37. Reunited
Reunited
My whole body won’t stop moving. I’m nervous and excited in equal measure.
I meet my parents today.
It sounds odd thinking about it. For so long I’ve thought of the world as just me, but now I have these two people who love me and I don’t know them.
Cassius has hardly let me out of his sight. He’s watching me, my prison guard, preventing my escape. I think he’s worried I’ll run off last minute. Though it’s not like he won’t know where to find me.
He’s not wrong.
Last night, I woke up at 3am. My brain kept replaying the image of that Alpha burning through the window.
I couldn’t get it to shut up. I tried breathing, but when the air doesn’t exist, what good are breathing exercises?
My whole body reacted. Adrenaline pumping, blood rushed through my veins.
I could hear my heart thumping behind my sternum.
I needed to run.
I got halfway out of the window before Cas wrapped me up in his arms and flung me back in.
He tackled me to the floor, knocking what little air I had left out of my lungs.
We landed in a lump in the middle of the floor and only then remembered, in my half asleep mind, that we are more than 80 floors high.
He stared at me with a terrified expression.
After that, he cuffed us together.
It was less fun than I imagined it would be. Way too many clothes. Not enough kissing.
Lila spent hours on the phone with me, talking me through what questions she thinks they will have. She is determined that I shouldn’t speak. I apparently say very concerning stuff. I say I’m honest.
Her worries didn’t help, a fact my amazing mate picked up on and quickly called Auggie for backup (his words, not mine). Apparently I’m a ‘handful’ and need ‘watching’. I resented that until I was reminded that I had almost fallen to my death.
Auggie has been relatively and surprisingly quiet about the whole thing. He’s staying out of the way and watching me with a sad, resigned expression. It feels like he is waiting for something to happen.
I wonder what he is thinking.
Cassius made me realise that he is my father in every way that matters to me. I love him. He raised me and protected me the best he could. Now he’s watching silently as I meet the people who birthed me and lost me.
I don’t want him to think that I’m replacing him.
I don’t think that’s possible.
Cas has been on the phone for the last hour with Alpha Harriet. She’s been amazing. She met with my parents at the airport and has been taking care of them, while not so subtly looking into them at Cas’ request.
So far, so good.
Nothing glaringly obvious is wrong with them.
I’ve spent my morning with the best boy in the entire world: Apollo. He can tell something is wrong, and unlike the bitchy raccoon, he cares.
He’s ready and dressed for the occasion.
I put him in his favourite sparkly collar (with spikes on it because he’s a guard dog and needs to look badass after all).
I think he wants to make a good impression on his grandparents.
Though he and Auggie get along great. He told me he bought his affection with expensive dog treats while he was looking after him.
I’ve moved between the sofa and the armchair three times, but I can’t seem to settle. Auggie and Apollo watch me, their heads moving, following me like a game of tennis. It’s making me more nervous.
“Angel. Come here.”
His command pulses through me, and my legs move before my brain can catch up. He pulls me into his arms.
“You can do this,” he whispers. “You are so strong.”
I don’t feel strong.
“I’m right here.”
I breathe in his smoky campfire scent and let it settle inside me.
So many things could go wrong. What if I’m not what they have been imagining for these past fifteen years?
I’ve spent so long feeling like a broken bad person for what I thought I did, and now everything is changing, even my thoughts.
I slide down his body, falling at his feet.
My head lobs to the side, resting on his leg.
I take a deep breath in and let my head drop.
His fingers comb through my hair, and every stroke relaxes me further.
A gentle purr rattles through me, lulling me into a trance.
Apollo’s head settles on my thighs, warm, soft, and furry.
The world feels blurry, good, calm, and for the first time, a bone deep reassurance settles inside me.
I can do this.
The world slows and speeds up at the same time. But I stay still, letting it happen.
“It’s time, Angel.”
My eyes flicker to him. My mate. A soft and caring smile watching me, a steady presence by my side. Apollo nudges my legs, encouraging me to move.
I stand, and all too soon the door opens.
A gorgeously tall woman walks in, and I know instantly she is my mother.
Her long black hair, so similar to mine, sways behind her.
Her beauty is striking. Pale skin, dark red lipstick, an air of elegance and power follows her that I have never seen in myself.
Next to her is a shorter man, whom I assume is my father. He has a kind and soft face, bright green eyes that I recognise as my own even from across the room. He shuffles nervously, taking me in while my mother stands frozen beside him.
A gentle hand presses against the middle of my back, nudging me forward. I glance back. Auggie smiles down at me. He doesn’t look sad anymore.
He walks with me.
The gap between us takes no more than a few steps, but it feels like a lifetime, and I suppose for them, they have been waiting that long to see me again. Together we stand before them.
Father and daughter.
Without leaving my side, keeping his warm hand supportively on my back, he bows. A symbol of great respect he doesn’t even offer the Council.
“Alpha and Omega Williams. It’s an honour to meet you. I’ve been looking after Evangeline since she was seven. You have an amazing daughter.”
Even before I lived with him, he considered me his family.
My father cries out, tears fall freely down his face. All the emotion he was struggling to hold back comes crawling out of him, desperate to be free. With one hand he grabs his mate, clutching her, and with the other he reaches for me.
I stumble back, unsure of myself until my mate’s smoky scent reaches me. His heat warms my back, and he leans in close.
“Go on. Hug your parents.” He whispers into my ear.
I move into their orbit, and they surround me, encasing me in their warmth. They squeeze me between them. It feels familiar, but so very distant.
“We are so sorry.”
They whisper, the words too painful to say aloud.
“I can’t believe we lost you.”
“We never stopped looking for you.”
“We never stopped loving you.”
The world tilts on its axis. My head swims and dizziness takes over. Their scent wrap around me, sweet and floral cherry blossom and a warm and spicy ginger. I remember so clearly I can’t believe I ever forgot.
It’s painful.
A lifetime’s worth of memories pouring into my brain.
The voice in my head is louder than it’s ever been. It screams at me. Begs me to listen, to understand. Telling me how to keep myself safe, driving my instincts.
Only this time I can put names to the voices.