Even though it was selfish, those were the words I wanted to hear. “It’s the only way you all can be safe.”
“Baby girl, we aren’t going anywhere.” Kassie crossed her arms and took a deep breath. “We’ve offered our entire lives up to keep you safe, and that won’t be ending anytime soon.”
“But you deserve to have your own life.” Didn’t they see that I was the reason they were all in danger?
“We’re all in.” Mona arched an eyebrow. “You need us anyway.”
Now that I couldn’t argue with. “Mason protect…”
“You are not getting rid of me.” He glanced at his dad and sister. “You two head back to the pack. You don’t need to get involved any deeper than you already are.”
“Like hell I’m not.” Ella took a step toward Mason and growled. “She was my friend first, and I’ll be damned if I stand on the sidelines and allow her to get hurt or worse.” Her gaze flickered back to me. “As for you, when this is all said and done, we’re going to talk and share our deepest darkest secrets with one another. I better not be the last one to know anything else about you.”
I couldn’t help the damn smile that spread across my face. “That’s fine if you go home and stay safe.”
“No, you’re my best friend.” She shook her head and squeezed my free hand. “It’s ride or die, bitch.”
Mason let go of me as I turned toward her and wrapped my arms around her. “I love you.” It’d been years since I muttered those words, but in the last week, I’d said them to two new people.
“Of course you do.” She squeezed me tight and pulled back. “I love you too.”
“As touching as this is,” James said as he turned his attention on my guardians, “I’d like to know how those two guys got into your house.”
“It’s all on me.” Kassie’s shoulders slumped, and she sat on the couch. “I let my guard down. It’s that simple.”
“Don’t act like I wasn’t a willing participant.” Mona touched one of her eyes and winced. “Damn. That hurts.”
“We went down to our normal bar. I had an itch I needed scratched.” She leaned back in her seat and took a deep breath. “When those two fine wolf shifters walked in and said all the right things. Hell, it’s been a long time since I had great sex so…”
“They must have known you hung out there regularly.” That was the only thing that made sense. “Who all knows you go there?”
“Everybody in this small town.” Mona rolled her eyes and sat next to Kassie. “I was just as guilty as her this time.”
“Neither of you should feel bad.” It wasn’t their fault despite them beating themselves up over it. “I just don’t understand how they knew we were alive and here.”
“It happened after you shifted.” Mason frowned as he leaned back against the wall. “But it doesn’t make a lick of sense.”
“Maybe I got it wrong.” Kassie frowned and chewed on her lower lip. “You see, I had a dream the other night where your dad was talking to your mom.”
“Like a repressed memory or something?” Mona’s brows furrowed.
“Yeah, remember that night I had one too many shots at the party and you covered for my ass?” Kassie picked at her fingers.
“It was right after your mom died.” Mona stared at the ceiling. “You had one too many shots, and Corey found you outside Elena’s bedroom.”
“Well, I…” She took a deep breath and blew it out. “I heard him tell Elena that when she was Queen, she’d feel every wolf in North America.”
No, that can’t be. “But you said…”
“I know what I said.” She raised a finger, asking for a moment. “I stumbled, and he came out to see what was going on. I remember how he looked at me with sadness in his eyes. He knew my mother had died. He asked me if everything was okay. And my drunk ass asked if he felt my mother die.”
That was a pain that I understood so well. I had to deal with losing both of my parents. It makes you do irrational things.
“Oh, Kassie.” Mona reached over and touched her arm.
“He wrapped me in a tight hug, and when he pulled back, I saw a tear trail down his cheek.” Kassie rubbed her face where his tear must have been. “He told me that they could only feel the alphas and that he couldn’t believe that another strong, compassionate woman was lost.” She blinked her eyes over and over again. “I remember asking him, how could he know that? And his hand squeezed my shoulder. He replied that he knew exactly what kind of woman she had to be to raise someone as brave, strong, and caring as me.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as her bottom lip quivered. “I should’ve remembered what he said to you, but it was only after you already shifted that it came to me.”
“It was a secret that no one was supposed to know.” Mason placed his hands on my shoulders and began massaging them.
“Shit, I did this to you all.” This was what I’d been afraid of all along. Confirmed by one of the most important women in my life. I just assumed I remembered it wrong, but I hadn’t. This was all because of me.
“Stop it.” Ella smacked my face hard.
My head jerked to the side as the sting caused my eyes to burn.
“I don’t give a fuck if you’re my sister.” Mason’s voice dipped dangerously low. “You touch her like that again, and you’ll be fighting me.”
“She’s freaking out.” Ella pointed at me. “Can’t you tell through your bond?”
“How is slapping going to help her?” Mason’s tone was menacingly low.
Ignoring him, she got in my face. “This is not because of you.”
I tried to look away, but she grabbed my face and forced
