Chapter 27
Rissa
I tried not to be too discouraged as I walked beside Krystal and Nathan toward the inn. "I don't understand," I said. "The rogue should've taken our bait. Why didn't he show?"
Nathan's shoulders tensed, his jaw clenched tight. Frustration radiated off him. "He's smarter than we gave him credit for. Careful. Calculated."
"Which makes him even more dangerous," Krystal added grimly.
I nodded, pulse thudding in my ears. The rogue wasn't some reckless hothead. He had a plan. But what?
Each step closer to the inn felt leaden. I replayed the night in my head, searching for what we missed. Some clue to the rogue's next move.
"We need to regroup," Nathan said. "Figure out his endgame before he strikes again."
"Agreed."
As we approached the inn, Erin and Ashton waited on the porch, and Elle and Bryce sat beside them, holding glasses of what looked like iced tea. Elle glanced up first, her expression unreadable.
"They were perfect angels," Erin said warmly. "Though I think Elle was convinced she could fight off a bad guy herself."
Nathan sighed heavily and rubbed his face. He turned to Elle, his tone stern. "You know better. Right?"
Elle shrugged. "It's not like I'm a little kid. I can fight." Defiance edged her casual words.
Exhaling sharply, Nathan reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear. "You're thirteen. You don't need to fight." Firmness underscored his voice, but I caught the hint of worry there, too.
I exchanged a look with Krystal, then knelt to Bryce's level. "Did you have fun?"
His face lit up. "Ashton showed me how to throw a proper punch."
Krystal groaned, but Ashton chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender. "Just a little self-defense, nothing major."
Nathan gripped Ashton's shoulder briefly. "Thanks for watching them." Rare, genuine gratitude colored his words.
Erin smiled. "Anytime."
I watched the exchange, a bittersweet ache in my chest. The kids were growing up fast, wanting to take on the world. Especially Elle. Her fire reminded me so much of myself at that age.
Part of me wanted to shield her from the dangers out there. The other part knew she needed to learn, to be ready. It was a delicate balance. One that Nathan wrestled with daily.
I shivered, the events of the night still weighing heavily. We had dodged a bullet, the kids safe and fairly oblivious. But the rogue was still out there. Plotting. Waiting.
We had to find him before he found us.
The walk back to Nathan's felt lighter somehow. Maybe it was the kids' chatter filling the night air. Maybe it was the momentary reprieve from reality, where things almost seemed normal. Almost.
Elle and Bryce walked ahead of us, their voices hushed. I strained to hear snippets of their conversation, but the words were swallowed by the gentle rustling of leaves.
My mind churned with unanswered questions. The rogue had something planned tonight; I could feel it in my bones. But why hadn't he made a move? What was he waiting for?
As we reached the house, Elle slowed her pace and glanced over at me. "Hey, can you come to my room for a sec?"
I hesitated, but Nathan nodded slightly. This was new territory. "Of course," I said faintly.
Nathan arched a brow at his daughter but didn't push. "Don't stay up too late," he muttered, heading for the kitchen, probably in search of a stiff drink. I couldn't blame him.
Elle led me upstairs and inside her room, shutting the door behind us with a soft click. I took in her room, a collage of childhood and adolescence. Stuffed animals mingled with band posters, the scent of vanilla and teenage rebellion lingering in the air.
She perched on the edge of her bed, fingers fidgeting with her hoodie strings. I settled into the desk chair across from her, leaning forward slightly. Waiting.
"I was kind of a brat to you when you first got here," Elle blurted out, staring at her lap.
A surprised laugh bubbled up my throat. "Yeah, a little." I kept my tone light, teasing. No need to pour salt in the wound. “But you already apologized for it, and I completely forgave you. You don’t have to apologize again.”
Elle gnawed on her bottom lip, brows knitted together. "I didn't want to believe it but could feel it." She looked up then, brown eyes swirling with emotion. "You're my dad's mate."
The words hung between us, heavy and unavoidable. I swallowed past the tightness in my chest, forcing myself to stay quiet. To let her say her piece.
"My mom was his first mate. His true mate," Elle continued, voice wavering just slightly. "Then you showed up, and it felt... wrong."
I inhaled slowly, choosing my next words with care. "Second fated mates are rare, but they do happen. And when they do, it's considered a blessing."
Elle picked at a loose thread on her hoodie. "It didn't feel like a blessing at first."
"I get that." I kept my voice soft, soothing. "I don't want to take your mom's place, Elle. No one could ever replace her."
She glanced up, hesitation flickering across her face. "I know that now. But it's been hard."
The ache in my chest grew. I couldn't even begin to imagine the emotional turmoil she'd been through. Losing a mother so young, watching her father grieve, and then having a stranger show up? Talk about a gut punch.
But we’d barely spoken out loud about being fated mates. I hadn’t even fully accepted it yet. “How did you know that your father and I, well, that we’re meant to be together? Did he tell you?”
Elle took a shaky breath, seeming to steel herself for what came next as she shook her head. "I can tell things about people when I'm near them. I always knew when my friends were lying. Sometimes I can even feel what they're feeling."
