To protect what’s mine Chapter 54

Goddess, I could not do this. Nope, I was going to walk my happy butt back home. I was going to thrash and wiggle my way out of Calyx’s arms. I then was going to hobble my way back to Uncle Mike’s and hide in my room, preferably for the rest of my life.

Nope, I was not going to be reintroduced to the pack. I was not going to let everyone pretend and cry about how much they missed me. I was not going to sit there and pretend that fake pleasantries meant something to me. That everyone’s fake care washed away years of me being locked up.

My pack members do not get to pretend that they care now that I am mated to the twins. They don’t get to tell me how much they missed me and how much I’ve grown. How sorry they are that they believed my parents lies.

‘Mates will protect us,’ Beren growls at me.

‘I don’t want to be protected. I want everyone to leave me alone and forget about what our parents did!’ I shout at her. ‘Most of these people never cared before I got locked up, why should they care now!’

‘Mates always cared,’ Beren states adamantly.

‘Yes, I know they always cared and so did James, Sam, and maybe Nick. But that is beside the point,’ I tell her.

‘Uncle Mike and Uncle Will love us now. We have two fathers who love us. We have Gretchen, who is now our grandmother. We have people surrounding us who love us,’ Beren points out.

‘It still doesn’t make this any easier,’ I sigh.

“You okay love,” Cal asks me as he is walking up the steps to the pack house. “I can feel your anxiety.”

“I’m not thrilled about this,” I sigh, refusing to meet his eyes. I don’t want to see the guilt and hurt that I know are there.

“Thrilled about what, exactly?” Mark asks as he moves closer to us, adjusting Rose on his back.

“I do not want to pretend to be happy around people who never once gave a damn about me. I didn’t matter when I was locked up, why should I matter now that I am your mate?” I growl, my emotions bursting forth.

“Most of our pack members never knew you. They never questioned your parents, and that is not your fault or theirs. I’m not justifying what they did to you,” Mark starts. “But I think you will see that most of our pack members will genuinely care about you and Rose. And will also be outraged at your treatment. They will be upset at themselves for not questioning your parents and just accepting what they said.”

“Most of this is a day late and a dollar short,” Sam states, “but our members will try to make it up to you.”

“You just need to tell us how we can do that,” Cal whispers as he presses a kiss to my head.

I don’t know how to have my guys and even the rest of the pack help. I was on my own trying to survive my parents for so long and then trying to protect Rose.

“Well, let’s get you up to our office so Vickie can come meet you,” Mark laughs as he takes off up the stairs with Rose.

Rose looks back at me and gives me a worried look. My sweet pup knows I am hurting but she doesn’t know what to do.

“At anytime you feel overwhelmed, tell one of us and we will get you back to Uncle Michael’s house,” Cal tells me.

I nod my head as he carries me to his office. He sets me down in his office chair. I no more then get settled and the door cashes open.

“Where is she?” a female demands, I can only assume this is Vickie.

“Flower lady!” Rose yells happily. She escapes Mark’s hold and tackles Vickie.

“Hello little flower,” she says happily as she picks up Rose. “Will you introduce me to your mom?”

“Mommy, this flower lady. Flower lady, mommy,” Rose tells the room.

Vickie walks up to me and sticks out her hand. “I’m Vickie, and I am so excited to meet you. I have wanted to meet you for days.”

“Amalie,” I tell her as I take her hand.

“Your parents said you left?” a male states in confusion as he enters the room.

“Jim?” Vickie asks as she turns to face the male.

“Hi, I’m Jimmy. I’m Vickie’s mate,” he ignores her and sticks out a hand towards me.

“I need information. Give a woman some answers!” Vickie demands dramatically. Her head is like a ping pong ball, bouncing between all of us to get answers.

“My parents locked me up and said I ran away from the pack,” I tell the pair the short version.

Jimmy still has a pensive look on his face. He knows that there is more to the story but will not push. Vickie on the other hand is about to explode. She has rage written across her face.

“What! Where are they?” Vickie goes to storm out of the office.

Jimmy is faster than her. He wraps his arms around her waist and hauls her back towards him. “Let’s not going killing anyone right now,” he sighs as if this is an everyday occurrence.

“No, let me go. I must seek vengeance for our Luna. She shall be avenged!” Vickie continues to shout dramatically.

I don’t know if I should laugh, be flattered, or very confused.

“Alright drama queen, settle down before we are kicked out of the Alphas’ office,” Jimmy tells his mate.

Looking at the twins, I can see that they are amused and exasperated by this behavior. This tells me all I need to know, that this happens a lot.