Page 36 of The Wolf's Secret Twins

She shrugged.

“Did something happen at school?”

She shrugged again.

Behind me, Virginia cried harder. The gods on the mountains couldn’t have stopped me from going into rage mode, but when Anthony returned, I quelled the anger long enough to go into dad mode.

I placed the ice over the bruise. Adhara flinched without making any sound. How strange it was for a kid to be so muted about an injury.

“It happened at school. Shannon,” Anthony explained. “We’re not going back.”

“Will you take your sister to get ready for bed?”

Anthony nodded solemnly. I’d never seen a kid look so damn defeated, and it quite literally broke my heart in half. Something awful had happened to the twins at school and that was why Virginia was sobbing herself into a fit. Once the twins were out of sight, I went to the kitchen and grabbed another ice pack from the fridge. I placed it on the back of Virginia’s neck, feeling nauseous at the sound of her whimpering.

Somebody hurt my baby. And they would pay for it. “Who’s Shannon?”

“Some stupid kid. Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m always going to worry about what happens to my family.”

She inhaled sharply while taking over control of the ice pack. I went back to the counter and started preparing tea. The bathroom faucet ran. The sound of brushing came next. Good, that meant Anthony was doing as I said. He was a good kid and he cared about his sister. He would make sure she was okay for the time being.

“Did you take her to see Dr. Windsor?” I asked while getting the teapot ready. “To make sure it’s not damaged?”

Virginia sighed shakily. “Yes, Dr. Windsor came by just after dinner. Ice and rest.”

“No damage?”

“Not that she can tell. We go back in a week.” Her expression contorted with pain. “But we’ll be gone in a week, right? Have you changed your mind? Are you mad?”

I shushed her while the kettle on the stove whistled. Virginia was in a bad spot. These asshole parents were getting on my last nerve with their gossip and bad behavior. Even my parents had picked up on a weak spot in me—which I didn’t mind admitting was Virginia.

Whenever they found out, I knew they would disown me. Ripples like what had happened with the Frostcrown pack didn’t dissolve easily. But me? I was more concerned with getting Virginia and her kids to a place that wouldn’t know who the hell we were—and wouldn’t care.

“I’m not mad,” I assured her while preparing the rest of the tea. I brought everything over to the table and poured her a cup. “I haven’t changed my mind. If anything, I’m more committed after what Anthony told me.”

“I can’t believe it.”

I chortled. “Believe it, Ginny darling. We’re making a break for it.”

“Have you gotten a car yet?”

“Not yet.”

She hung her head. “Oh. I see.”

“Don’t look so disappointed.”

I took a seat next to her and poured myself some tea. That was one thing our families had in common—we always had tea when we were worried, happy, sad, sick. Didn’t matter the mood. We always had tea.

I slurped the delicious chamomile and sighed. “You shouldn’t be held accountable for the sins of your grandfather.”

Her head popped up. “Do you mean that?”

“I always mean what I say.”

“If that’s true, then the last time we talked—”

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