Chapter Thirteen

~ Emma ~

I couldn’t stop crying. My mom was here. Battered and bruised but alive. We hadn’t moved apart since she’d walked into Bastion and Raina’s house. Raina had looked her over, asked if she needed anything, then led us to a private room. We’d spent the last ten minutes crying and clinging to one another. We’d cried for Jonathan and Sam and all of us. Ivy had brought in drinks, and when I’d told Mom that Ivy was Cyan’s mate, Mom had wrapped her in a tearful hug. Now, the three of us sat together while we waited to find out what was happening.

“You’re mated? To two wolves?” My mother couldn’t seem to get past that.

“Anthony and Donovan,” I said with a nod.

“They’re strong, reliable wolves,” Ivy offered. “Two of the fiercest enforcers in our pack. You’ll like them.”

Mom kept her gaze on me. “I’ll love them. I just can’t imagine being mated to two wolves.”

“They love me,” I assured her. “And I love them.”

Both my and Ivy’s phones rang before we could say more. I could tell by her tone it was Cyan, then I heard Donovan.

“Hey, baby. It’s over.”

“Is he dead?” I reached out and gripped my mother’s hand in mine.

“Yes.” Anthony was the one who answered, letting me know they were both on the line.

“Are you okay? Both of you?”

“We’re fine. Rowan and his wolves are cleaning up. We’re heading back now,” Anthony said.

“And Sam’s with us,” Donovan added. “With Cyan.”

“Sam’s here?” My gaze flew to my mother’s as she straightened.

“Is he hurt? Is he on his way here?” she asked.

“Injury to his shoulder. Nico says he’ll be fine and heal quickly,” Anthony offered, having heard my mother’s questions.

“How soon will you be here?” I asked, needing to see them, touch them and make sure they were okay.

“Ten minutes. Maybe less,” Donovan said. “Hang tight. We’ll be with you soon.”

I hung up the call and met Ivy’s gaze.

“They’re okay,” she said, and I saw the fear she’d kept contained while her mate had been gone. “Cyan has Sam with him. He showed up with Nico. Cyan doesn’t know much more than that right now. He said we’ll talk when he gets here.”

Mom nodded, but I saw the uncertainty in her eyes. She wasn’t sure what her reception would be from either of her sons. I wanted to assure her everything would be fine, but I couldn’t. I didn’t know. All I could do was remind her that she had me.

“I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Mom squeezed my hand again then startled when Ivy took her other hand.

“Any anger comes from a place of hurt,” Ivy said. “He’s a good man. The very best. Just… Give him some time. Please.”

Mom nodded. She seemed to have locked her emotions inside once she knew Cyan and Sam were on their way to join us. I couldn’t begin to know what was going through her head, but I hoped whatever happened next wouldn’t break her.

When the door opened, Ivy was on her feet with a cry, flying across the room and throwing herself at Cyan. He scooped her up against his chest and murmured soothing words to her while she visually inspected him. I was on my feet when Sam entered. Our gazes met as Mom rose beside me.

“Sam!” she cried and stepped toward him. She took in the bandaging at his shoulder then pulled him into a hug. “Are you okay?”

Sam hugged her back, reaching out to pull me in close, too. We stayed that way. It felt right but part of me wished Cyan and Ivy were in the hug with us. And my mates. I wanted Anthony and Donovan.

As if I’d conjured them, they appeared in the doorway. Anthony paused to shut the door behind him while Donovan headed right for me. He took me out of my brother’s hold and pulled me against his chest, dropping his mouth to my upturned face and kissing me deeply. Anthony was there as soon as Donovan let me up for air. My hands moved over them. I could see and smell the blood on them.

“It’s not ours,” Donovan said.

“We’re good, love,” Anthony promised, and I kissed them both again.

There was a tension in the air when we finally separated, and I hated it. Mom and Sam stood to one side while Cyan and Ivy were on the other. I watched my mom straighten her spine and take a deep breath.

