Chapter 3
Sienna waited until Liam fell asleep before seeking her mother’s advice. A cold twist snaked through her belly while she relayed a careful version of the truth.
“I didn’t intend to hurt him. How could I know he’d lose his memory or become so ill? What if he dies?”
“He won’t die. Now that he’s awake, he’ll grow stronger.” Her mother’s quiet confidence helped to tamp down Sienna’s fears. But as Tamsin spoke, her gaze flickered to the closed bedroom door—a subtle tightening around her lips that Sienna recognized as silent disapproval.
“We’ll wait until Hedrek and the boys return from work and hold a discussion,” her mother added.
Sensible though Sienna worried her audacious plan would explode with epic force.
On Monday, she’d return to her secretarial job because they desperately needed the money, and she worried about her mother’s safety alone with Liam. From the little she’d learned, he seemed decent, but people hid their true selves. She’d learned this at a young age.
“I have the market tomorrow,” her mother said.
“But—”
“No.” Her mother cut her off. “We must carry on as normal and pray your mate recovers.”
Sienna bit her lip, wanting to protest the mate part, but her mother was right. “The money will come in handy with an extra mouth to feed.”
“I’ve told you before. There’s nothing wrong with us. We’d live normal lives if everyone minded their own business.”
“You’re right,” Sienna said.
“A suggestion. If your Liam is up to it, we’ll take him to the market. We must integrate him in the villagers’ eyes, and this trip is ideal.”
“What about people gossiping? Liam might hear something he shouldn’t.”
“We’ll do what we always do—stick our noses in the air and sashay past because we don’t stoop to their level. Liam can formulate his own opinions.”
“Honey, I’m home,” boomed a familiar voice.
Pleasure filled her mother’s face as she whirled toward the doorway with a broad grin.
Seconds later, her father appeared, his unique features drawing every eye.
Her mother streaked toward him with a joyful shriek, and he wrapped his brawny arms around her.
They kissed as if they hadn’t seen each other for months rather than three days.
“Get a room,” her oldest brother, Jago, said with a grin, shaggy hair falling into his eyes.
Cadan, the middle brother, sighed, his sun-browned skin and callused hands a testament to long hours outdoors. A crease of exasperation tugged at his brow. “Are they kissing again?”
“How did it go? Did you bring us lots of beautiful things to sell?” Sienna asked.
“We did.” Kitto, the youngest, adjusted the tail of black hair at his nape, a silver hoop glinting in his ear. “These should sell well.”
Jago’s nose twitched, and he frowned. “Did someone visit?”
Sienna’s gaze darted to the bedroom where Liam slept.
“How was the gathering?” Cadan asked, more curious than suspicious.
Quiet tension weighed on her shoulders anyway. She hesitated. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Just tell them. They’ll find out eventually.
“About that.”
Kitto stopped in his tracks, his cat ears pricking through his black hair. “Who are you, and why are you wearing my clothes?” He turned to Sienna, mock scandalized. “Did you and Mama adopt a stray while we were gone?”
Sienna closed her eyes briefly before rushing to Liam’s side. He still looked as if a strong wind could bowl him over. She slipped her arm around his waist. “Liam, this is my father, Hedrek Teague. My brothers, Jago, Cadan, and Kitto. Everyone, this is my mate, Liam.”
“He’s not a healthy specimen,” Cadan muttered.
“He was in an accident and has a concussion,” her mother said, still in her father’s embrace.
Her father gave her and Liam a long look before nodding. “Welcome to the family, son. You make sure you look after my daughter. She’s my pride and joy.”
“Oi,” Kitto protested.
“I’m a lucky man,” Liam said without hesitation.
Sienna’s mouth dropped open, then firmly closed. Liam drew her closer, and she spoiled the moment by stiffening because he was essentially a stranger. She hadn’t even kidnapped her preferred target.
“What’s for dinner?” Cadan asked. “Jago was in charge this week and is the worst cook ever.”
“Hey! I resent that,” Jago said, nudging his brother with an elbow. “You’re not French chef material either.”
“Enough,” her mother said. “Dinner won’t be long. Why don’t you boys wash up and set the table for me?”
“Yes, Mama,” her brothers chorused and burst into action.
Sienna rolled her eyes and turned to Liam. “How are you feeling? You slept for a while.”
“My skull is still tender, but I’m hungry.”
“A good sign. We’ll eat soon.”
“Why are your brothers and father covered in fur?” He blinked as he processed his words, frowning.
Sienna scrutinized him but didn’t see distaste, only curiosity.
“My father and brothers can shift to black leopards, but when they revert to their human form, they still bear some cat characteristics. Papa and Kitto keep their tails. Jago and Cadan don’t.
And all of them, like my father, have patches of black fur on their arms and legs, and feline ears instead of human ones.
” She watched his expression, wondering if he remembered his own shifter nature.
If he did, perhaps the drugs she’d used were playing a bigger part in his memory loss than she’d suspected.
His frown deepened, but he nodded. “That must make their lives difficult.”
“It does.” She kept her answer simple when the situation was far more complex.
“Can we walk outside?”
“Let me check to see if Mama needs help first.”
Her parents spoke in low voices and stopped when she poked her head into the minuscule kitchen.
“Liam wants to walk. Do you need help with anything?”
“Your father will assist me,” her mother said. “Fresh air will help Liam, but don’t let him overexert himself.”
“I won’t.”
Sienna left her parents alone, aware she’d face an inquisition when Liam fell asleep tonight. She sighed. Liam would get his memory back soon. Then what?
Liam complained of nausea and dizziness and retired to bed early.
“Outside,” her father suggested. “We don’t want to wake the lad.”
Sienna tugged her T-shirt hem straight and nodded. She and her mother had kept the conversation neutral over dinner. Her mother must’ve told her brothers not to interrogate her because they’d been on their best behavior. During a discussion, they’d toss questions her way like frisbees.
She followed her mother outdoors.
“Tell us everything,” Papa said.
Sienna told them almost everything, and when she’d finished, her father sighed while her three brothers looked at her in admiration.
“Way to go, sis,” Kitto said.
“Liam seems a reasonable lad. He showed respect and didn’t gape or ask rude questions. He didn’t display disgust. It was as if he’d seen people like us,” Papa mused.
“Perhaps it’s his scarred face. Maybe others have teased him or rejected him because of his appearance, so he is more circumspect,” Mama said.
Papa’s direct look took her aback. “Either way, he seems respectable. You don’t carry his scent.”
Her spine stiffened. “Liam has been unconscious and woke yesterday.”
“Do you want to keep him?” Jago asked.
“We agreed to try a relationship before he injured himself.”
“You don’t have to do this,” Mama said. “Yes, we hoped you’d find a mate, but I haven’t seen any spark between you and Liam. We don’t want to pressure you.”
Sienna scanned her brothers’ faces, then her parents’. They mightn’t have wanted to burden her, but she’d still felt the silent expectation. She adored her family, and it hurt her when others shunned them. It wasn’t their fault they didn’t fit the typical feline mold.
“I was hoping for guidance,” she said.
“Sienna, you brought this man here,” Papa said gently, without blame. “You must decide whether to stay with Liam. Once you do, we will help.”
There it was—unstinting love—and it made her eyes burn.
She swallowed hard and lifted her chin. “I want to keep him.”