Page 61 of The Awakened Wolf

Moira looked down at their clasped hands. “If I could do that, I would. But there is nothing inside this building to make look good. The humans out there who do want to help you won’t want to when they found out how shifters really live.”

“But we’re making changes,” Kiana said. “I’m making changes. Look! Evan’s gay, and I assigned him a boyfriend! I hired a doctor! I’m the first female Alpha—”

“Dinah was my best friend.” Moira took Kiana’s face in her hands. “And she would have been an amazing mother to you both, but she is dead. Because of what goes on behind these doors. I’m sorry.” She kissed Kiana’s forehead and stepped away. “Cody, let’s go. You can bring your new friend.”

“No!” Kiana wolf-growled. “They are part of this pack, and I can’t have them running around out there, shifting willy-nilly, mating. I know they’re human-born, but there has to be a proper ceremony before—”

“Jayla,” I spoke over my rambling twin before she could further embarrass herself. “Do you want to go with Cody? Because you can.”

“I do…” Jayla shook her head. “But I also want to stay with you. I want to help.”

“Great,” Kiana chirped. “Then Cody and Jayla will both stay.”

“No.” I shook my head. “Cody never asked for this, and Jayla only gave up her human life to try and save us, so they are both free to go as long as they promise to never shift in public. That’s it. That’s all we need from them. A promise.”

“I promise,” Cody said quickly, pulling Jayla toward the door. “Do you promise? Because I promise.”

Jayla hesitated. “I think I need some time to decide. If I really want to leave.” She curled her fingers into the front of his hoodie. “I thought Elyse was crazy when she told me Sebastian was her fated mate, but I get it now… and it’s still crazy. It’s also real. So, I know that it will be okay if you go home with your mom today. And I catch up with you later.” She looked from me to Evan. “When I know my family’s safe.”

“But if they’re not safe yet, then… you’re not safe…” Cody’s brow knit with worry. “And I have to protect you. That’s like… my purpose.” He cast a sorrowful look at his mother. “I’m sorry. I didn’t ask to be this, but I’d have died if Elyse didn’t bite me. And now…” He folded both his hands around Jayla’s. “And now it all makes sense. Also, no sense. Like, zero sense. But also all the sense. If that makes sense.”

Moira squeezed her eyes shut, but when she opened them, there was no trace of any tears. No trace of any feelings at all. She simply turned and walked out the door. Kiana started after her, but I pushed her back and followed our aunt myself.

“Moira, wait,” I pleaded as she jabbed the elevator button. “Please. I have so many more questions. And I know Kiana does too. There’s just so much going on right now, and we weren’t the slightest bit prepared for this, and—”

“Come with me,” Moira said without turning her head.

I stared at her. “What? Me? Why?”

“Why not?” She stared straight ahead. “You love movies. Come make movies. Or television, as the case may be. We were supposed to be The Cavallo Sisters. The next big thing. I wound up having to do it all alone. Finishing school. Building a career. Having Cody. Grief can make you reckless, if you know what I mean.” She lifted one eyebrow, and then shook her head sadly. “And now I’ve lost him to this bullshit too.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “But I promise I’m not going to let him disappear.”

“What about you?” Moira finally turned toward me. “Who’s promising to not let you disappear, Elyse? That boy you were holding onto in there?”

“Yes,” I said. “He’s not like other males. He’s like… Mateo.”

“Hmm. Are you sure about that?”

I held up my left hand with its sparking ring. “Yes.”

“Anyone can buy a ring and get down on one knee, Elyse.” She laughed. “Look, I know you’re not coming with me today. You’ve got a world to save, and far be it from me to interfere with your hero’s journey, but… don’t let fate fool you. There’s always time to change the ending.” She brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “I can make you anything you decide you want to be. Whenever you’re ready.”

The elevator doors whooshed open, and she stepped inside, pulling her scarf up over her head again. I lifted a weak hand to wave good-bye, unable to speak. The doors slid shut before she could return the gesture, if she was even going to. I backed away, head spinning even more than it had been at the beginning of the Alphas’ meeting, and collided with an immoveable human wall.

“I cannot believe she would come in here and accuse our mother of abandoning her,” Kiana said, her breath wolfishly hot where it fell upon my ear, “and then ask you to do the very same thing to me.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

It was almost midnight when Sebastian, Kiana, and I boarded the Roosevelt Island Tram. We were the only riders, thank Leto, because Sebastian was carrying the cooler full of vaccines for the other packs, and it looked seriously suspicious. All of us were silent. I could smell Sebastian’s nerves, but I kept my thoughts to myself. The last thing he needed now was me fluttering around him like a nervous helpmaid.

As for my sister, she still wasn’t talking to me since my conversation with Aunt Moira. Communication was limited to barking at me only when absolutely necessary. I know she was pissed that I didn’t turn the offer down right away. That was fine with me, because I was still pissed that she was lying to the packs to get her way, to push us all into confrontation because she believed that was best.

The only upside to her simmering fury was that she was letting me come on this mission rather than trapping me at home so I didn’t run off to La-La Land when she looked the other way. As if bringing Sebastian along wasn’t enough insurance.

I couldn’t explain why, but I had an awful feeling about this meeting. My wolf had been pacing nonstop and Sebastian was no help. His entire focus was on not freaking out on the tram in front of Kiana. But he was doing a very bad job.

“What’s wrong, Sebastian?” she said, her red lips turning into an exaggerated clown frown. “You seem a little nervous.”

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