“You killed Clayton?” she asked Cyan.

“I did,” Sam said, bringing our gazes to him.

“I… You…” Mom wasn’t sure what to say. I could tell it wasn’t what she’d expected.

“For Jonathan.”

Tears poured down my mother’s face as she nodded. “Jonathan.”

“We’ll leave you with your family,” Cyan said and turned to leave.

“That includes you.” My mother stood tall and proud as she stared at her oldest son. “I know you probably hate me, and I don’t even blame you. But Sam and Emma are your siblings. I hope you’ll accept them.”

Cyan didn’t say anything.

“I’m hoping you’ll allow me to stay long enough to meet Emma’s mates.” She offered my mates and I a weak smile. “I won’t stay long.”

“Where do you plan to go?” Sam asked. “Our old pack is gone.”

“I…” Mom swallowed. “I’ll find somewhere.”

“Stay,” Cyan said. “Emma’s part of the James Pack. I know she wants you to stay.”

“I do. I’d like to have you here with me,” I said.

“What about you?” Mom asked, keeping her gaze on Cyan. “Will it bother you if I’m here?”

“Did you know my father planned to mate you?” Cyan asked.

“What?” She shook her head. “How did you—”

“Did you know?” Cyan asked again, interrupting her.

“Yes,” she whispered, and more tears fell. “Yes, I knew. Your father was the love of my life.”

Cyan nodded as if he’d known that or at least, thought it. “Why did you mate Clayton?”

She glanced between Sam and me, and I knew she didn’t want to say anything negative about our father. It wouldn’t matter, though. We both knew the type of man he’d been. Both of us had the scars to remind us.

“I…”

“It’s okay, Mom,” Sam whispered. “We know the type of man he was.”

“I didn’t have a choice. When Clayton Richards decided he wanted something, he took it. No matter what stood in the way.”

“You sent me away to protect me,” Cyan stated, and I didn’t hear any doubt in his voice.

“Yes,” she agreed. “He would have killed you. I knew that. Just as I knew he wouldn’t let me go.”

“Did Dad force you?” Sam asked, and I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the light die out of hers.

“I…did what I needed to. I always hoped I’d be able to escape and find Cyan. Then I was pregnant with Johnathan. Clayton thought he could tie me to him with his children, and he was right. I’d already been forced to give up Cyan. I couldn’t do that again. Then I had you, Sam. Then Emma. I tried my best to keep you safe, to protect you.” Her voice broke off, and I opened my eyes as a sob caught in her throat.

“You had to know he was always going to come after me,” Cyan said.

Mom shook her head emphatically. “He should have let you go. He should have let us go.” She pushed out of Sam’s embrace and walked across the room, isolating herself from the rest of us. “He had what he wanted. He was alpha. His blood would be the next alpha after him. But it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. He started seeing enemies everywhere. He… God! He killed Jonathan, and I couldn’t… I couldn’t stop him. They held me back while he…” Her sobs filled the air. “He killed my son, and I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t…breathe. Then Sam was gone, and Clayton took Emma.” She turned to me. “He hurt my baby. My beautiful baby girl. And he was going to hunt down Cyan. And I couldn’t breathe.”

Cyan moved then, tears wetting his checks. He stepped up to Mom, ran his fingers along her cheek, then pulled her into his chest where she fell apart. I tugged free of my mates and walked over, unsurprised when Cyan pulled me in, as well. Then I felt Sam’s hand and glanced up to see him joining us.

“Ivy,” Cyan called, and she clung to his side, burying her face into his chest as she shed tears of her own.

Anthony and Donovan were at my back, strong and fierce, loving and supporting me while I sobbed. I turned my head into Anthony’s chest, felt Donovan’s lips on my temple, and though there was sadness and tears, something more powerful emerged. Hope.

We hadn’t all survived my father’s wrath. Cyan and my mother had both lost Cyan’s dad. We’d lost Jonathan. But we had each other, and maybe, with time and love, we’d be able to heal. Together. As a family.