Chapter 451

My father hung up as soon as I finished explaining, without saying anything. I looked at my mother, who looked as confused as I felt. She pulled the phone back, furrowed her brow, and started typing. “What are you doing?” I pulled out my hairdryer and began drying my hair. I watched her out of the corner of my eye as I finished getting ready.

My mom kept typing on her phone and barely glanced up. “That was fucking rude.” She started typing again.

“What was?” I bent over to dry the underside of my hair, and all I heard was her clicking on her screen.

“He just hung up,” she said, and I snorted.

“You’ll get used to it.” I flipped my hair back and turned off the dryer. I grabbed some oil to scrunch out the cast in my hair. My mom looked at me, and I laughed. “He does it all the time. He has the attention span of a goldfish. If he has a thought, he needs to deal with it right away, or he forgets it.”

My mom stopped typing. “But he wasn’t like this before.”

I finished my hair and turned to look at her. “Probably because he had you to talk to and remind him. He doesn’t have that anymore.” I applied some light makeup as my mom processed my words.

“Fucking hell.” She leaned against the mirror, and I saw a familiar look cross her face.

“Stop it,” I snapped.

She looked at me with wide eyes. “Stop what?”

I dropped my eyeliner and just looked at her. “Don’t play dumb with me. I know you and that look.” She blinked. “My father’s issues with remembering things aren’t your fault. He found a way to work around it. It’s not your fault that he has a short attention span. Rude or not, he figured it out. Stop trying to make this somehow your fault because you left.”

She sighed. “But—”

“But nothing.” I went back to my makeup. “Your mate is a little forgetful, but that isn’t on you. Just like everything that happened after you left wasn’t on you. Everyone made choices with the information they had, and at the moment, it was the right decision.” I shrugged. “We can always work with the pack when we get back.”

My mom’s eyes lit up. “The pack?”

I nodded. “In a couple of days… you’ll be back home.” She was practically vibrating with excitement. “But I need to go to work and get everything in place first.”

My mom settled down. “Right. We also need to get the tents and everything set up.”

I thought about it for a second, then shook my head. “No need.”

My mom tilted her head and watched as I finished my makeup. “Why won’t we need them?”

“Because this plan has us moving quickly. We won’t need Rick’s and Alannah’s families in the yard. They won’t even be staying here.” My mom shook her head slowly. “What?”

“Unless you want to set up a safe house like you have here, Carly, Rick’s family and Alannah’s should stay here.” My mom jumped from the counter and turned to look at me in the mirror. “Vince will definitely be looking for them, using magick to do so. We can’t chance them being found on your father’s pack lands before we’re ready.”

She was right. “Fuck.”

“But,” she held up a finger, “Lynn is ready.” My mom smiled. “I can’t say she’s healed, because I don’t think that will ever happen, but she’s ready to kill Derek. Take her and Toya with you; leave everyone else here with Wendy and me.”

I turned to her, propping my hip on the counter. “But Dad—”

“Can wait an extra few days. Keeping everyone safe and secure as we move in the shadows is best. And Wendy and I can handle any rogues if they pop up.” My mom leaned in to kiss me. “Focus on saving the kids and getting Rick, Alannah, and their families here. We can use Lynn’s, yours, and Toya’s rooms to house everyone. They’ll be safe, and you and your father can finish this.” I sighed and nodded. I looked at the time and realized I had to go or I’d be late. I kissed my mom and ran from the room. “Make sure you grab breakfast!”

I chuckled as I slammed through the closet doors and down the stairs. I ran from the house, and instead of taking the car, I shifted and ran to the pack house. It’ll burn some energy and make it seem like I’m on edge.

Miz chuckled as I ran down the street. We are on edge.

I snorted. Ain’t that the fucking truth.