Chapter 010
HANNAH
“You led them here?” My mother yelled, her eyes filled with shock when she learned that I returned with bodyguards from Ice Stone Pack. “Asher Dawson will kill us if he finds out!”
Although I had slightly expected her reaction and even imagined the scenario during my ride home, a part of me still hoped that she would be optimistic when she learned of the recent development in my life. And maybe a little bit glad that her daughter finally had a chance to be happy.
We had always talked about me finding my mate, and when it turned out to be Asher, the sadness lingered between us. Was I too delusional to have thought she would be too excited to learn that I got a second chance?
Hell! I expected balloons, a bottle of wine and an excellent toast to true love. Was that too much to ask?
“Mum, can you calm down?” I asked, tapping my feet nervously on the ground. It was the only thing I could do in my situation.
Sending the bodyguards back to Ice Stone was impossible, and I wasn’t even willing to have a conversation with the triplets about it. We made a deal, and it was highly unlikely they would let me break it.
I took a peek outside and saw that the bodyguards were in positions around our apartment. Honestly, they looked like they were safeguarding a terrorist or billions of dollars with their scary stance.
Despite the tension seeping into my body, I had only one option: convince my mother to let the guards stay and pray to the moon goddess that Alpha Dawson wouldn’t find out. We were pretty much in trouble whether the guards stayed or not, so a backup plan would do us much good.
“Look at the bright side, Mum,” I started with a forced smile. “Alpha Dawson can’t hurt us as long as they are here.”
She shot me a cold glare, and I recoiled back. If only looks could kill, her gaze would have slashed me into pieces. “Have you forgotten what happened with your father?”
Cruel.
It was absolutely cruel of her to ask me that, considering his banishment affected me the most. I exhaled. “This has nothing to do with dad. Can’t you see this is the first good thing that has happened to me in years?”
My words affected her; I could see it in the way her eyes widened, and her lips parted slightly. She scoffed and shook her head. “That man kicked your father out of this pack and denied us the chance to be happy, and you think he won’t do the same to you? Do you know what he will do once he discovers those boys are your mates? Or that they disrespected his son and made you break his orders?”
Involuntarily, I shuddered and bit down on my bottom lips.
My mother was right, and I knew that. Alpha Dawson hated our family for some unexplainable reason. Only if Father told me why he was banished.
“He won’t find out. The bodyguards will be here for one night, and Cade said they would keep us safe in case—”
“Eh—Excuse me?” She glared at me like I threw up in my mouth. “Cade? Are you joking, Hannah?”
“Mum—”
“You are putting our lives in danger because of a boy you just met? Are you really this naïve?” She stared into space like she was trying to figure out if I had lost my mind, then turned back to me. “I’m really disappointed that you would throw away everything because of some twenty-year-old boys!”
“Those boys are trying to protect us,” I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, buying time to find the right words. “An—and they are not twenty. You should be happy that besides you and Dad, someone actually cares about me.”
A chill swept over the room, and I swallowed hard. The silence could not have been louder, and at that moment, I could only hear the beating of my own heart.
My mother’s eyes narrowed slightly, and her lips pressed into a thin line. Then, after some seconds, she sighed and shook her head, unable to hide the disappointment in her gaze.
“Come,” she gestured for me to sit beside her as she settled into the sofa. I hesitated for a second, but when I noticed her gaze had softened, I slowly inched toward her.
“I would die for you, do you know that?” she asked, gently patting my hair.
“I know, mum.”
“Then you must know I’m only trying to protect you.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “I’m happy that those boys are not like Asher. I’m really relieved to know that they like you. The bodyguards can stay, but just today.”
“Thank you, mum. This means a lot to me.”
She tilted her head. “I’m only doing this because your father would have done the same. We might need their help tonight.”
A small smile crept to my lips. “Dad would have been so happy.”
She chuckled, but her sadness somehow filtered through her delicate voice. Her eyes watered with unshed tears, and her lower lips trembled. “Your dad would have been so happy, yes.” Her shoulders slumped. “He was so proud of everything you did.”
My jaw clenched, and I tilted my head back as if looking up would stop the flood of emotions. “I think about him every day. I wish there were something we could do.” She nodded and wiped her tears. “Mum, do you know why he was banished? Dad said—”
“You must be careful around Asher. End of discussion.” She interrupted, her eyes darting around the room like she was looking for an escape. “We should start dinner. What do you feel like eating tonight?”
Really? Dinner?
“I, um, I think pasta would be nice,” I muttered indecisively. “Did Dad tell you any—”
“No.” She jumped to her feet swiftly as if the sofa had burned her, and before I could blink, she was already making her way to the kitchen. “He didn’t tell me anything, and I want you to help me heat up some water. Come.”
A throbbing headache suddenly attacked me as my mind wandered to why my mother was avoiding the topic of my dad’s banishment. This was probably the first time I had asked her about it, but her reaction was baffling.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she was hiding something from me or if the topic was rather too sensitive for her. I really hoped it would be the latter.
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