3. Mother's legacy

Hope

If I don't make eye contact, maybe they will go away.

My wolf huffed at my naivete.

Judgemental bitch. I hate it when she's right.

Tugging on my jacket I try to wait for Tino in the hallway.

Leah decides that's the moment she wants to make her move. Side stepping, she blocks the doorway, arms folded, chin tilted like some warped mini version of her mother. Fucking great.

I thought her momentary lapse of silence meant she would do us all a favor and save her whining for someone who cared.

I should have known I’m not that lucky.

The goddess gave me a do over not a get out of jail free card.

I rolled my eyes, unwilling to play games when my time was ticking.

“Well, I don't have all day. If you have something to say I suggest you do it before Tino gets here,” I say evenly.

No use in letting her know she's annoying me, that will only make the interaction take longer.

“You should watch who you're talking to, daddy isn't here to save you,” she snarls, looking me up and down with a frown, as if she finds me lacking.

My wolf presses beneath the surface of my skin and I do my best not to react.

Daddy.

She knows I hate when she calls my father that.

I snort. “You must really enjoy the false reality you create for yourself.”

A growl slips from her throat. I know it is meant to be threatening, it would be if her level of dominance were anywhere near mine.

Regardless of who my father is I would rank her and we both know it.

Tyler lingers at her side, lounging against the door frame. His large body is relaxed, bored even, but there’s heat in his eyes.

“Now, now girls. We're family. Can’t we get along for five minutes.,” Tyler said with false sincerity.

By the goddess there isn’t time for whatever game they want to play.

“How about you fuck off and get out of my way,” I retort.

Leah scans me before smirking and I know I'm not going to like what she says next. “Sure. But I want something in return. You know, for making this as painless as possible for you.”

“All the pain thinner you inhale must really be getting to your head. Stand aside.”

She takes a step towards me. “You think you are so clever aren't you. Well let's see how smart you think you are when I’m Luna of the pack.

Shit, I forgot this is her delusion.

Leah was—are— determined to be Keith's Luna.

Many females are. His family is descended from a branch of the royal family that carries Lycan blood, the original creatures from which all wolf shifters emerged.

Though Keith’s family is no longer part of the royal line. There is no question of his strength.

If he wants he could challenge the King and take his place but he won’t. His pack, the lotus pack, prided themselves on being warriors.

Goddess I had to get out of here.

Maliciousness filled Leah's eyes as I moved to barrel towards her. “Oh good you're leaving. I guess you won't need this anymore.”

Her hand flicked toward my neck, lightning quick, but I was quicker.

I jerked my left shoulder back, the necklace I wore lifting as her fingers grazed it.

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“The necklace,” she snaps. “I’ll take care of it for you.”

My hand rises instinctively to the pendant resting against my collarbone.

Cold metal, yet warm with memory.

My mother’s.

I hardly ever wear it, but today felt right. It felt like fate.

Only now I knew what a fool I’d been.

Not this time.

“No.”

Leah’s nostrils flare. “No?”

“This isn't one of your pretty trinkets. It belonged to my mother,” I say. “You don’t touch it.”

She steps closer, practically vibrating with annoyance. “Don’t be selfish, Hope. You don’t get to hoard jewels when you’re abandoning your place here. Besides, it would look better on me anyway.”

Abandoning? That’s rich. We both knew I was doing her a favor by leaving.

I steady my voice. “You don’t care about the necklace. You just wanted something shiny to show off to Keith. Hoping it will finally make him notice you.”

Her eyes flash.

I smirk knowing I hit my target.

“You think I don’t know what today is about?” I say, sharper now. “You and all the other desperate females dolled yourself up for him, hoping he’d notice you exist. Pathetic.”

Leah lunges with a small roar, fingers outstretched, but I weave, stepping back and twisting to keep our distance.

Her nails catch air.

Tyler straightens.

I keep one eye on him unsure if he'll choose to help her or me.

“You don’t deserve it,” Leah hisses.

“And you don’t get to take it.” My fingers clutch the pendant tight. “It’s not about deserving. It’s about my mother.”

Leah growls in frustration, then throws a look at Tyler. “Do something.”

He rolls his eyes but slinks with all the fake laziness of someone about to get nasty.

“I have news for you. She’s dead,” he says, walking toward me. “But you're still alive. So I’d do what Leah asks you. After you humiliated me in front of Clinton you're on thin ice.”

“That was your own doing,” I snap. “If you do not want a reality check, don't do stupid shit.”

He sneers. “Let’s see how tough you are without your precious title.”

Tyler's arm lashes out like a whip.

I don’t hesitate.

I duck and kick out. My foot connects hard with his stomach.He lets out a shocked grunt and stumbles back into Leah. She yelps as they crash into the wall leaving the door free.

I plant my feet.My pulse pounds, but I keep my face neutral. Waiting.

“You bitch,” Tyler growls, scrambling upright.

“You’re lucky I didn’t go for the face.”

Leah takes a shaky breath, then snarls at Tyler. “Useless.”

“Me?” Tyler barks. “You’re the one who—”

A sharp knock cuts through the tension. The door creaks open, and a tall, broad-shouldered man steps in.

Tino.

Thank the Goddess.

The warrior Clinton promised.

His serious chocolate eyes scan the room—Tyler rubbing his side, Leah flushed and furious, me still standing steady in front of them.

His gaze settles on me. “Hope, Alpha Clinton sent me to escort you home.”

Leah steps forward, voice sickly sweet. “She was just leaving.”

He doesn’t even look at her.

“Coming.” I walk past Leah. Past Tyler. Neither stops me.

But as I reach the threshold, I turn.

“See you when you get home.”

Leah scoffs.

Tyler mutters something under his breath recognizing my words as the threat they were. I don’t care.

I step into the hallway beside Tino.

“That looked cozy,” he said.

“Like a Christmas morning,” I replied.

Tino chuckled. “Wouldn't expect anything less from them. Correct me if I'm wrong but Tyler's shirt looked a little wrinkled in the chest area.”

Of course Tino caught that. He was the one who trained me in combat.

“I might have aided him in a lesson on personal space.”

His blue eyes flashed with pride. “That's my girl.”

Damn, I missed Tino.

When it came to Leah and Tyler, he was always on my and my sisters side. Tino loved my mother, so he didn't take well to any actions from Karen that were made to make my sister and I feel like we didn't belong. Her children's actions were an extension of that.

He doesn’t speak anymore, as we walk and I’m grateful.

The emotions welling up in my chest are unexpected. The realization of what I have again and what I’m giving up.

The unknown that lies before me.

I need to keep it in check.

Tino has always seen too much. It wouldn't serve me to have him asking what was wrong. If he did I didn't know if I’d have the heart to lie to him.

We reach the stairs, and I pause, just for a second.

My wolf paces in my mind, agitating, hurting, falling under the weight of leaving our mate.

It hurts. But staying would destroy me.

“Ready?” Tino asks with a raised brow.

I nod again.

I don’t look back.

The car drives down the mountain road, smooth and silent, nothing but trees blurring past and the crunch of tires on gravel.

My thoughts are the only thing competing with the noise.

I rest my forehead against the window, ignoring the building's need to turn back.

But then—something shifts.

My body tenses. My lungs freeze mid-breath. The hairs on my arms rise.

I smell him.

Keith.

I twist in my seat, eyes scanning the trees flashing by.

Impossible.

But I know his scent—dark cedar, firewood, a hint of rain. I yank my head away and stare ahead.

I’ll have to train myself not to think about him.

Not to feel anything at all.