Chapter 108

“Alive again?”

I nodded. “In my last life, Brandon, had you killed? Dad was killed. Everyone was gone.”

My mother took it better than I thought she would. “So you are saying that you lived a first life…”

“We all do.” I looked down at my hands, where I was twisting my fingers. “Our gifts, they give us a do-over, you can say. Like the Goddess wanted us to see what could be, and she gives us a second chance to change it all.”

“And it’s always bad…”

I nodded. “As far as I know.”

My mother trembled. “You saw what happened to your pup and now you’re changing who your mate is…” She looked at me with a tiny spark of hope in her eyes. “Did you pick where you went back to, the time?”

I shook my head no. “The Goddess selects, I think. One minute I was dying with Brandon screaming over me, then next I was in bed six years younger. I didn’t choose to come back here, but I know I am determined to change the outcome. I refuse to watch my pup die again.”

My mother’s breath caught, and I saw the wheels turning in her head. “Amy…”

“Yeah, Mom.” I knew what she was going to ask before she did.

“Did your father see something so bad that he cheated on me?” Her lips trembled, and I knew the answer would shatter her.

“No, Mom, he didn’t.” I saw her sag. I couldn’t tell if it was relief or disappointment. Maybe both. “What he saw had him using his gift to convince you he cheated so you would break your bond.” I wanted to look away. I wanted to lie to her. I could have stopped, but she deserved the truth. “He lived a life where you had more pups. And when there was an attack on the pack, we were all killed. Then he was killed.” She shook her head back and forth. “He came back and tried to figure out who was behind the attack.”

“He was working with the king…” She dropped her head into her hands and started to sob.

“He tried to figure out who was after you. But as time went on, and life unfolded how his first life did, he panicked. He wouldn’t lose you, so he did the only thing he could. A she-wolf told him she was sure she was pregnant. It was very early, honestly too early to be sure, but Dad used his magic. He confirmed the baby and the plan quickly unfolded. He called her mate in, and they struck a deal.”

“Oh, Goddess.”

“He waited until you turned in, and in the room beside yours, he hid in the closet, closest to your bed. Then he used his powers to fake the betrayal pains in you. You felt him cheating and started to scream. He sat in the next room and cried with you. He knew you thought he was breaking your bond, shredding your heart in the process, and it broke him. Ronnie held him the entire night until he passed out. But when he finally woke up, you had already sent out transfer requests, and Vince accepted us.”

“I thought he broke our bond that night. I haven’t felt anything else from him since then. Not a twinge.”

“He kept his emotions locked away from your bond.”

“But he couldn’t stop betrayal pains, have I felt him mate with anyone since I left?” She was nearly frantic.

“If he had mated with anyone, you would have.” I whispered to her, and she yanked her hands back.

“You are lying. Tell me you’re lying.” She stood, anger coming off of her in waves. “Amy, tell me you’re lying.”

“I can’t.” My word caught, and I watched her waver on her feet. She closed her eyes and tears trailed down her cheeks. Then she threw her head back, and she started to scream. She screamed so loud it rattled the windows.

She crumpled to the floor, falling to her hands and knees, and then the sobs came. Whole wracking sobs that shook her entire body. “I betrayed him.” The words tumbled from her lips, and I could feel the desolation with them. “He shouldered all that responsibility. He gave up his family to save us. And I betrayed him.” She looked up at me, and when her eyes met mine, it was the eyes of her wolf I saw there. “We betrayed our mate.” Her voice shifted, and then she pushed up from the floor and howled. The sound of their heartbreak was all-encompassing.

She howled again and again until her voice was raw. I didn’t know how to stop her. “Mom.” But she was lost in her pain. She howled long and low. I couldn’t stop her. So I did the only thing I could think of. I mind-linked my dad.