My mouth was agape, as were those of the rest of the boys. "Mom, where are you going to?"
"Not just me, you too. Let's leave before the Alpha wakes."
The Alpha? Why was mom referring to her mate as the Alpha? She had never done that before. She called him endearing names and sometimes when she was angry, it was David. But it was never the Alpha.
"Is something wrong mom?" Like walked to her, a worried expression on his face.
"I'm…" She cleared her throat making me frown deeper in confusion and worry. "I'm fine, don't worry."
But when Luke wrapped her tightly in a hug, I saw a tear fall from her eyes. What was wrong with mom? Why was she crying? Did she have a fight with David? What for then?
"You're not fine, mom" Luke said, hugging her tight as the rest of us had this helpless, concerned expression.
I had never seen mom this way. I had seen her sad on few occasions but not this sad. Even when things had gone from bad to worse then levelled up to the worst, I had never seen her look this dismal. This was the worst.
"Mom?" I moved closer to them, calling her softly.
She disengaged from the hug and without a word, took my hand and pulled me upstairs with her, the boys followed. The silence was quite tensed and too uncomfortable for me. I felt uncomfortable and tensed too.
"What is happening, stepmom?" Baron asked as soon as we stepped into my room.
"Nothing, Baron." She responded with a shaky smile.
He walked to her and pulled her away from me. He held her hands and engaged her in a pointed stare, I quite surprised by this attitude. Every trace of humor and smile was gone. He looked so serious. I stood by the side, watching what he had in mind to display. I had come to learn just how crazy Baron was or could be.
I knew he would not touch mom. No, never. He was not that kind of a guy. He could be as dangerous as they came but he had his restrictions. But I still wanted to know his motive pushing me from my mom's side.
"What is it Baron?" Mom asked him, surprised by his act too.
"Tell me the truth, stepmom." He kept his gaze on her face.
"What truth?" Mom frowned a bit.
"Did he touch you? Does he hit you? Tell me." His expression had gone hard and a bit terrifying, for me though. I did not know about mom who was looking directly into his face.
Mom's expression morphed from shock to bewilderment to a sad one. Baron's only got harder.
"That bastard!" He growled and was about to leave the room, she quickly went after him and held him tight. "Why would you let him touch? Why would you allow that? I don't care that he's my father, I'm ready to teach him to do the right thing, even if it's the hard way."
"No, it's not that. Come seat with me." She gently kissed his cheek and pulled him towards the bed. "The rest of you join us."
Not knowing what to feel or how to act, I walked like a zombie towards one of the seats and made myself comfortable. As comfortable as my nerves would allow me. Lucas and Zach joined me. Leaving Trenton and Aaron to join mom and Baron on the bed.
Mom took a deep breath, her sad gaze sweeping every one of our faces. "I am so grateful to have met you boys. The way you took me in, accepted my daughter and I. You all behaved like the siblings I could never give her." Then she looked at Baron. "Except for you Baron, I know you both love each other and after what I'd seen yesterday, I have no problem with you dating Katherina."
Every eye in the room stared at Baron and I, I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Why would mom bring this up now? I avoided Aaron's stare, I could not look at his face. It was as though this night could not get any worse. Thankfully, the boys had agreed there was no school today else, I'd have learnt nothing. I guess it paid to be associated to the Salvatores.
I managed to steal a glance at Baron, he looked unperturbed by the glances and stares. His expression revealed nothing about his thought on mom spilling what had happened between us yesterday. I wish I could read his mind but there was a more pressing matter I had to pay attention to. This was my future on line.
"But I need to leave. As a mother, it has always been my goal to love my child and put her needs before mine. The Alpha and I had a fallout after he heard of Katherina's wolf-less nature. I'm sure you all know of this?" She searched the faces of the guys as though she was trying to figure out their thought on what she had just said.
"Yes." Lucas and Zach chorused. The rest of the boys nodded their heads.
The smile that spread her lips was teary and shaky. "Well, I'm glad you all took that well unlike your father. The Alpha is disappointed and angry over my daughter's wolf-less nature and she's my daughter. I will always choose her happiness over mine."
At her statement, tears fell from my eyes. So he knew and now he had decided he no longer wanted us. Was he so angry and disappointed that he was ready to reject his mate bond with my mom? I was different from the rest of the Salvatores and he did not want us any longer. The truth was out and he did not want some wolf-less girl ruining his reputation even though this girl was his mate's daughter.
"What did he tell you?"
Mom wiped tears. "We got into a huge fight and now, it led to this."
"So he chased you and Katherina out of the house?!" Aaron asked.