Chapter 144

Shawna POV

My father rarely told my mother what to do. He was a quiet man, and she ruled the house most days. I was surprised when he stood up for me and told her to drop it. This continued as we walked into the living room. A fire crackled in the fireplace, the soft glow illuminating the living room. A lantern was lit on the side table next to the sofa, casting a soft glow. My parents rarely used electricity. They had gas to heat the stove and the water heater. They were very conservative in their use of electricity, even in winter. I took off my pack and looked around. The house was just as I remembered it, nothing had changed. "Where are we sleeping?" I asked.

"Your room, of course," my mother said. "I cleaned it and changed all the linens as soon as Michael called to tell us you were coming." She touched her hand to her throat and swallowed. "I couldn't bear to get rid of your things; everything is still where you had it last."

I nodded, wondering why she looked like she had done something wrong. "Thank you mother," I pulled Michael's hand. "Let's go put our things in the room. I will show where the shower is."

"Are you going to come back out here and talk to us?" my mother asked. "I made stew and we have cold beer if you want one."

"That sounds great mother," I said as I pulled Michael down the hall. "Just let us get cleaned up. We will be right out."

"You seem bothered," Michael said as I shut my bedroom door.

"She's going to ask me things that I'd rather my mother not know. She was always a tough mother, in our business, and it seems that hasn't changed." I looked around my room. It really was just as I'd left it. Even my bottle of my favorite lotion was on the vanity, my hair brush sitting where I had set it the morning I left to never return. I walked over and picked up the brush, rolling it in my hands. It was pink, with blue and purple flowers painted on it. I tossed it in the trash can next to my dresser. I wasn't that same girl anymore, I didn't need pretty hair brushes.

Michael didn't say anything. He just leaned against the door, watching me as I walked around the room. I looked at photos that were taped to my mirror. Photos of me with my friends at the lake nearby, photos of me with my brother and my younger sister. Where were they now? They were both adults now, surely they didn't still live here? The house had been quiet when we walked in, so they weren't here if they did still live here. I walked over to Michael and wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my head on his chest. He pulled me tight against him and kissed the top of my head. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked softly. I shook my head no.

"Let's shower and then go talk with my parents," I told him. "I really am tired, but my mother makes an amazing stew." He chuckled, his chest vibrating under my ear. Just being near Michael calmed my nerves and the lingering fear. He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head.

"Let's clean up then, don't keep them waiting." Michael pushed off the door, my hand in his and opened it. I grabbed a change of clothes from my bag and he did the same, then I lead him down the hall to the bathroom. We showered quickly, and I wasn't even bothered that it was my parents house. This was my mate, the man who made me complete. After dressing quickly, we left our soiled laundry in my room in the hamper and hurried to the living room. My father sat by the fire with a book in his lap, staring into the flames.

"There you are," he said standing. "Let's eat so you two can get some rest." My father led us into the dining room, poking his head into the kitchen to let my mother know we were ready to eat. A few minutes later we were all seated at the table with steaming bowls of stew and a cold beer.

"So," my father began, "tell us about you Michael. How did you and Shawna meet?"

"I was a guardian for one of the council members. We were at the Lone Wolf Ranch for the trial of several of the men involved in the torture of innocent wolves. I knew the moment I saw her that she was my mate," he says with a grin.

"How?" my mother asks. "That's not possible with the full moon run," she sips her beer, staring at us both.

Michael shrugs, undettered by her questions. "I just knew. I loved her strength and something about her, it just drew me to her. We did the full moon run not long ago and learned that we were indeed fated mates. I'd have chosen her even if it was not the Goddesses predetermined wish."

"How nice," my mother said. "You are a guardian then? A protector?"

"Was. I was released from my contract early. We are going home to my birth pack."

"How did that happen? Getting released early?" my father asked. "That rarely happens."

Michael looked at me, as if waiting for permission to tell the story. I honestly did not want to voice anything myself, I'd rather keep that inside. I'd fall apart if I had to tell the story over and over again. Michael was my rock, the reason I breathed, but he had his own part to the story. He was free to say what he wanted, he didn't need my permission. "You can tell them anything you want Michael."

Michael turned back to my father. "I was contracted to protect Alpha James, he was one of the councilmen. He had returned to his position of Alpha when his son died, but retained the council position as well."

"Oh his son died, how terrible," my mother whispered.

"He was murdered mother, by Alpha James," I said matter of fact. "He's terrible. Well he was. He's dead now."

"Is that the execution you watched?" she asked.

"It is," I replied.

"What did he do?" she asked.

"What didn't he do?" I answered. Then I closed my mouth and stared into my bowl of stew. I took a bite so I wouldn't have to talk.

"He was responsible for the kidnapping and trade of many she-wolves. He murdered his son and his mate as well," Michael replied. He looked over at me and squeezed my knee under the table. "He was involved in Shawna's kidnapping as well, along with others. The evidence was staggering against him."

My mother narrowed her eyes at Michael. "You were his guardian, how did you not know?"

"As it turns out, there was a lot he was involved in, even before I was assigned to him. He was very private, I was not with him all the time. His own Beta and Luna ended up turning in most of the evidence all on their own."

"That's interesting," my father said gruffly. "Shawna, what exactly did happen to you? Where were you before you went to live with," he nodded to me, "him."