You were kidnapped! I watched them drag you into the forest. It wasmyfault they took you. It should have beenme! I’m so sorry. You should hate me. Oh! I know, I’ll stay here and you go home with Mom. I can take your place,” Jessica said, looking at me with hope, tears streaming down her face again. I give her a small smile, grabbing her hands and bringing them close to me.

“Jess, you can’t take my place and even if you could, I’d never want you to. It wasn’t your fault. I let you taunt me to go into those woods when it was dangerous. You have nothing to be sorry for and there’s no way I could hate you. I’m so glad you guys got through everything okay. I swear I’m okay,” I assured her. Of course, I knew it was going to take a lot more assurances to get her to give up the guilt she carried around, but I was just happy that they were here. I squeezed Jessica’s hands again and turned back to my mother. She was still sitting on the floor, not even bothering to hide her sorrow or the tears she was crying.

I walked over to her and offered her my hands. She took them and I helped her stand up. “Mom, I’ve missed you so much. I’m so happy both of you are here.” I wrapped her in another big hug.

“Me too, honey. We thought the worst and I can’t believe you’re actually standing in front of me. When they collected us from the farm, we thought it was the end of the line for us. We haven’t been able to pay the taxes for some time now and thought the King was coming to have us executed or worse,” My mom said. She shook in my arms and her voice wavered, even though she kept her volume low, like she wasn’t sure who could be listening. I didn’t want to burst her bubble and tell her that all of the pack members and Royal Guards who were in the vicinity could probably hear every word she said even with the lowered sound.

I pulled out of her arms and gave her a watery smile. “You’re safe here. I promise you. The King is dead.”

Both Jessica and my mom gasped. I raised an eyebrow. “I’m not really sure what that reaction is for? It’s not like the King was a good man.”

“Who is the new King?” Jessica asked, eyeing me.

I cleared my throat, shifting my weight. I avoided her gaze when I realized that my cheeks were heating again. “Uh…that would be Jason who is now the King.”

“And…who is Jason to you, Big Sister?” Jessica asked, a hint of teasing in her tone. I scowled, my soul feeling light when I heard her laugh ring out. I took a deep breath, knowing they weren’t going to react to my news in a positive manner.

“Jason is my mate.”

Jessica frowned, but my mom’s eyes opened wide with what was clearly panic. I frowned at her. “Mom?”

She backed up, shaking her head. Jessica and I shared a look, rushing toward her. We lowered her to the ground, where she hugged her knees and slightly rocked back and forth.

“Jason!” I called out, keeping my eyes plastered on my mom.

41

Jason

I burst through the door the second Lily called for me. I took in the scene before me quickly and then moved to Lily’s side. I wrapped an arm around her waist, frowning down at her mom. “What happened?”

“I-I don’t really know. I told her about you being the new King and my mate. She immediately shut down. I was still building up to the fact that I’m now a wolf shifter, too.” Lily said, turning to me with questions in her eyes.

“What!”

Lily and I jumped, wincing as Jessica’s screech hurt our sensitive ears. She crossed her arms, completely ignoring the loud, long miserable-sounding moan that came from her mom on the floor. Lily grimaced and glanced at me. I squeezed her closer to me, attempting to give her support where I could.

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