Page 39 of Lavender and Lightning

“You’ll what, Diane? Kidnap me? Force me back home where you can lock me up and throw away the key?” I throw back, my voice cracking. I can’t hold back the fear and panic any longer.

“Your father would have to make that decision. He’s already upset with your lack of communication with your pack, so I don’t think he’d disagree with me if he found out how disrespectful you’ve been. It’s time for you to end this little tantrum and do the adult thing for once in your life, or have you not done enough damage to our family name?”

I drop my forehead into my hand, shoulders shaking as I try to get control over my emotions again. The disappointment in her voice cuts me straight to my core, and it’s like I’m back there again. Back where she’s convincing me to return to my abuser. Back when everything wrong with my relationship was my fault. Like this is my fault.

I’m pulled from my spiral of misery as Mateo’s hand gently moves the phone away from my face and holds it out in front of him, where I watch him press the speakerphone button.

“I really think it would be for the best if you did some praying over all of this, Lydia. You’ve clearly lost your way and I’m sure if you came home and–”

“That isn’t going to happen, Diane,” Mateo interrupts, voice deeper and colder than I’ve ever heard from him.

“What? Who are you? Where is my daughter?” she squawks frantically.

“I am one of Lydia’s alphas, and she doesn’t answer to you anymore,” Mateo goes on, low and dangerous.

I shiver despite myself as Mateo’s claim makes my heart flutter. My world is falling apart, but hearing him stepping up and protecting me still warms my chest and loosens the tight knot in my stomach.

“Her alpha is in my pack, not some—”

“That piece of shit lost his claim on Lydia the moment he touched her without her consent, omega.” My mother’s protests are cut off in a choking sputter as the rumble of his growl fills the space. And despite the seriousness of this dire situation, seeing Mateo furious in my defense makes my lower belly clench.

“Now you listen very closely, Diane. If you or anyone else comes near Lydia with intent of doing her harm, Pack St. Clair will make your life a living hell. If you try to contact her again, I will personally destroy everything you hold dear. Do you understand me?”

The silence on the other side of the line is deafening, and only her harsh breathing tells me that she hasn’t hung up. I look up into Mateo’s face, but his eyes stay fixed on my phone, his glare molten enough that my mother could probably feel it four states away.

“We’ll just see about that. You just give the phone back to my daughter–”

“Anything you have to say to her, you say to me first. I’m done listening to you abuse her.” Mateo’s snarl is soft, almost a whisper, but it’s sharp enough to cut through my mother’s false bravado.

“Fine. I’m going to be praying for her. For both of you.”

The line goes dead before either of us gets the chance to respond. Silence descends, thick and heavy with everything that just happened. Mateo’s breathing and my own little pants are the only sounds filling the room.

“I called Rhett. Your brother told him last night, and he’s told Lex. They’re trying to figure out what our next move is,” Mateo says in a low monotone.

I nod and reach a shaky hand out for my phone.

“What are you doing?” Mateo asks, confused.

I don’t answer, simply pulling up my brother’s number and pressing the dial button and setting it to speaker. He picks up on the second ring.

“Lydi, holy hell! Listen, Mom—”

“Mom knows. She just called me,” I finish, closing my eyes as tears form again.

“I’m so fucking sorry. I’ve been careful about not leaving my phone anywhere, but I think she got your new number from the bill,” he continues, his frustration leaking through.

“She said Dad is pissed and might force me back home?” I ask, swallowing thickly.

“Jesus, no. He doesn’t know what’s going on. She’s bluffing her ass off. Listen, are you safe? I called your boyfriend–well,oneof your boyfriends–and he said you were out of town.”

I look up at Mateo, who’s staring at me with a question in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, I nod once.

“Hello, Jason. My name is Mateo, one of Lydia’s boyfriends, and she’s safe with me,” he says with a little ironic chuckle.

“Oh, um, hello. I guess it’s good to meet you. Were you the one in the—”

“Article? Yeah, unfortunately our pack is sort of famous, and the local gossip rag isn’t bothered with things like privacy or ethics if it gets clicks and sells papers.”

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