Chapter Four: Secrets and Lies.

  

   I slipped into the house as quietly as I could, using my extra key to unlock the door. The last thing I needed was Mom waking up and asking questions.

   The house smelled the same; lavender and vanilla, her favorites. I sighed, shutting the door behind me before tiptoeing upstairs.

   My body ached, my wolf was restless beneath my skin. Too much had happened tonight. The quadruplets, my mates. Even thinking about it made my chest tighten.

   I shoved the thought aside, stripped off my jacket, and collapsed onto my bed. Sleep came fast, but it wasn’t peaceful. My dreams were a mess of silver eyes, growls, and the warmth of a touch I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

   *

   *

   *

   The next morning, the scent of bacon and coffee pulled me from sleep. My stomach grumbled in response. With a groan, I rolled out of bed, my body still sore—but healing quickly, thanks to my wolf.

   I padded downstairs to find Mom at the stove, flipping pancakes like everything was right with the world.

   Sunlight streamed through the windows, making the kitchen feel annoyingly warm and peaceful.

   “Morning, sweetheart,” she greeted without looking back. “How was your night with Jason?”

   I froze mid-step before forcing a smile. “It was great,” I lied, sliding into my usual seat. “Jason was...well, Jason. And Noah was there too.”

   Mom turned, raising an eyebrow. “That boy is always with you two. How is he?”

   I swallowed hard. “He’s good.”

   I wasn’t about to tell her that Jason dumped me for Noah. That my so-called love life had just turned into a full-blown soap opera. That I spent the night in a hospital, then got driven home by four possessive werewolves claiming I was theirs.

   Nope. That conversation wasn’t happening.

   Mom’s eyes dropped to my wrist. “What happened?”

   I followed her gaze and realized I had been rubbing my arm—the same one that still ached from the accident.

   “Oh,” I said quickly, pulling my hand away. “I, uh...hit it against the wall last night.”

   She gave me the look, the one that said she wasn’t buying it, but thankfully, she let it go.

   “Eat up,” she said, sliding a plate of pancakes in front of me.

   I sighed in relief. “Thanks, Mom.”

   We ate in silence for a bit before she spoke again. “I was thinking we could go shopping today. Just us girls.”

   I perked up. “Really?”

   She laughed. “Yes, really. The wedding is two days away, and you still need a dress. I got my wedding dress already.”

   Right. The wedding.

   I still hadn’t met the guy she was about to marry.

   But I shoved that thought aside for now. “Shopping sounds good.”

   *

   *

   *

   The mall was packed, the air thick with perfume and too many voices. Mom and I wandered into a boutique filled with dresses that looked way too expensive.

   She grabbed a deep blue dress and held it up. “What about this one?”

   I wrinkled my nose. “Too fancy.”

   She sighed dramatically. “Fine. What about this one?” She held up a lavender dress.

   I tilted my head. “Better.”

   For a moment, everything felt normal. Just a mother and daughter shopping, no secrets, no mates, no impending weddings.

   Then Mom, with that mischievous glint in her eyes, grabbed a lacy black bra off the rack and held it up. “This would look great on you.”

   I almost choked. “Mom!”

   She smirked. “What? I’m just saying, you might want to wear something nice, you know, in case you wanna show Jason some...”

   Too late for that.

   I snatched the bra from her and shoved it back on the rack. “We’re not talking about this.”

   She just laughed, clearly enjoying my suffering.

   I sighed, deciding now was the time. “Mom.”

   “Hm?”

   “The wedding is in two days.”

   “Yes?”

   I turned to face her. “And I still haven’t met the man you’re marrying.”

   She hesitated. Just for a second.

   “Maybe on the wedding day, you’ll get to meet him,” she said lightly, flipping through dresses like she hadn’t just dropped a bomb on me.

   I almost dropped the dress in my hands.

   Wedding day?

   “Mom, are you kidding me right now?”

   She sighed. “Sweetheart, he just needs to sort some things out.”

   My wolf groaned. “Is that what he keeps telling you?” I snapped. “Mom, that man already sounds like a scumbag to me.”

   “Ava, language,” she warned. “You will not talk about him that way.”

   I clenched my jaw. “Then when do I get to meet him? When you’ve already said ‘I do’?”

   She didn’t answer.

   That was all I needed.

   I turned and walked out of the store.

   The drive home was silent.

   The moment we stepped inside the house, she spoke. “Ava, wait.”

   I stopped, my fists clenched at my sides.

   She sighed. “Ava, dear, I love him. And that’s all that matters. He’s busy, and...you will definitely get to meet him on the wedding day.”

   I scoffed. “Can you hear yourself, Mom? You’re in love with a motherf—”

   The slap came fast. Sharp.

   I stood there, stunned, my cheek stinging.

   I met her eyes, my wolf snarling inside me, hurt and furious.

   And then the words spilled out before I could stop them.

   “I wish it was you who died instead of Dad.”

   Silence.

   Her face paled.

   My heart pounded, regret and anger clashing inside me, but I couldn’t take it back.

   So, I ran.

   I stormed up the stairs, slammed my door shut, and collapsed onto my bed, my breath shaking.

   My wolf whimpered inside me.

   I ignored her.

   *

   *

   Night came too fast.

   When I finally dragged myself downstairs, Mom was gone.

   Breakfast sat on the table, along with a folded note.

   I stared at it for a long moment before picking it up.

   Had to leave early to sort out wedding plans. Be good. I love you.

   I clenched my jaw, my eyes burning.

   Slowly, I crushed the note in my fist and threw it away.

   But I still ate the food.

   And as I chewed, the tears finally fell.

   “I love you too, Mom,” I whispered.