My eyebrows shot up, surprise overriding the heaviness of the moment. "Empathy. That's a pretty special gift."
She swallowed hard, her fingers clenching into fists. "But the biggest thing? I always know when someone has a fated mate. And who they belong to."
The weight of her words settled over me like a heavy blanket. She knew. She'd known from the start. No wonder she'd been so hostile, so resistant to my presence. It wasn't just about losing her mom; it was about knowing, deep down, that I was meant to be with her dad.
I leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees. "Oh, Elle, I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine how hard this must be for you."
She shrugged, but I could see the shimmer of tears in her eyes. "It's just... It's a lot, you know? Knowing that my dad has another mate out there. But, I mean, if he has to have one, I’m glad it's you."
I reached out, tentatively placing a hand on her knee.
When she didn't pull away, I squeezed gently. "Let me say again, I’m not here to replace your mom, Elle. I would never try to do that. But I do care about your dad. And I care about you, too. I’d like to be your friend. Maybe sort of like an aunt?"
A single tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. She brushed it away quickly, sniffling. "I know. I can feel it."
We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of our conversation hanging in the air. I wanted to hug her and tell her that everything would be okay. But she needed time to process, to come to terms with this new reality.
The revelation of Elle's abilities hung between us, the silence stretching on as I processed her words. "Empathy, that’s rare, you know? Really rare." I exhaled slowly. "Your mom must've been incredibly special."
At the mention of her mother, Elle's face crumpled, tears brimming in her eyes. "I barely remember her. And my dad never talks about her." Her voice wavered, the pain evident in every word.
Oh, sweet girl. I ached for her. I shifted closer and moved to sit on the bed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Then let's change that. Let's find out more about her together."
Elle looked up at me, surprise flickering across her face. "You'd do that? With me?"
I squeezed her gently. "Of course. I’d be honored to know about your mother.
I think it's important for you to know about her.
And if your dad's not ready to talk about her yet, we can find other ways to learn more." One day, I’d tell her about my Faith, too. Not yet. She needed this to be about her, not me. But I’d give her that trust, to confide in her. She deserved it.
A sniffle escaped her as she nodded, leaning into my side. "I'd like that."
We sat together, the gap between us beginning to close. It wasn't complete, but it was a start. A silent acceptance of the growing bond we shared.
As the minutes ticked by, Elle's weight grew heavier against me. Her breathing evened out, the exhaustion from the long night finally catching up to her.
Carefully, I eased her down onto the pillows, pulling the blanket up to her chin. She looked so young in sleep, the weight of her abilities and the loss of her mother temporarily lifted from her shoulders.
I brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, my heart swelling with a fierce protectiveness. I might not have asked for this bond, but I'd be damned if I didn't do everything in my power to be there for Elle. For all of them.
With a final glance, I slipped out of the room, quietly shutting the door behind me. Tomorrow was a new day. A chance to start fresh, to build on the tentative connection we'd forged tonight.
I stepped out of Elle's room, gently closing the door behind me, and nearly collided with Nathan. He stood in the hallway, an unreadable expression on his face as he studied me for a long moment.
"She's asleep," I whispered. "We talked."
Nathan nodded, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair.
"I heard. I couldn’t help but catch the end of the conversation.
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I came up to check on you both and caught the bit about her mom.
Thank you." Something about the way he said it, the raw sincerity in his tone, made warmth spread through my chest.
"Of course." I offered a small smile, the weight of the night's events still heavy on my shoulders. "She's a great kid. She just needs time."
He exhaled, his broad shoulders sagging slightly. "I know. It's just hard, talking about her mom, reliving those memories..." He trailed off, his gaze distant.
I reached out, my hand hovering just shy of his arm before I let it drop. "I get it. But she needs to know about her mother, to feel connected to her, from you if possible. And when you're ready, I'll be here to help in any way I can."
Nathan's eyes met mine, a flicker of something intense and unguarded passing between us. "I appreciate that, Rissa. More than you know."
The air felt charged, the pull between us almost tangible. I swallowed, my heart hammering against my ribs as I forced myself to step back. To put some distance between us before I did something reckless.
"I should go." I moved past him, my steps quickening as I headed for the front door.
But before I could reach for the handle, Nathan's voice stopped me. "Rissa."
I glanced over my shoulder, my breath catching at the sight of him. He'd followed me, closing the distance between us in a few strides.
And then he kissed me, his lips firm and insistent against mine. I melted into him, my hands fisting in the fabric of his shirt as the kiss deepened, months of pent-up longing pouring out of us.
But reality crashed back in, the weight of our responsibilities, the complicated tangle of our lives, and I forced myself to break the kiss, my breath coming in shallow pants.
"I'll see you tomorrow," I managed, my voice unsteady.
Nathan's gaze was heated, his eyes dark with surprise. He chuckled low. “If you think you’re going anywhere after what Gavin found at your place, you’ve lost your mind. He's even staying at the pack house with the enforcers and Ula.”
I laughed at his directness but faded at the heat in his eyes. He was serious.
“Okay, then,” I said. “I guess I’m staying here.”
And as Nathan took my hand and led me toward his bedroom, how could I be mad?