Page 41 of Knot All Is Lost: Part 2

My Alpha started to purr, rubbing his cheek on my head in comfort. Then Rafael appeared before me, kneeling to meet my gaze. “Cambrie, remember when I told you sometimes conflict is good and healthy for people to have?”

I nodded. “That’s what’s happening right now. Savo is a new Alpha entering our family. While he’s gained your trust and respect during your time together, it's going to take some time for everyone else to find where they fit. It’s just our family going through growing pains, no one is going to leave or hate each other at the end of this. Those two need to test each other’s boundaries and know how far they can push. Bodhi did it with all of us when he officially moved in and learned to live with others who cared about him. You, Little One, are beyond important to Bodhi. Right now, he feels Savo didn’t have your best in mind.”

“Savo would never do anything that would hurt me,” I defended.

“I absolutely believe that, but Bodhi doesn’t. Those two need to learn to trust each other and this is the first step,” Rafael assured me. “Come, let's leave them to work this out without an audience watching them.”

Oscar turned us around and gave me a little push to get me moving forward. Marius and Spencer led the way into a different room than where we gathered last night. This one had a lovely picture window showing the wild front yard and the waning sun. No one spoke right away as I took in my surroundings in this strange house. It reminded me of the area I grew up in, making me wonder if we might be close.Would Peggy still be working at the library?

“What town are we in?” I asked, turning to face them.

“Lower Crossbend, I think is what this is considered, but we’re also on the edge of Riken Grove,” Marius answered.

I perked up hearing this. “I grew up in Riken Grove, well that’s where Father moved us to once Mother passed away.” None of them seemed to be as pleased about this information as I was. “What?”

“Out here is where you lived until you came to the shelter?” Spencer inquired.

“Yeah, I mean I spent most of my time at the Riken Grove Library when I could. There is a wonderful woman named Peggy who used to help me while I was studying for my GED,” I shared. “Do you think she might still be there? Could we go check?”

“I don’t want to make you any promises I’m not sure we can keep, but if we have the chance we will try,” Marius said, reaching out to me. “Come sit with me. I have a few questions that I think you might be able to help me with.”

Curious as to what I could possibly know that he didn't, I let him pull me onto his lap. “What questions?”

“Tell me what you know about the parents you grew up with. You said you moved, where did you used to live?” Marius asked.

“Near the mall actually, where that man ran into us. I used to attend Forest Grove Elementary school before Father pulled me out to move,” I shared. “Mother used to tell me that her and Father met when she needed him the most, saving her from a life she didn’t want. She never went into more detail about that, but sometimes I wondered if Father really cared about her at all. When she got sick, he just got mad that she couldn’t do everything around the house like she used to. Any time I brought it up or questioned her, she would scold me and tell me it wasn’t proper to question someone else's relationship.”

Marius seemed hesitant, and I could feel his reservation about whatever he wanted to ask me next. This made me worry and start to fidget. Nixon, who was sitting next to Marius, pulled my legs onto his lap and wrapped his hand around my ankle in support.

“Do you know what made your mother sick?” Marius finally asked.

It had been so long since I’d thought of those days she was in the hospital. I’d hardly been allowed to see her since Father had to accompany me as I was so young. That was the same time things at home started to get worse. If I had any bruises that could be seen, then I knew we wouldn’t go. When we did get to see Mother, she was so sick she didn’t stay awake for long but she always told me she loved me and told me to be brave.

“When we would go visit, doctors always pulled Father aside and would talk to him in the hall so I couldn’t hear. The nurses weren’t so worried, feeling I should be prepared for her to pass away. I knew Mother was never coming home once she entered the hospital. She hated them, saying only bad things would happen. Once, while she was in her last days, she didn’t really know who I was, she kept calling me by another woman’s name. Told me that what they’d done to her was finally catching up,” I murmured, letting myself stay in my memory as I shared. “She said something about the drugs still not working and the baby was a miracle.”

Pausing, I scrunched up my face, trying to remember the name she had called me. It had been so long ago and I was so young, scared, and afraid to be alone in the world without her. “Isabelle,” I exclaimed. “That was the name, she called me Isabelle.”

“That is your birth mother’s name, or at least, that’s what we believe,” Nixon said, rubbing his thumb along my ankle. “We’re still putting the last pieces of the puzzle together but from what we’ve gathered, it’s highly likely that’s the case.”

“Then who was my mother?” I questioned.

“Maybe we should start at the beginning,” Rafael suggested. “That way, we can put everything we know together, and if Cambrie has something to add, it might make things clearer.”

Marius shifted me off his lap and stood, he paced as he spoke. He told me about Alton, his friend and fellow Official, being sick and how that connected to Yoram. Somewhere about the time he was explaining about who they believed my birth mother was and my grandparents were, Bodhi and Savo joined us. Bodhi headed right for me and picked me up, then sat back down with me in his lap. Savo then handed me a plate with a perfect looking grilled cheese and chips.

“I’ll wait a moment,” Marius commented. “She’s not going to hear anything we have to say now that she has a grilled cheese.”

It took a moment to register what he said, and the sandwich was already almost to my watering mouth. Pausing, I looked around to see everyone was watching me, but the need to taste this amazing sandwich had me brushing it off. Chomping down into the buttery, crispy bread I hummed as the melted cheese coated my tongue.

“You weren’t kidding when you said that was her favorite food,” Savo said with a hint of laughter.

Bodhi rested his head on my shoulder and kissed my cheek lovingly. “That’s why I couldn’t let you give her that burnt hockey puck you claimed was a grilled cheese.”

“It was notthatburnt,” Savo grumbled. “Also, you should all know about the obscene amount of cheese he put in that thing.”

“Yeah, even if we did know, none of us would ever take away her favorite food,” Rafael countered. “Seeing the joy a simple sandwich can bring her, no matter what her mood is, that’s worth its weight in gold.”

“Guess I can’t argue with that either,” Savo agreed with a face that made the room laugh.

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