Page 75 of The Alpha’s Heir

I grunted again, hoping they would understand, and took my meat back into the cave.

*

You can end this. Go find Roman. My wolf panted.

I sat in the middle of the stone floor, holding the meat by the bone and gnawing on the charred flesh.

“I’ll go talk to her,” Mom said.

Or at least I thought it was Mom.

Sounds were getting harder to trust.

“Hey sweetie.” Mom pushed open the flap.

It was night now. When did that happen?

“Oh good, you’re eating,” she said.

I chewed faster, giving my mouth something to do so she could see it was busy.

Too busy to respond.

“You mind if I sit?” Mom took the chair by the bookshelf, scooting it closer.

My wolf growled and it was an effort to keep her reined in as I watched my mom nervously look around. The last time she was here was years ago, back when we first started setting up our caves. She’d worn that same tense smile she had now. The not quite belonging, but still fiercely showing up, awkward grin.

“I missed you a lot,” Mom said.

Swallowing hard, I set down my bone.

Suddenly, I was five years old again and wanting nothing more than a soothing touch of Mom’s magic to ease the pain.

“I missed you too,” I choked out.

My voice was hoarse and raw.

Mom reached forward, then held herself back. “I don’t know much about heats, and I always hated that I didn’t know more, but even I know this isn’t normal. Especially not for you. It’s been almost three days.”

I blinked. Time was moving fast. Somewhere, out there, I knew that mattered. But I couldn’t quite bring myself to remember why.

Our mate’s out there, my wolf whined.

Oh, that’s right.

My mate that wouldn’t come. I had to stay strong. To ride this out alone.

I cringed when Mom’s knowing eyes met mine.

“Why haven’t you called on your mate?” she asked.

I blinked again, remembering that I hadn’t told them yet. “Shit. Does everyone know?”

“Language,” Mom scolded, but her heart wasn’t in it. “It’s obvious. Three days is too long unless your wolf needs your mate.”

Listen to her.

She doesn’t know everything.