“Me too Ro.”
Rosalee harrumphed. “Why haven’t you been answering your phone? I’ve been texting and calling you. For gods sake I was about to report you as a missing person!”
“I’ve been in the Poconos, the reception wasn’t always great.” Said Violet testily, but then softened. “I came as soon as I managed to get cell reception again.”
Rosalee bit her lip. “How come you never told me about Iris or this town?”
Violet looked at her searchingly for a few moments, indecision was written all over her face.”Do you really want to know?” She asked quietly.
“Yes, yes I do.” Said Rosalee quietly.
Violet looked at Adam and sucked in a breath through her teeth. Rosalee looked at her pointedly. “Anything you have to say can be said in front of him.”
Violet nodded and put her drink down on the coffee table. She stared at her hands for a few minutes whilst Adam and Rosalee waited patiently.
“My mom, your grandmother, was always kind of... strict. I never really knew my dad, he left when I was 4, or at least that’s what Iris told me. All I know is that one day he was there and the next he wasn’t... with Iris who knows.”
Violet wrapped her arms around her. “When I was 16 I met... I met your father. He was a boy in school, he came from Darlington. I knew the moment we met that he was my true mate, and it didn’t take long for him to realise it too. He was human though, and I knew Iris wouldn’t be happy about it. She hated humans and shifters... I was worried that Iris might try to break us up so we snuck around for a while.”
“When I realised I was pregnant we decided to run away, but we needed help so I asked one of my friends, Emerald. At least at the time I thought she was my friend. I suppose you can guess what happened? Emerald told Iris what I was planning and Iris stopped us. One day your father and I were happy, and planning on spending the rest of our lives together, the next he was just gone.”
“Gone?” Rumbled Adam.
Violet nodded sadly. “All of a sudden he wasn’t in school, his parents had quit their jobs and his house was for sale. After a lot of digging I found out that apparently his family had moved to Alaska. Iris told me that it was just a high school crush and that I’d get over it. I knew she was wrong. He was my mate, he wouldn’t abandon me. I knew Iris had done something. But by that time I was fit to burst with you Ro, I wasn’t going anywhere. So I bided my time.”
Tears rolled down Violet’s cheeks. Rosalee extricated herself from Adam’s arms and went to soothe her mother. Violet clasped her hands. “When you were born it was the happiest day of my life, but I knew you were human. And I knew Iris wouldn’t accept a human granddaughter so I took you from the hospital and I left. I went to Alaska looking for your father, but it was hopeless. I knew it was hopeless but I still tried. Your father had never set foot in Alaska. I’ll never know what Iris really did but I knew whatever it was, he wasn’t coming back.”
Rosalee clutched at her hands. “How can you be so sure? What if he’s out there somewhere waiting for...”
“No, he isn’t. When he disappeared it was like a part of me died. I knew what it meant deep down, but I couldn’t bring myself to admit it. I guess I only really accepted it after you were born, because at least I still had a part of him.”
Rosalee sniffled and Violet wiped away a few stray tears. “I hated my mother, but I loved this town and I loved your father. His name was Lee. That’s why I gave you your name, Rose – a – lee. I honestly never thought I’d come back though, when I left I thought it would be for good. It is nice to be home though.”
“Yes,” agreed Rosalee, “it is.”
Chapter Fourteen
30th September
Adam awoke to find his mate draped over his chest. He smiled contentedly as his wolf whimpered.
Yesterday had been a damn long day, his mate had suffered at the hands of a demented witch and then found out some less than stellar home truths. By the time he had dragged her to bed she had been exhausted and he was satisfied just to have her sleep in his arms.
He thought about Rosalee’s father mournfully. Sad that he had never seen what a wonderful daughter he had. Sad that Rosalee’s mother had lost her true mate. He could only imagine the hell of losing a true mate.
When his mate had called Rose home it had given him hope. Hope that she wanted to stay and be with him. Forever.
She curled her fingers into his chest hair and rubbed her cheek against him. “Morning.” She murmured.
“Morning sweetheart.”
She kept her eyes closed but yawned and asked “what time is it?”