Chapter 8
“So, yeah, that’s my rooms,” Leo said. He rubbed the back of his neck. Was he nervous?
“They’re very nice,” I said, feeling a little silly. This was my pack’s manor. Why was I complimenting it?
“I guess we could talk about something else,” Leo said. “Did you have any questions for
of furniture.
Did I? My mind scrambled for a topic. Something better than bathroom décor and the
“Your parents weren’t at the wedding,” I said, feeling like an idiot. “Is your home territory really far
“Didn’t anyone tell you? I don’t have a territory anymore.” Leo turned away slightly. “And my parents weren’t at the wedding because they’re
dead.”
“I am so sorry.” I covered my mouth with my hands and seriously contemplated running for it. How
Leo shrugged and tugged my hands down. “No, no, it makes sense to ask. You didn’t know.”
I shook my head. No one told me anything. Why would they?
“Here, sit with me.” Leo guided me to the bed.
I worked to steer my mind away from the last time I’d been in that bed.
could
I have been
so insensitive?
Leo sat next to me, leaving a respectful distance between us. I folded my hands in my lap. Leo rolled his shoulders and leaned back a little.
“So. I guess you don’t know anything about me. Where to start?”
“Anywhere,” I said.
“Okay. Well, I suppose the whole thing started with the Rogues.”
I nodded. Everything came down to them. Leo’s injuries, my mother’s coma, everything.
“When the King of the Rogues first started gathering Rogues to his banner, my pack was one of the first ones attacked,” Leo said. “We were a small pack, with a minor territory on the border with the humans.”
His pack lived near the human lands?
“My parents died defending the pack against one of the first major attacks. My brother Zane and I were left alone with a shattered pack. We lost the territory. There weren’t enough of us to hold it, not with our strongest fighters dead or critically hurt.”
“Oh. That’s awful,” I said, reaching out and resting my hand on his arm.
“It was rough for a while. But some of our allies sheltered us. Our fighters recovered, I trained hard, and we found a few others who’d been hurt by the rogues. I put together a team of warriors, not a true pack. That’s why we haven’t tried to take our territory back.” Leo leaned back. “I think I might give our old lands to our allies, and work out something with your father.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“I’m not sure. I just know I need to build my pack back up properly. With a mate and an heir.” Leo grinned over at me. “With you and our
child.”
“That sounds nice,” I said.
Leo shook himself and grinned. “Well! It’s your turn. Tell me something about yourself, Eva.”
I didn’t know what to do. Should I pretend to be Eva? What might she tell him?
I had no idea. We were technically sisters, but really we were strangers. I had to say something, though.
What could I say? I couldn’t talk about my life.
“I, um, I guess, I want a family, too,” I said honestly. “I want to be as good a mother as mine is.”
“Your mother?” Leo sounded curious.
“Yeah. She’s the greatest woman I know. She’s taken care of me my whole life. She loves me deeply, and I love her, I want to make her proud. I’d do anything for her.”
Leo stared at me for a moment and I wondered if I’d said too much, or said something wrong.
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Chapter 8
+25 Bonus
Then, suddenly, he grabbed me in a tight hug. I buried my face in his shoulder and held on. It had been so long since anyone had hugged me.
“Your mother must be a wonderful woman, to raise someone like you,” Leo murmured into my hair. “I know she’s proud of you.”
I swallowed hard and leaned into the hug. It just felt so nice to be held. To be cared for.
“You’re so different from before, Eva,” Leo said.
His words hit me like a splash of ice water to the face. Eva, he thought I was Eva. All these caring words and gentle touches were for her, not me.
“I… I have to act different. In front of everyone else,” I explained. It wasn’t far from the truth. “I can’t be too soft. They’d think I was weak.”
Leo blinked and tilted his head. “Your own pack?” he asked.
Before he could ask anymore questions, I leaned forward and caught his mouth in a kiss. I meant to distract him, but I ended up melting into his embrace again.
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